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I just bought a 1942 1.5 ton flat bed and I was trying to turn the motor over but the bottem end is siezed, Before I try anything farther I wanted to know if there is any tricks I should try I have pulled the plugs and put about 2 tbs of diesel in and let that set for a week with no hope and I have tapped the valves and they all move and the rocker arms move free to. I have tried to find the numbers on the block but I can't find them.

Hi sask, welcome to the bolt!
The numbers on the block are stamped on a pad just behind the distributor. Keep trying lots of penatrating oil. Im in the same boat youre in, my engine is stuck also. mine was full of water. I did manage to get the rocker arms free though.

Might want to pull the distributor out and try to turn the oil pump with a screwdriver.
A couple months ago we pulled the distributor out of what we thought was a good engine, but the tang was twisted off the distributor, apparently the oil pump was frozen and when the engine was turned over the distributor turned but not the oil pump, twisting the tang off..

Grigg

OK i'll try that tomorrow, would you also know where else I might find the vin of the truck? would it be on the frame someplace like the newer trucks.

Well mine pan wasfull of oil after 20 yrs in the field, It never went into the pan there is even coolant in the block! I checked behind the dist like I found here on the website but there isn't anything on the surface and I have cleaned it very well.

Find the raised casting numbers on the head and the block and do a Google search for "casting XXXX". This will bring up a site with all the Canadian numbers. I believe that you have to remove the valve cover to see the head casting number.

I used a rear wheel to help get mine unstuck. I jacked up one side in the rear and put the truck in high gear. I used the wheel to rock the motor. At first there was very little movement but after several days I could turn it half a turn.

I like diesel, too. I did unstick an old engine with Marvel Mystery Oil that diesel hadn't worked on. Took more than a week, though. Ditto on rear wheel or cheater on something up front. Just rock it a couple of times a day. Patience.

how are you trying to turn it. By hand there may be enough friction for it not to turn even with th plugs removed. I have to turn my 54 by the flywheel to get enough leverage. The 38 I can turn by the fan belt when properly adjusted. If you are relying on the starter to turn it you may not be getting the best connection electrically to the starter so may want to clean all connections. Don't skimp on the diesel fuel in the cylinders fill them full you are going to change the oil before actually starting the engine any way. May or may not help take a power drill with a flat bit and insrt it in the oil pump tang and circulate oil thru the motor.

I would not use the starter until you can turn it ove by hand. The flywheel has teeth and it may be possible to get some leverage between the teeth and the bell housing with a large screw driver. Sometimes I stick a long extension in the pressure plate openings and turn it that way but I don't think the method yields a lot of force.

I have a custom tow bar that I hook to the back of my newer gmc to move it and we rock it back and forth a few times and let the clutch slip on it a bit but nothing so far. I will remove the dist. tomorrow to see if the oil pump is seized maybe i can prelube with some fresh oil to get the mains moving. and the electrical has been home to a few mice over the years so I won't be using the starter. Any ideas on where to find the block casting numbers?

sask42,
my block casting number is at the front on the passenger's side, down low just above the lip of the block. I have a large round GM marking just above the area.

Here is a link to the Canadian casting numbers:

http://www.gmhistorian.btinternet.co.uk/canadianchevdatabase.doc

if you don't have a body on the truck the weight on the rear wheels may be so light they would slide instead of turning anyway. Can't pull start my 38 for that reason, never tried it with the plugs removed to see if they would still drag. did you check under or behind the seat engine crank handle may be there

With truckernix's suggestion you can remove flywheel dust cover (if it is still in place) and stick a prybar against the flywheel teeth and brace it against bottom of bell housing for leverage

I got it to turn over after I pulled the dist. and ran the cordless drill on the oil pump and added about 1000lbs to the deck and a few simple tugs and she turned over! I lubed it again and moved it some move, About 2 hrs later I could turn it by hand and I looked for the crank handle but no luck. I still have to wash the block off but I wasn't going to waste my time cleaning if it was toast so I will wash the block down to see if I can find some numbers. I do know that I have a tin cover on the pass. side of the block that goes to the top of the block if that helps with any idea to the engine size or age.