The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk New 1950 3100

Hello All,

I am new to this site and hobby. I have recently purchased a 1950 3100 and am looking forward to restoring it. It is in great shape for the shape that it is in. It is drivable and looks to be very close to original. I think that it doesn’t have the original engine and tranny though. It has a 4 speed with a granny low and I think that the engine is a 235 but I am not sure. I am an airplane guy and these car motors all look the same to me. Can any one tell me where is a good place to find info on what this truck should have for original equipment, manuals for disassembly and a parts manual?

Thanks
Bill

Pictures please. See the Animated banner at the top of this page? There you will find factory assembly manuals and shop manuals for your truck. (Very helpful) If you have a picture of the engine we could tell ya if it's a 235 or the original 216. Easiest way to tell is the valve cover. If it's got two bolts holding it down in the center of the valve cover, it's a 216. Also If the side plate (sheetmetal) that covers the pushrods goes above the spark plugs, it's a 216. There is also a date code right at the top of the starter. Example: E167 This would decode as E= May, 16= 16th of the month, 7= last digit of the year or 1957 if it's a 235. Lot's of good stuff can be found using the search feature on this forum. Good luck.

Thanks for the help and from your info it has a 235. I'll get some photos in a few days the weather here in south Ga has been horrible lately.

130FE, Welcome to "The Bolt".

Your truck more than likely came with a 216, and someone at some point has changed it to a 235. There are some of the older 235's around that have the two studs through the valve cover, and the higher side cover surrounding the plugs, but I've not seen too many of them. (I do have one in one of my 52's.)

As Shipwright stated, the date codes are probably your best bet on verifying what you've got. You can always check the block casting number, if you care to do so, over at inliners.com.

As for the transmission, that would more than likely be stock/original. The 4-speed would have been an option for your model/year. And I believe the 3-speed would have been standard.

I would assume, unless you see the remnants of a column shifter having been there, it was original equipment. It's not real likely that someone went to the trouble of swapping out the steering column, when/if they put a 4-speed in.

Anxious to see the pictures.

My '50 3100 came with a SM420 4 speed stock. If it still has the torque tube rearend and the knockouts on the cab for the column shifter haven't been knocked out then it is probably stock. As you probably know from reading around this site the 235 is just about bolt-in.