VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Commercial Vehicles 37 Seagrave Pumper

Good day! I just acquired a 1937 Chevrolet Seagrave Pumper from a late friends estate, and VCCA member. He purchased the truck from a guy in Tulsa OK in April 2005 and had it shipped to his shop here in Beaverton OR. He hadn't started the restoration of the truck but was getting ready to I believe. We are picking it up this weekend, and are super excited to get started on it! I'm not new to restorations, having painted a few cars for other chat members (Bill Barker's 31, Bruce DeFord's 34, and Ray Holland's 28 Cabriolet, among others). I grew up in the body shop my dad still owns - restorations are in my blood. He set some pretty high standards as far as restorations go, and I know he would be happy knowing that I purchased his truck - now I've got to make it perfect like he would have.

At any rate, no questions at this time, just posting a message to say hello! Cheers!

Bryan, I know that you'll do a perfect job on it. I can't wait to see it... I'll be in Portland in April and August next year.... ?? Huh?

Congrats! I hope you got the factory picture of it too. I think Ardie got it from manufacturer's archives.

Yep, thank you! I picked up a batch of literature yesterday along with the factory photos. When we pick up the truck on Saturday they are going to give me a couple of binders full of information on that truck that he had researched. I'm pretty excited to own a piece of Ardie's collection, and to help carry on his legacy.

Today, Bruce and I went out to Yacolt to pickup an engine that a guy was giving away. He said it was a 216 that he pulled out of a 46 Chev fire truck. He claims it was a runner when he pulled it out so we will see. My plans for this are to put it in the 37 as a temp engine so I can move it easily around the body shop and paint shop without having to push it. The original engine from my 37 will be going to Bruce's place for his fine (and rather anal) restoration! I can't wait for the final results.

So....we get the engine back to the shop and on the engine stand. I cleaned off the casting number to check out when I got home. Comes to find out this is NOT a 216. The guy pulled it out to replace with a 235 that came with his truck. Well, what he doesn't realize is that he pulled out a 235 to replace with a 235. I'm not sure why he thought this engine was a 216, but it's actually a 235! HA! Casting number is 3835309, casting date is D213, and it's a 1948.

Lucky me!

Probably thought it was a 216 since it had the oil distrubution cover like the 216 has,I did not know a 235 was made before 50 until a couple years ago and would have thought it was a 216 too. I am going to look for one to do a full pressure conversion on and put in my 37 so it looks more like a 216 if I can find one.

The engine was probably replaced with a new short block at some time.
The late 1946 2 ton chassis came with a 235 engine.
On the 1945 and early 1946 it was an option. The serial number of the vehicle determines waht model it is. The late had a chrome grille and other small chrome parts like the door handles.
The 1941-1949 235 used the same head, manifolds, etc. as a 216.

Note that the 1941 flywheel will not bolt up to a 1946 crankshaft.