VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 What year is my serial number?

I just got a Chevy 1 1/2 ton truck and want to know what year it is. It has a 6 cylinder engine with serial number 1411676. It doesn't run and while looking for some of the parts, the year does seem to matter. I think it's late 20s or early 30s. Just want to know what it is.
Thanks.

Hi there and welcome to Chevy Chatter II. Glad that you could join us!

According to the serial number that you listed your six cylinder engine is a 1930.

No my area of expertise, however, it may not be the original engine, they were somewhat interchangeable over a 5 year period 1929-34+ or so, so you may want to look for some other numbers elsewhere on truck, or post a photo in members section to help ID year. My '31 Coach came with a '30 block and tranny, a '29 head, and mostly '31 stuff elsewhere!

My page says that the engine was built in Flint Motor Plant in December 1930 as a '30 unit:
http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/1930motors.html

However a 'T' prefix would indicate a truck engine and no prefix a passenger car or light delivery unit.

Here's some more info:

Found a builder id plate on the passenger side seat frame that has 3LQ 7871 on it.
There is no T prefix on the engine number.

Looks like the consensus is that, at least, the engine is a 1930.

Thanks for your help.

?? I am puzzled by the suggestion 1930 model engines were still being manufactured in Dec 1930 when production of 1930 models would likely have ended by Sept/Oct 1930 at latest? My understanding was that after early Oct 1930, engines being produced were for 1931 models. Does that mean they also continued to manufacture some 1930 engines while casting blocks for 1931's as well (for inventory, shipping to Canada, etc?).
I have been trying to figure out the year/month of my car's engine. The Engine No. is T203779, which I understand is a truck engine #, and block casting is August 16th, 1930, suggesting most likely an engine assembled in Sept 1930, and therefore either a late '30 model engine, or a real early 1931 engine. Original car engine BTW from cowl tag was #2315237, which I understand is a circa Feb 1931 engine and I was advised previously my car was assembled in April 1931. My car was assembled in Canada, but I understand all engines came from USA.

A group of numbers were assigned to Walkerville, Ontario from the regular series in January 1931.

The engine number data that I have indicates that engine number 1411676 was assembled in December 1929 and not December 1930. The last '30 engine was assembled in October 1930 and was serial 2100284.

Shoot me! Yes, 1929 not 1930...trypogrufical errer there!

The serial number indicates an International Series LQ 1 1/2 tonner which was a '29 Model, and it sounds as though the engine was a replacement.

Walkerville, Ontario numbers:


1929:

W1 … W7,920 then

7,921 … 257,915
288,000-288,999?
1,265,801… 1,365,365 [PREFIXED R FOR RHD, T FOR TRUCK, RT FOR RHD TRUCK FROM NOW ON]
and FLINT SERIES:
3,001- 15,000 INC.
396 … 3,000
15,001-1,265,800
EXCEPT:
350,201-351,608
494,001-494,590
637,001-637,335
790,601-791,877
929,801-931,583
1,066,601-1,066,693
1,172,201-1,172,995
1,263,401-1,265,800

as they included some Flint motors it seems in the Oshawa/Regina/Walkerville production

1930:
258615-294924

1931:295291-299999 THEN MARCH? 2300001 …2319311

1932
2,319,372 - 2,333,699

David,
I was sure that it was a disconnect between the brain and fingers. Get them more often lately. Also between brain and mouth. Maybe my "soft" drive is getting full? Or the search engine is off the track.

At least one reader was beginning to use the data so felt I needed to at least point out that the serial number did indicate a 1930 engine.

So it is a 1929 engine in a 1929 1 1/2 ton truck. It just may not be the original eninge.

Thanks,
Gary

Gary,
It is a 1930 engine assembled in Dec. 1929.

Nope, as we have posted, your engine is a 1930 not a 1929.

1930 built in late 1929 but could be a replacement unit.