The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Engine and WTH is going on?

Hi all,

OK I am right in the middle of a dilemma. As some of you may or may not know I have a 1938 cab and chassis with a towing mechanism on the back.
Here is my dilemma, I have been toying with the idea to streetrod the thing. It isn't complete and I am leaning that way. The problem with that is... the darn thing has just taken my heart away.
I love driving the old girl and although slow and rough she is a blast to run with her natural "patina".
So here is my thought process today as I just finished a project for a friend (a 1960 VW bug restoration... not really stove bolt material) I thought well it is either I drive the '38 the way she is and enjoy the hell outta her and start on the 1953 suburban or figure out what I am going to do with this '38 and start on it. ('53 is non running)
All of this B.S. to tell you that I decided that I would try and maybe do a restore on the '38 IF I could figure out a little bit more about her.
So I ran out and got the ONLY number I can find on the engine (behind the dist) and it is is 1869002 well the VIN buster shows that it is a 1961 engine.
ALL of this to ask this question... how can I find out more about this truck?
IF that number is truly a 1961 number then why can't I find any more numbers on the block or head?
Also IF this is a 1961 Engine then my hopes or restoring her I guess is just a pipe dream cause there are no vin plates or anything (when I bought it we had to get a new vin from the state) so I am lost as to what she was orginally.
I am asking cause I couldn't find any more info on the motor then the number listed so can someone help me out?
I really like her as an old tow truck (I used to tow for a living many moons ago) It is kinda almost romantic at this point to see her in all of her glory, but I have no Idea what a 1938 Manly wrecker bed looked like and I cannot find examples on line so a total restore is kind of looking dim.
OK I am done rambling, sorry it is a long post but lets hear it who can help a Brother out and give me some ideas, shout out all of your ideas, thoughts, criticisms, etc. I am ready to make a decision

Thanks,
Kendall

Oh CRAP I forgot some questions I am sorry. how do I tell the difference between a 1938 216 and a 1961 straight 6?
Also along those lines did they even offer a 6 volt in 1961? cause she starts and runs fine and seems to do OK on 6 volts?

Any thoughts?

OK, OK, NOW I am done,,,, at least for a minute or two.

A '61 235 or 261 would have a valve cover held on by four bolts in the lip. A '38 motor and any pre-'54 Chevy inline, would have a valve cover held on by two nuts along the top of the valve cover.

Making a '61 run on 6-volts would not be a real challenge provided you had a 6-volt starter and generator and associated stuff.

Let me tell you of a choice I made as a response to your dilemma about what to do.

I have a '55 1st GMC Suburban that is heavy on the patina where it isn't rusted completely away. It is a reliable driver and I've made few changes beyond making sure its safe and sane to drive. I've bought pretty much every patch panel Ray Stanley makes and a complete parts Suburban to get some pieces he doesn't.

But I'm not working on it because its a driver and its fun to drive AND its the only old truck I have that I can say those two things about. Someday I'll take it off the road and work on it, but not while its the only one I have that runs and drives.

I think being able to have fun driving an old truck is an important part of keeping me motivated to work on my other projects. I know you're leaning the other way but I find taking a drive in the Suburban renews my enthusiasm every time. Its not that its a Suburban, but that it drives.

If I were you, I'd work on the Suburban precisely because the 38 is still fun to drive. That also gives you more time to learn about the 38 and the wrecker body.

Just my two cents, the trucks belong to you...

Just bought a 48 that SEEMS to need much less work to make it a driver than my 54. I really just wanted something in the big bolt class to fun drive while I work on my 38. Seeing what other bolters, ATCA and ATHS members have accomplished sort of changed my plans as to what i want to accomplish with the 38. 38 tow in the end you have to decide what you're happy with, it's your truck after all.

Here are locations of codes that might help identify your blck and head.

Thanks for the comments so far. Thank you guys for your input. Please some of you others chime in and let me know what your thinking, I am itching to start something and......... what"s the old saying too many projects not enough time or money? something like that.

In the end I know I am the one who needs to buckle and decide but if you got a comment throw it on here and I will make this a "virtual" gallery of thoughts and let you know how I come about my final decision.

Thanks, tclederman but I have already gone that route and my block isn't a '54 i guess cause it doesn't have any of those markings on it anywhere EXCEPT the one on the shelf behind the dist. and I have posted that number I can post a pic of the engine if it would help.

oldsub, This is really killing me BECAUSE it is so dang fun to drive... but I think right now the '38 is looking to go on the rebuild/rodding floor before the '53 cause i have two boys (one 10 and one 12 that are just begging for the '38 to go first (the 12 year old has claimed the '53 for himself. ha ha ha little does he know. also now I am even more confused because the valve cover is held in place by the two bolts on top of the valve cover as you stated. so now I am wondering "dang now what the heck do I really have here?

anyhow please got a comment or thought throw it out here and lets hear it.

Thanks guys.

I really do mean it Thanks,

Kendall

38 tow, I lean towards original. There is nothing, in my humble opinion, more fun to drive than an old truck. They sound good, (engine and tranny gears), and they smell so good. This is from a guy who has restored and driven 60's camaros for 20 years.

It is ultimately your decision, and the truth is EITHER way will be very cool, so it isn't so much what you won't have...rather what you will have.

I will say that you can 'restore' the truck without having to know exactly what you have. I mean, many stovebolters don't go back completely pure in the restoration phase. If you do restore it and keep it original, that doesn't mean you can't do what you want with it. It just means it remains an old truck rather than a hotrod. If it is important to you, for some reason, to keep it pure, then without the original engine, I'd say you need to start with something else. If you can restore it to look, feel and drive like original, with our without the original engine and be happy with it then I weigh in on the side of original. I personally don't find anything more gratifying than moving thru the gears in an old truck on a summer evening... That is just golden.

If you are interested in figuring out what engine you have and there are not markings at the locations shown in the link I gave above, you might want to post some photos (of the valve cover and the two sides of the block).

If you have two bolts through the valve cover you most likely have an 216 or an older 235 engine.

If 1869002 is pressed into the ledge just to the rear of where the distributor enters the block, you might have a replacement engine. There should be several other casting codes on the block and head that should help to identify the engine.

Well I hate to say it, but their opinions should probably matter more than mine.

Could your motor be a GMC?

I honestly have both but I love driving my original and I can't wait to drive the hotrod I am designing and gathering parts for. I believe you should leave it stock because mine has a motor out of a 63 chevy truck in it but I made it look original.
I would preserve the history of our truck and take it back to its original glory.
Thanks
Brad