Finally got started cleaning up this engine I intend to put in the 54 , Old Blackie. Got to run it on the stand and she sounds real good. The fuel pump pumps. The carb is barely functioning, but idles smooth, revs up. I have a short video of it. Will try to link. Getting these numbers off of it, I hope to get help Identifying the year. I hope I haven’t done this before on this engine🥹. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_tHhlnYz_e0 This engine was used as a stationary drive in a gravel pit, years ago. On a conveyor. I’d like to know if it was a truck or car engine. That bellhousing is the pedal starter type. The engine could be Canadian Pontiac. But I don’t really know. The pcv settup appears original, but any of it could be swapped around of course. 13.5 inch flywheel, 11 inch clutch. A three arm type. Oh, and the engine mounts were up front on the sides, below the generator and the fuel pump. I plan to get it on the engine stand and check what I can, change rear main seal. I haven’t had water through it yet, but pretty confident it isn’t cracked, considering the PO. Not even a puff of smoke came out the exhaust!
Last edited by Steelonsteel; 08/31/20252:05 AM. Reason: Added pictures, info.
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 261 project engine “Ole Blackie” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996 1931 Packard car, 327 i 8 auto
Casting number indicates 58 to 62 ,261 The head is a 235 head but not sure if the 848head was origional to the block.If you look up 261 Pontiac the casting numbers are different so to me it looks like a chev engine.
Thanks, Kevin. It does have a vacuum fitting the shares with the PCV, and would appear to be a hydra-vac line. So, maybe a big truck……
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 261 project engine “Ole Blackie” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996 1931 Packard car, 327 i 8 auto
A few more pictures. The vacuum fitting. The PCV setup. I like this a lot, and plan to keep it. Add a hose to aircleaner. Does this bell housing look 2 ton-ish? I’ll let you all know how it goes. Thnks for the help.
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 261 project engine “Ole Blackie” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996 1931 Packard car, 327 i 8 auto
The bellhousing with the angled mounting pads was pretty much universally used on all standard shift vehicles, beginning in 1954. The only big difference was the absence of foot start linkage mounting points on passenger car housings, IMHO. 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!
Thank you for the word , Jerry. I’m betting it’s a truck engine. Either from a Chevy or a Canadian GMC.( they used Chevy engines). I have the split exhaust on another old engine( likely a corvette type) and Will try to put that on this . Lotta cleaning to do yet……..
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 261 project engine “Ole Blackie” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996 1931 Packard car, 327 i 8 auto
We had pretty much confirmed the engine is a Canadian 261, but didn't have a couple of the newer picture you posted above. The picture of the block casting number with the "M" inside the square outline confirms it's a Canadian engine manufactured by McKinnon Industries as shown in the reply above from Kevinski.
You also posted a new pick with the block casting date code "1 K 26". If I'm decoding that correctly, that makes this a 1961 engine built October 26th.
The more I look at all the pictures in both posts I think it's from a Canadian big truck Chevy. The pinched off larger vacuum tube on the intake manifold vacuum port that also attaches to the PCV valve setup (would have been original equipment) appears to be what would be present for a big truck hydrovac unit.
It sounds like it runs pretty good.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Thanks, Dan. I appreciate all the input and will proceed accordingly! Looks like I can use the clutch and flywheel that’s on it. That will be a change to a 12 volt starter.
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 261 project engine “Ole Blackie” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996 1931 Packard car, 327 i 8 auto
Not sure, but looking at the pictures, it looks like you may have 2 PCV valves. The original one (that has the rubber hose to the manifold vacuum) plus the one on the oil filler cap.
The 90 degree hose elbow attachment to the valve cover filler cap should just be an open air feed with hose going to the air cleaner, not a PCV valve. 2 of those would certainly defeat the purpose of the system.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Aha! Thanks Gord. I was just examining it and wondered.
~Charley 1954 Chevy 3100 with 235 261 project engine “Ole Blackie” Follow along in the DITY 1963 Chevy half ton stepside short box 230 1954 GMC 3 ton 302 And several more Chevy camper and work trucks 1979 1987 1996 1931 Packard car, 327 i 8 auto