The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Canadian GMC engine number

I have an Canadian internet friend looking for info about the engine in his '51 GMC 9314 truck. He has not sent the stamped engine serial number, but the door tag shows C439609. As expected, the engine appears to be a Chevy 216 to me.

Is there anything to be gained from the tag's C439609?

Hy Bill Hanlon, Canadian light GMC trucks of that era are powered by Chevrolet six cylinder engines, I assume the "C" in front of the numbers designates Chevrolet, but I have no evidence to confirm that. The heavier trucks that actually have GMC engines do not use the same system as their American cousins, rather than use the cubic inch displacement as the first three numbers of the engine serial number they use two letters, the 248s use a "G" and another letter at the front of the engine serial number, hope that helps.

I didn't realize that the "real" GMC six cylinder engines were used in Canadian trucks at all. I had a 55B thru 57 Canadian Chevrolet/GMC parts catalog, but I gave it away to one of our Canadian old truck guys years ago. I did keep .PDF scans of of the first few pages that had the model ID info. They show engines that are Chevrolet (six cylinder 235,V8s of 265, 283) up to 2 ton models and a 322 V8 that I believe is Buick-based in the 2.5 ton models.

I also have a .PDF scan of the 1958-60 Canadian Chevy/GMC Parts Catalog Accessory Section, showing all the "add-ons" available. The most interesting accessory is Air Conditioning, which I do not believe was available on USA Chevys or GMCs.

I've attached the .PDF files below in case any 'Bolters want to download some exciting reading material.

Bill - Here's a fairly recent thread on ID'ing Canadian GMC engines that might help shed a little light on the subject. It too references a "C" engine serial number in a Canadian 1951 GMC that sounds like a Chevy engine. Can your friend provide the casting numbers from the block and head? There seems to be a little more info available on the casting numbers to better define the engine, than the serial numbers.

I was the recipient of your 1955-57 and partial 1958-60 Canadian Chevy/GMC parts books, which I am most grateful for! I looked at them yest6erday when your topic came up, but couldn't find anything directly related to the engine number starting with a C. The info in those books is only showing how to decode the truck serial number.

Hy Guys, at the risk of muddying the waters about Canadian GMC engines, as I said Light Canadian GMCs are powered by Chevrolet engines. Canadian Chevrolet trucks have two series that are larger than 2 ton, These two series are referred to as Chevrolet Maple Leaf trucks, the 16 series is rated at 2 1/2 ton, the 17 series is rated at 3 ton and is powered by a GMC engine. The matching GMC trucks of the era are powered the same way as the Chevrolet Maple Leaf trucks, hope that helps and not confuses.

Engine block casting number is 3695408. Anyone recognize that?

Very close on inliners international site 1950-52 235 3692708

Bill - I did a bit of web searching using that casting number. Below are a couple links to discussions on Canadian 6's that refer to that block casting number.

2015 AACA thread on engine identification - refers to casting# 3695408 and a "C" series engine serial number (includes pictures).

2008 "Chevytalk" forum thread - refers to Canadian car/truck engine ID info.

I also found this particular casting number in 3 spots in Greg Wapling's "CANADIAN CHEVROLET GMC/PONTIAC SERIAL NUMBERS AND ENGINE NUMBERS" web page - Listing shows three different vehicles/engines, all Canadian built or Canadian sourced (the Holden in NZ).

Hope this added info may be of some help.