| |
Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,012 Posts1,055,315 Members48,419 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 581 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 581 | 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 | | | | | Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,747 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,747 | 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.
Steve H
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | 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 | | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 581 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 581 | 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.
Last edited by 641Workmaster; 11/07/2014 2:58 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
" 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)
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 581 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 581 | 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. | | |
|
|
| |
