VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans Engine I.D question

I have an engine , removed from a '47 pickup , long side plate , 2 studs holding the rocker cover , casting # 838738 .
This number was found behind the starter .
I cannot find this # in any of my lists , has someone got a more complete list to help I.D this engine please .
Thanks guys .

Engine numbers can be found at:

http://www.inliners.org/casting/numbers.html

Jim

Thanks Jim , I have that list and this engine # is not on it .

I deleted the last posting as requested by its author

Hmmmm, its not on the list. If you're still trying to ID it, perhaps a couple of pictures would help.

I found another site - http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/6-cylindercast.html

Its not there either, but the closest number, 838751, is for a 235. Since yours came from a truck, perhaps its an early 235.

Jim

I checked all of my lists (which go back to 1929) and "838738" is not on those lists either. :confused: :confused: :confused:

Yep , I'm confused too guys , I think we have the same lists that it's not showing up on.
I wondered if it was a factory replacement eng , made in later years maybe . But I don't have any info on that possibility.
It looks just like the 216 in my '40 , with the exception of the filler cap in the rocker cover and the road draft breather being blocked at the top and the draft tube angled back at about 30deg.

Dusty, you need to remove the starter & locate the #'s & letters cast into the block behind it.
It will begin with " CONV...... " This info. will provide the month, day & year the block was cast & in some cases we can tell you what shift was on duty when it was cast !

Thanks MT ,, the #838738 is hidden behind the starter ,, the # L 127 is just in front of the starter kinda below the dist.
Only other marking is the GM cast above the L 127.
No "conv" at all.

The casting number is most likely a Canadian casting number.

Thanks for trying guys ,, I'll as the question on the stovebolt page ,, see if someone there has another list.

Dusty,
I think Chev Nut has the right idea. My Canadian 216 casting numbers are not on any of the lists. Also, all the individual casting numbers on such things as rods and oil pump are Canadian casting numbers.

New Zealand and Austrailian cars are Canadian exports.The Canadian numbers are all differnt than US.Thats one thing I learned on this site.Also that GMC trucks used Chevrolet engines.And their 216 had a low side cover.....your never too old to learn...as long as you can remember it :p

Hey guys how about trying to put together a list of the Canadian engine casting numbers? It sure would a good addition to the list of numbers of U.S. engines. The heads, manifolds, transmissions, rear ends would also be nice. I am sure we can find a place on line to store the data. Right BB?

I have been watching on eBay for Canadian Chevrolet parts books-with no sucess.They just can't be found around here.Any one have some for sale?

We will probably need to rely on some of our Canadian comrades for those numbers like Ron from Canada, and old216 and some others, Eh?

For some reason, Canadian literature has always been hard to come by, both for those of us in the States and our Canadian friends as well. Ran into one cool Canadian dude years ago that had a lot of Canadian literature, and he was nice enough to copy some of it for me. However, since then I have only seen one or two more pieces of Canadian Chevrolet literature. :( :( :( :( :(

I am always looking at the swap meets for Canadian listings and when I am successful, I will send them in for posting.

If I would find a book I wouldn't be able to read it because it wont be in English <img border="0" alt="[twix]" title="" src="graemlins/twix.gif" />

You mean that the books in Canada are written in Canadian? Eh?..... Maybe that was why I had trouble ordering in a cafe up there a couple of years ago,...... I thought they just didn't understand Texican! (I jest wanted some chicken fried steak, smashed tatters and gravy, pintos, and a bowl of 3 alarm chili with extra onions and some corn-pone and some ice-tea) Eh?

..and this is probably drifting the thread off topic already!

Nothing like reviving a 15 year old post but since it contains one of my weird Canadian Engine Casting numbers and covers the topic background well (with the typical head scratching caused by Canadian numbers) I thought I'd reopen it:

So, since I have a good stack of Canadian literature from late 20's to early 50's, how the heck can I find the various engine casting numbers used by year? All I keep finding is the Canadian part numbers which don't correspond to the casting numbers. What am I missing as I look through the parts manuals?

the block casting number for 1937 was 838101, 1938 838710 and 1939 838941. Each had a different part number also. Early parts books did not show casting numbers. The post war parts books listed SOME casting numbers along with the part number and also had a cross reference in the supplementary information in the back of the book.

By 1941 the 1937 and 1938 blocks were no long made and parts lists showing the 1939 block 838941 for replacement as well as prats required for the conversion. Any time a change was made to a casting the casting number changed.

The two major changes made to the block casting for 1938 was the 1937 engine number pad removed from next to the fuel pump and a ledge made behind the distributor and the number relocated to that ledge. Also changes done next to the lifters due to the lifter helper springs being eleminated for 1938.

The 1939 block had changes for the distributor and vacuum advance adjusing and mounting.

I am sure the Canadian blocks used the same casting changes.

The one listing that shows the 1939 casting number for 1937 and 1938 blocks was mistakenly taken from a later parts book I am sure as that is what appars in the later parts books.

Thanks Gene, I guess I'll have to collect a few more post war parts manuals and look closely to try to maybe find some casting numbers. Wish I could get my manuals into your hands.

My 1938 Coupe has a block casting of #838738, like the original poster of this thread in New Zealand. My block has a casting date of mid December 1937. Car was assembled January 1938. The serial number is on a ledge that is an extension of the distributor boss with 2 holes for dist timing adjustment. The block serial # matches my body tag and the serial# stamped within the lifter cover gasket edge. It's been physically measured as a 216 and GM Canada documented it for me in writing as leaving the factory with a 216. It has the old style oil pump screen with flat solid bottom that are pictured in 1937 engine cutaway pictures, and the rod bolts have cotter pins.

When I discussed with David Hayward in early 2000's he was aware of my casting number and felt that the secondary plants were providing small quantities of blocks with unique casting numbers - possibly to keep up with production volume, knock downs, or spare parts inventory. Based on seeing your progression of changes, I also wonder if there were some mid year changes that ended up with oddball casting #'s.

I think I will start compiling some Canadian info from members as there are a few of us that have casting numbers different than the US numbers based on date codes. Might shed some light.

Hi Canadian tim I have a 1939 GMC truck with some I think Canadian casting #s too Here is what I have found and the ? is not found yet. Maybe you have info I do not have yet Please help

1. Engine casting code 3835766 in front of fuel pump Circle with square in it
Date code J139 so that is Oct 13 1949
The push rods are 10 5/8 long so it is a 235
It has 2 studs holding down the valve cover

2. Head casting # 3695451 been told it is 50-52

3. water outlet casting 3836209 1954 261 engine

4. water pump casting 839403 I have no info ?

5. exhaust man 838387 I have no info ?

6. intake man 938396 I have no info ?

7. Carb Carter W1 I have no info ? on what it was put on

8. Rear end cast code which is upside down is 1804207

Chev's 235 truck engine went to full-pressure lubrication in 1954. I believe the GMC 228 truck engine had full lubrication for a number of years before that. Anyone know what years that happened for the 228 GMC?

CDP