VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 Help Identifying 1925?

Hi all from Worcestershire UK
Just acquired a 1925 rolling chassis engine gearbox and radiator. Can anyone identify what I have.
Number on the block is 344624 - 5 and on bell housing is 344117. assume these are casting numbers
I cannot find any other numbers anywhere on the chassis or engine.
Very little paperwork and no history although there is a number of R1624878 on an old document.
Imported into UK from New Zealand as a box of bits in 2002.
Any help to identify this vehicle would be gratefully received as I wish to restore to either a special trials car or back to as it was in the day depending on what can be found out.

Thanks Phil

Philthefuzz the 344624 is the same engine I have in my 1925 sedan. The R1624878 is probably the engine serial number. This would be found on a boss pad next to the oil filler tube.The number on the bell housing is probably just a cast number, however I'm no really sure. Someone else may be able to help you with that.
Steve

I have an Inter-Organization Letter dated January 3rd, 1927 from The "General Motors Export Company - Detroit Office" to Chevrolet Motor Company, GM Building, Detroit, Michigan. The letter has a paragraph that reads, "The Belgian officials now ask for the first engine number of each model, dating back to January 1922 and in each case any one model were both previous to and during 1922, they request the number of the first engine built in 1922". The letter has a chart attached that gives the engine first serial number for each year starting with 1922 through 1928.

The first engine serial number for 1925 engines was listed as 1538963 and the first for 1926 as 2160736. That would place your engine number on the paper work you have in the 1925 year run. I'm guessing that the "R" prefix in you number is there to designate a Right hand steer vehicle.

Hi Phil,

The 1925 frame is one of a kind.
1924 Is last year for quarter elliptical springs that are anchored on the sides of the frame.
The 1925 frame has semi-elliptical springs mounted on the bottom of the frame at the rear and to the extended frame horns in the front.
Also, the rear of the frame where it covers the gas tank changed in 1926 to feature a horizontal lip and the 1925 frame has no lip.
Also, there could be a date on the front of the upper tank on the radiator.

Roger

I have always understood that "R" designated a "Replacement" engine and the R prefix is very commonly found here in NZ.

Some pics of the various parts you have will help us identify what you have, K or V ?

Regards
Al

There were two prefix stamps for engine serial numbers. 'T' was for a truck engine and 'R' was for right hand drive. So if you had a truck with RHD your engine serial number would be TRxxxxxxx.
Steve

Hi Phil,
Check your engine again and see if there is not an embossed code on the block just below the exhaust manifold coming out of the head. (If the head is off, the number should be on the right hand side mid block just below the block/head separation).
The code should read something like: C 11 5. The first C would be the month as in March. The 11 would be the day of the month. 5 would be the year, 1925. (A-L would be the months)
If the last number is a 6, the year would be 1926.
There should be a similar code on your head unless it is from a different year. The block code and the head code won't necessarily match even if they are correct from the factory.
Good luck..............

Thanks for clearing that up Steve.

Al

Thanks to all for the useful information.

It is a right hand drive so that bit checks out OK.
The previous owner has started to reassemble what is available and has rebuilt the engine although it has not run yet.
It is now mostly back together but without body or interior.
Started to mock up a 'special' body frame but would like to get it back to original.

If I can find the other numbers on the block or radiator will I then be able to identify the model? (i.e. Coupe or Sedan.)

Will try and post some pics when I work out how it is done.
I would rather play with engines than computers!!

Hi Everyone
Have just checked the engine again but cannot find any stampings by the exhaust port.
I have found a number under some intelligible letters on the top rad tank and shows 2461192

Thanks again for the help

Phil

Engine casting numbers numbers
344624 Chev Sup 1925
345504 Chev Sup 1926
http://home.znet.com/c1937/Cast.htm - 104k -

Philthefuzz if your generator runs the distributor and the oil pump off the back side then it's a 1925 engine. 1924's oil pumps ran off the front of the generator cover.

Actually, 1923 and earlier ran the oil pump from the front of the generator. 1924 had the oil pump off the back of the generator. 1925 started the disc clutch and other modern stuff like that.

cufrcp i stand corrected. They both used the 950-B.

Good Evening,
I would appreciate anyone jumping in here to explain to me why Phil's engine (if it is 1925 vintage) wouldn't have casting dates on the block or the head. I have several 25 & 26 engines and heads, and they all have casting date numbers, and they were not all made at the same foundries.
TKS.............Joe.........

Thanks again to all for the interest.
From your information I am now sure that I have a 1925 Chevvy.
What model is now the quest.
Rear brakes only, Dish wheels, single exhaust port, Pair of rocker covers. semi-elliptical springs, no lip on the rear cross member of chassis (frame).
Thanks
Phil

Hi Phil,

Your dish, actually (disc) wheels should be 4 lug.

It may be possible to determine the body style by the spacing of the body holes. I have both a sedan and a touring and if I remember correctly their hole spacing was different.

I can look again to verify.

Roger

Roger, I was planning on doing a frame swap on my project, unsure of frame type, but was sure hopeing holes were generic

Hi Leadchunker,

Since my sedan body is Fisher and the touring body is Chevrolet, maybe that is the difference.

Roger

IMFALCO

My disc wheels have 6 lugs spaced at 6 inches PCD
The body locating holes have been covered by a new oak floor in preparation of a bespoke special ash frame body. When I can get at them what are the differences?

SANDERSON
Getting a better pair of eyes than mine and a brighter light I have found some more numbers C 11 5 is stamped on the left side of the block just level with the oil filler.

Thanks to both

Thanks for the update Phil. You have restored my faith in everything Ray has taught me............

I have a 1924 and the oil pump is driven from the front. I think it depends on when and where the engine was assembled. All 25's I have seen have the oil pump drive in the rear.