This will not be much help:

head cast = 1937-40

number behind the starter - block casting date = Dec 16, 1944 ?

Serial number preface = C (that last preface before WWII was "B" and the preface in 1945 was "D")

I cannot find a reference to the block casting code, but between 1942-47 there were some codes that started with 839

Maybe someone else can clear this up?

Tim