My 1952 3100 has been in my family since 1960...grandfather to my father to me...it's a blue flame six and don't actually know if it's a 215 or 235 (any help to identify which it is would be greatly appreciated)...well sadly my transmission broke a month ago and I don't have a back - up...anyone know where I can find one or where I can't this one rebuilt? Please help me folks!!!
If it's the truck's original engine it'll be a 216 and if it retains any paint or markings on the valve cover it would say "Thriftmaster." The blue flame was a 235 and I think that's what it said on the '53 Corvette valve cover but not 100% sure on that.
Matthew 6:33
1952 Chevy 1/2-ton 3100 Late '55 235/SM420/torque tube 3.55 Dalton Highway survivor (using original 216) www.truckwithaheart.com
1. Block casting code 2. Block casting date 3. Engine Serial Number 4. Head casting code 5. Head casting date
The Blue Flame Six was the name of the high pressure 235 used in cars, starting in the 1953 Corvette. They were painted a light Blue. From 1954 onwards they were available in all models of cars. If they came in a non-Corvette car with a Powerglide transmission, they had hydraulic lifters.
The standard 1952 small truck engine would have been a 216. It would have had mechanical lifters and it would have been painted a darkish gray. All Chevrolet trucks had manual transmissions until 1954.
A 216/235/261 engine might have been a light blue (Blue Flame Blue) by a rebuilder.
I'll get those codes tomorrow and post them here...as far as what is wrong with the transmission, all I can say is sounded grinding and shaking violently and froze up. The rear end is OK. The problem with getting the transmission looked at is I don't know of anyone here in Florida that can check it out and hopefully repair /rebuild it.I've removed the transmission from the truck and was hoping I could find one and just drop it in. But unless I can find one I have to hope that I can find someone to repair. Wouldn't mind converting to an automatic transmission but I have no idea how to even begin. Thank you for everyone offering to help.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
So, your truck still has the original torque-tube drive shaft/ rear axle? Did you have much trouble removing the trans? If it is still the original then only another torque-tube trans will fit in its place. I don't know your experience level, so don't be insulted. Do you have a shop manual? There are lots of resources online: http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/ The shop manual is here http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1948_51truck/index.htm Good luck.
Oh, post some pictures of your truck. We all love pictures of old Chevy trucks.
Frank...I did notice that the passenger car transmission has a U joint in the back but the truck transmission does not...so the passenger car transmission and the truck transmission aren't interchangeable?
Posting pics is easy. Once you have it on your computer, click the link on the left of this page called "Posting images in the Stovebolt Forums".
Please tell us whether it has a shifter on the steering column or on the floor.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
If it's a 3 speed the passenger car trans won't fit- - - -it has a different bolt pattern and bell housing, and there are other major differences. There should be plenty of transmissions available to swap out- - -I think I've got at least 2 or 3 stashed away. The 4 speeds set up for the torque tube are a little harder to find but any SM-420 4 speed can be converted to torque tube drive with just a little swapping of parts at the driveline end. I'm about to "inherit" a 216/3 speed setup in good working condition from a bolter who is swapping to a 261/4 speed drivetrain. Drop me a private message and I'll try to help you out- - - -buying/selling/trading anywhere except the Swap Meet forum is frowned upon by the PC Patrol! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
I don't believe so but I'll look again in the morning...also don't know how to post a picture of my truck
When you removed your current transmission, was your driveshaft enclosed in a tube like this? I also included a picture of the back on my 3 speed transmission that you likely have.
I'm attaching several photos of the stampings on the engine...the last photo is from the driver side of the engine and others are from the passenger side of the engine...can anyone possibly tell me what engine this is?
We need a nice clear photo of the numbers stamped into the flat pad just to the rear of the distributor. Or, just post the numbers found there.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
post the: 1. engine serial number - this should tell us the year and the application : car, truck, size vehicle, engine-option 2. block date casting code 3. head casting code 4. head date casting code
Your valve cover photo "Engine_2.pdf" has a 1954/55st valve cover.
As Dave posted above, it is a 1954 or later 235/261. The 216 and earlier 235s had a valve cover that attached via 2-bolts through the middle top of the valve cover.
That's great information guys...wish I could ask my grandfather (died many years ago) or my father 95 yrs old and memory failed a few years ago...this forum has so many experienced sharp guys and I basically feel like an idiot...have driven the truck the last 10 years and never had a problem with the engine or transmission except for a carb rebuild...so getting back to my '52 transmission issue, would the original transmission work with the current '54 235 engine?...I found an old transmission in the barn that had a tag on it that said broke. but when I took it apart at the back where the driveshaft goes in I noticed it didn't have a U joint inside the cover/housing and the one I took out of the truck has a broken U joint in the back so I'm not sure which transmission is the correct one for this truck assuming the engine is a '54 235hp...the driveshaft is torque tube type (just found a pic that I took) hate that I'm making this so complicated
I found an old transmission in the barn that had a tag on it that said broke. but when I took it apart at the back where the driveshaft goes in I noticed it didn't have a U joint inside the cover/housing and the one I took out of the truck has a broken U joint in the back so I'm not sure which transmission is the correct one for this truck
Do you have a picture of the u-joint? Do you simply just need a replacement u-joint to fix your current transmission?
If you look at your valve cover, does it have four little vent slots on the top, two near the front of the cover and another pair of vent slots towards that back?
If you look at your valve cover, does it have four little vent slots on the top, two near the front of the cover and another pair of vent slots towards that back?
Yes it does - check earlier posts in this thread.
They would be from a 54/55st truck engine.
Codes would still be needed - valve covers might get swapped/changed over the years.
Fellow "Bolter" here and I live close by in Tavares, FL. If you would like some help trying to sort out the transmission situation and engine ID I would be willing to stop by and lend an eye and some knowledge.
Just hit my profile and send me a PM.
Bud L
There is not a tool made that if you don't try hard enough you can't break! 1952 3100 261 T5 3.08 Gov Locker
Another transmission question...anyone have any solutions for a three speed on the column that gets hung up in 3rd gear? My buddy has a '49 Chevy that continues to get stuck in 3rd gear?
Properly adjust the linkage. There are kits available to rebuild the steering column shifting mechanisim.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
At the point in the steering column that the shift linkage connects to.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
