The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop ID an engine #

Thought I'd run this by here. Picked up an engine out of a 1942 1/2 ton telephone truck in Missouri about 6 years ago. Finally got around to going through it.

Anyway haven't had any luck deciphering the stamped vin number to the left of the distributor. Checked the vin busters here and at the inliners site. Nothing.

Here's the #: 7BD368719

I tried, I did. Best I could come up with? A suburban engine? Unknown year and unknown model. 1942 would be a 216, and if it was original to the phone truck it should come up as a 42. So maybe it has been re-stamped? From a re-builder? Or, maybe a Canada engine? Sorry, I got more questions than answers for you.

the engine number may have been used as the vin on the title, but the stamped engine number is not a "vin", so won't be found in any vin buster .... according to the resto kit, it may well be a '42 216 engine [light truck, but the "7"BD would be a "2"BD] .... the block casting numbers and dates would confirm that, but really all you need to know is that it's a 216, not a 235

Bill

Ahh, thanks. I'll have to look again at that "7". Very well could be a "2"BD. Mostly curious if that number could quickly determine it's year.

" it may well be a '42 216 engine [light truck, but the "7"BD would be a "2"BD]"

That code would determine the year: 2BD was only found in 1942

(good advice, Bill)

After breaking down the engine, the "2" is indeed a "z" although the bottom part is fairly light. The same number was stamped at the lower right of the side plate on the block as well but not with the Z. Did not see that on my other 216 engine. In the casting itself was 11 42 which I took to be Nov. of 1942.