VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc 1929 Chevy Engine

Are 29 blocks the only block with the temp sensor on the front of the block on the driver's side? I have the original engine in the car but I have a spare I want to get rid of and want to be accurate when I say it is also a 1929 engine.

The '29 heads have the hole for the temperature sensor in the front drivers side. There are two different '29 blocks. One has the crankcase vent on the rear drivers side. The other uses the oil filler tube for the vent. Both and also the 1930 blocks have the casting number 835501. They also have a coded casting date in format: letter (Month Jan = A, Feb. = B) space and one to two numbers for the day of the month ( 1 - 31) another space and ending with single number (last digit in year). There will also be a stamped number on a machined pad between gas pump and distributor. The first approx. 700,000 are the first version next 700,000 second and then 1930. The heads also have casting number and date.

I will look tomorrow. What is the engine worth?

Worth is dependant on the level of certainty it can be rebuilt. Until the head and block are tested for cracks there it is a gamble if they can be used. So complete engine not tested and not siezed maybe $250-400. If the head and block are tested and the block has not been bored out too much then more but you'll need to have the paperwork to back that up. Also to be taken into account would be the cost of remachining the crank and rebabbiting all the bearings and rods. Cost of new valves, rocker shafts, valve guides etc. So judge accordingly.

Well the head is off and had been gone though and the block has never been rebuild. It was pulled out of a parts car 50 years ago and put under a cover in a barn ever since. I didn't want to throw it in the scrap dumpster if I could get something for it.