VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Engine Identification

Determining if a Chevy engine is a 216 or 235 is commonly found all over the e-net, and there is tons of information,including decoder sites. However, I am stumped. I have a 41 Coupe that I have owned since 1963 (my first car). After storing it in a barn for 46 years, I am in the process of restoring it. It had already been modified when I bought it (39 truck transmission and 51 rear-end), but the previous owner said nothing about the engine.Of course, he is now long dead. Appearance wise, it differs from most 216 engines in that it has an oil filler cap on the rocker cover, and the starter is electric solonoid rather than mechanical linkage. The rocker cover is held on by two stud bolts (typical of a 216), but the engine ID number does not match anything I have found on the internet ("AA935I4). The "I" might be a "1". I would appreaciate any information that could clear this up for me.

Thanks

The I would be a 1. Do the spark plugs stick through the side cover? Pictures?

http://pugetsoundvintagechevrolet.org/Programs/6%20cylinder%20engines%20with%20photos.pdf

Which one does it look like?

Your first photo loos pretty close to the way my car looked last week (Scary!), but I like what you did with it. Congratulations! I will have to check on the spark plugs and get a photo.

Wow...this is impressive information. Thank you...very much. I will have to check tomorrow.

Thanks again!

Since it has a 51 rear end ,it might have a 51 engine. The donor car might have been a 51. Just guessing

A 216 in 1941 would have had the following serial numbers to the left of the distributor where it enters the block: AA 1001 to AA 1163720 and AC 1001 to AC 19549. I see no reason to assume that this is not a 1941 216 engine. Your serial number clearly falls between these ranges. My info comes from the Chevs of the 40's part catalog. Good luck, Mike

FYI, later 216 engines of the 40's had the rocker cover you have with the oil opening near the front,top of the rocker cover. The earlier cover without the oil opening is actually a lot less convenient when you have to add oil. In 41 the oil was added on the bottom right side of the engine block by the fuel pump. Not the easiest place to poor a full quart of oil without spilling it. You may be glad you have the later design, unless you are looking for authenticness? Good luck, Mike

P.S. If you do not have a copy of Chevs of the 40's parts catalog you should order one from their web site. The pictures and diagrams are priceless. You should also go on ebay or the Chevs of the 40's web site and order a body and a shop manual.

Here is a photo...

[img]http://s1289.beta.photobucket.com/u...amp;_suid=135542019959405534390232173789[/img]

So that is a 216 style motor. There were 235s that looked the same and were used in some of the larger trucks.

The photo doesn't do much for identification purposes..Hard to see details at that distance...At first glance I'd say it was a 235, because of the rocker arm cover oil cap...But, if you say the serial # starts with AA, then it's a 216, vintage 1941...

I see the original Electrolock (coil) has been lost w/time...

I don't see the two bolts you describe...or whether it has "Chevorlet" script embossed on the cover...

Its a 216 but has a 49 and later valve cover with the oil cap,since it also has the road draft tube with the oil cap you still might have the original motor.

From the picture it could be a 1941-1949 216 or 235 engine or a 1950-1951 216 engine,
If it has the small 8 MM spark plugs the head is from a 1941-1948.
1941 passenger car engine serial numbers ran from AA1001 thru AA1163729. There were no AAA engines.