VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION New User Forum 1936 Pontiac silverstreak

I have recently purchased a beautiful 1936 Canadian made Pontiac Silvestreak 6 cylinder all original. I have two problems,

1) I'm trying to find the motor I'd as I was told it is not the original motor, I have the original sitting in my garage.
Here is what I have found.
On the front corner driver side just below the valve cover is the following numbers 517139

On the valve cover is the numbers what looks like a C 512119

On the lower part of the passenger side below the starter is the markings J 14 2

On the valve covers is written gm4

I was told this was a crate motor but I don't know what year is it.

Problem 2 when the car is left idling for a while then turned off, then turned on again, my coolant boils over and spews out of the filler cap. It is green coolant I think. Temp gauge reads 190.

Thank you I am new on these so I'm learning.

A picture would go a long way, but there are guys here that can reference your part numbers. The casting date on the block (J 15 2) would indicate a '33 engine.

Silverstreak36 Welcome to Chatter.
While the Pontiac is slightly different to Chevrolet I believe there are a lot of interchangable parts.
As trreinke suggested a photo will help with identification for those that know the conversion apart from interest of other members. I think the J is october 15 1932 but I could well be wrong.
Tony

In 1936 there are few Chevrolet parts shared with Pontiac.

I believe your Pontiac came with either a flathead 6 or 8. My friend has one. Originally it would have had a cross flow rad which was unusual for the time. I have read various sources that claimed some driveline parts like the transmission were either the same as Chev or Buick:

That is correct, at least if a Canadian Pontiac uses the same drivetrain as the US model in 1936, I think it does.

It could have had a 6 or an 8, both flatheads. The 8 cylinder has a longer hood and fenders to accomodate. Eights and Deluxe Sixes use the same Dubonnet front suspension design as a Chevrolet Master. Pontiac Master Sixes have a straight front axle that takes the same kingpins and might be the same as some Chevrolets quite a bit older. It might be the same as some trucks as far back as the late 20s, not sure about that.

The transmission is unique to Pontiac, but follows the design of the Buick Special transmission. The torque tube and rear axle are also unique to Pontiac, but follow Chevrolet Master design very closely and many parts interchange.

In 1935 the lowst line Pontiac used the same transmissiom as the Chevrolet Standard. In 1936 Pontiac All 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936 used the Cevrolet trans ((except 35 as note) and a Chevrolet differntial but did not use a 4.11 gear ratio except as an optional econaomy ratio. They generally had a 4.55 ratio as standard production.

I'll post that asap

From what I was told the motor was a crate motor purchaased in the 70s I will post pictures asap

Doest have the Pontiac Indian Head cast into the head or block?

The castnig numbers look more like Oldsmbile numbers and not Pontiac. Both used a flat head side valve engine buut no parts interchanged. Neither had a valve cover because they were flat heads and spark plugs were on the top.

I will check this and get back to you tomorrow

As mentioned I was told this was a crate motor so I'm not confident that it is a 30's motor maybe a 40's or 50's

See attached photos I'll add more to the link asap

photos of 36 silverstreak

Nice car. Doesnt look to need much work to bring it back to near factory condition.
Tony

No your absolutely right just needs a little TLC and it will be ready I'll get those engine pictures tomorrow

I wish I could open the pictures.

On the US models, in late 1935 the Chevrolet transmissions disappeared in favor of some that look like Buick Special, with the 5 bolt top cover and the extremely short shift tower. The rear casting on this transmission is unique to Pontiac because it connects the Buick-type transmission to a Chevrolet u-joint and torque tube. The speedometer gears associated with that rear casting are unique to Pontiac as well. I suspect some parts on the front of the transmission may also be unique to Pontiac. I don't know if this applies also to Canada too but I suspect it does.

Your hubcaps are different than mine, and that is a difference I saw on another Canadian 36. I think the wheels are different too, and that could be the reason.

We will need to see a view of the engine further back, preferably from both sides, to ID it probably. That spark plug wire retainer is not 1936 Pontiac. As Gene already mentioned, there is an Indian cast into the side of the 1936 block.

EDIT: The spark plug spacing is wrong for 1936, but could still be correct for a later Pontiac engine. Better pictures might sort that out.

Another difference I notice is the "Pontiac 6" emblem on your grille. It is in the center of the grille like 1935. On the 1936 US model, that is up high on the grille and to the passenger side.

You have the round tail light, and on a US model that indicates late 1936 production.

The black dash knobs and crank knobs and the simple square stitch pattern on the doors would indicate a "Master Six" in the US lineup. That is also what my car is. In Pontiac the Master is the cheap model unlike Chevrolet. A Master Six has a straight front axle, while a Deluxe Six has the Dubonnet front suspension seen on the Chevrolet Master. A picture of your body data plate would be interesting to see if the model numbers, trim, etc. decode like the US ones.



They do run a bit hot, but if abnormal there is a water tube inside the block that can rust out and could be the cause. I have not had that problem yet. But then, we have not positively identified your engine as 1936 Pontiac yet. Are you sure you are not overfilling it? There is a petcock up high on the radiator to check the level. It is possible to run the water somewhat higher than the petcock in the summer for a little more cooling, but like most old cars it should never be completely full.

Now I have a question. Are there any remnants of your front rubber floor mat left. and if so was it brown or black?

Same for me Gene. I can't open pics either. Suspect because I don't do Facebook !!

Dick

I don't do Facebook either, but I can see the pictures.
I am techno-stupid so I have no idea why.

I'll try and post more pictures asap I'm off tomorrow so I'll work on that even without a Facebook account you should be able to view pictures but if you guys have other methods so send pictures I can oblige

In 1936, the Canadian Pontiac should be almost identical to the USA models but it was a weird time for taxes/tarrifs in the auto industry. It was officially 1937 when the true "Canadianized" Pontiac came into existence where GM Canada made Pontiac clones out of Chevy cars so I suspect 1936 could have been a transition year with some odd part mixing and matching.

The Canadian market has always been cheaper than the USA market so it's very possible that wheels, hubcaps and trim were cheapened or just different on models in Canada.

If it's a Canadian engine it may have bizarre casting numbers compared to USA numbers. My 1938 engine has a unique Canadian casting # as it came from a secondary foundry. I believe some GMC engines share parts/castings with Pontiac in the flathead era?

Pontiac 36

Here is a google photo link to the photots including new photos thanks,

as mentioned I was told a crate motor was put in in the 70s during a restoration, just not sure what date it is

also any idea where i can get Rubber mat on running board either restored or replaced ?

That is as you suspected a much later Pontiac engine. Here is a picture of a 1951.



I am wondering what they did about motor mounts, as I see 2 of them missing, and the later engines mounted differently. Also, I believe the water pump on those mounts too low on the block to not have the fan hitting on things. I wonder what they did about it?

You might post this over on the AACA forums. Now that we know it is Pontiac for sure, I'll bet "Pontiac1953" over there would know exactly what that engine is. Is that a 2 barrel carburetor? If so, the manifolds are 1954, so that's a clue. https://forums.aaca.org

Does it drive ok? The motor mounts that appear missing on your car are adjustable, and when mine get a little out of adjustment the clutch chatters terribly. I can't even imagine what it would be like without them.