The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1947 coe serial number location

I need a starter drive. I have a 47 coe with a 54 car 235 engine. I think they used the flywheel off the original engine .I would like to find the serial number on the frame to know what year the truck is for sure . The title says 46 but the truck is a 47 or up cab . The number on the door tag is missing and it has a reissued vin .I bought a starter for a 1947 to 1955 and the drive gear is bigger than mine. I am tryng to fugure out what gear or starter I need some one else replaced the engine. Did all the coes come with 235s or did some have a 216 ? The engine starts easy. But every once and awhile if you have to crank more than a turn or 2 the bendix kicks out

It still can be a 1946, first registered in 1947 & titled as 1947. It happened with Chevy trucks that year. So I have been told...

There are no serial numbers on the frame, that didn't start until 1955.

Mike B

In 1946/47, the 5000-6000 series trucks had a standard 235 engine.

The 1954 235 is a little different than the 1946-1948 235s.

What is the serial number on the engine (pressed into the block at the rear of the distributor).

Maybe someone knows if the 1954 starter gear matches up with a 1946-47 flywheel (if that is what you have)?

I looked up the engine serial number it is a 1954 235 came out of a 150 or 210 with automatic trans thats why I think they are using the flywheel off the original engine

1942-1953 flywheels were the same.

The 1954 flywheel is almost the same - the timing mark is in a different location.

1955 cars and late 1955 trucks had 12v flywheels and they were different - more teeth and could have wider clutch diameter.

You have to find the original engine's serial numbers to know for sure what kind of flywheel is on the 54 engine.
You might be able to drop the flywheel housing UNDER PAN and spin the flywheel to check for a part number cast into flywheel.

You have to determine if the kicks out problem is coming from the flywheel or the starter.

Is it the new starter that kicks out or is it the old starter?
If it is the old starter it Probably needs a new starter drive "Bendix".

If the drive gear is bigger than yours, they may have sold you the wrong starter.
1929 - 1957 Chevrolet Master Parts & Accessories Catalog shows
Group # 2.086 DRIVE ASSEMBLY., Starter Motor
1938 - 55 All, COMMERCIAL. 6 volt, part # 1873789, Are all the same drive assembles.
Illustration Your starter is the same but without solenoid unless COE has one.
Mechcanical Shift Starter linkage

The starter drive that was on the truck when I bought it is the one that kicks out. The guys at classic chevy sold me the new one and it had a larger gear. I also talked to a guy on ebay who had one for sale and told him the problem. He said that 54 235 starters are not interchangeable with older starters. If I understand correctly 38 to 55 commercial should all be the same

I just checked ebay there are sevral starter drives for sale with the part number given by jorb . Im going to buy one and try it. I always get good advice on this site Thanks