VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 GM Engine ID

Hi folks,

I just acquired a 1936 GMC T14 and I am wanting to identify the motor that has been put in. I am quite certain this not the original motor or transmission but I can't seem to find out what exactly it is.

I found some casting numbers on the block and the head but they don't seem to match anything I have found on the internet.

What I know...

On the driver’s side, near the top front, it has a metal tag with an Engine Number B41843

On the passenger side, close the bottom, near the front, is the number cast in the block 418513

On the passenger side, close the bottom, nearer the rear is J 23 7 (I think this is the date code for Oct 23 1937 but I haven't been able to confirm this.)

It does have GM cast into the block on the lower passenger side, near the middle.

The head has 408009 cast into it.


What I think I was told (but can’t say for certain) is that this motor is an Oldsmobile, car engine from 1937.

I have not pulled any parts off or located any specific serial numbers but if someone wants to know and can tell me where to look, I will be happy to see what I can find.

Any information or leads to a website to be able to check would be welcome.
Google keeps popping up articles pointing to: http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/cast.html but unfortunately that site is not working.

Thanks!

You did not say if it is a flat head or overhead valve type engine. A friend who passed away a couple of years ago has a 29 GMC. It has its original overhead valve Buick engine. It has a unique preheated air inlet for the carburetor. Hemmings had an article a few years ago on the 36 GMC. You might try to look it up for more info.

It is a flat head 6. If it helps, I might be able to take and link to a few pictures of the engine.

That would help. GMC used a bunch of Oldsmobile flathead sixes during that time.

Heres a 1936 without full waterjacketing:



and a 1937 with full water jacketing.



Note how the Olds engines look to "bulge" a little, and also the little rectangular protrusions on the side of the head casting.

GMC also used Pontiac engines in 1/2 tons, but I don't think they did so until 1938. Here is a Pontiac engine for reference just in case. In 1936 or 1937 the Pontiac engine already had full waterjacketing, and had a Pontiac indian emblem cast into the side of the block. Note the pontiac head does not have the little rectangular protrusions.

On the oldsobsolete.com site a head is advertised with that casting number. Application info is also listed.

It is an OLdsmobile engine according to the casting numbers.

Those casting numbers do not match any in my 1936 or 1937 GMC parts books, as Chevnut mentioned most likely an Oldsmobile car engine. The major difference between the car and the truck engine was the cam, distributor was mechanical advance and the carb was a Zenith on the truck version of the engine. The bell housing is unique to the truck due to the motor mounts. A picture can determine if it is a 213 or the 230 cu in L-head engine.

Wow, thank you for all the information. I greatly appreciate it.


The engine in my truck very closely resembles the 1937 Olds engine in the 2nd picture. Certainly doesn't look like the 36. I don't have the Pontiac emblem on the side either.

When I get a chance this evening, I will take a couple of pictures and link to them.

Thanks

Is this a Canadian truck or a US assembled truck?

I was finally able to take some pictures and the link is below:

https://imgur.com/a/FVUTt


This is a US truck. It started life in Kansas and eventually made it's way to my dad's farm in Missouri in the mid 90's. Dad was using it to putt around on the property up until about 2 years ago when the brakes failed and he parked it. I bought it from my dad and imported it into Canada a few weeks ago.

I can't quite the fuel pump location too well but the 1937 engine fuel pump is located much lower on the side of the block than a 1936. Looks loke it is high on the block
On the left side of the block the 1936 has the out side of the cylinder barrels exposed about 4 inches below the head gasket almost inline with the generator.
The 1937 engine has full length water jackets so the side of the engine is smooth.

The fuel pump is quite low actually. That yellow hose is attached to it so I could get some fresh fuel into the carb to see if we could get it to fire.

It sounds like this is matching up to a 37 Olds.
Any guesses as to what size? Is there anyway I could tell without pulling it apart?

I'm happy to take pictures of anything specific if it helps.
Let me know.

230ci (I think)

definitely the 230 Olds engine. Probably transplanted from a car. I will get back with you on the questions you emailed me earlier.

Thank you for figuring this out for me.

Can I ask what it is that you see that lets you know it is a 230 instead of the 216? What visual differences are there to clue you in?

Did you mean 216? or 213?

I believe the 213 to 230 change at Oldsmobile occurred for the 1937 model year. I would expect a 213 to have a partial water jacket like the 36 above. Yours looks like a 230 (or later), but you found a 1937 casting date didn't you? I'm betting it is a 1937 Olds 230. I cant prove it.

The 216 is a Chevrolet engine with overhead valves from 1937 forward. It looks completely different.

Sorry, yes, 213. It was a typo in the post.

Thank you for helping me learn about these old trucks.