The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Matching Engine With Pickup

I am trying to find out if the engine I have is the original engine installed in my truck when it was built. I have a 1951 Chevy 3600 with a 216. Any suggestions on how to go about finding this information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Many states titled vehicles by engine number. If your engine number on the title matches and the numbers on the engine look factory. If your state did not title by engine number, it is going to be difficult to determine if the engine is original.

Start by giving us the numbers stamped to the rear of the distributor on the flat pad.

Well, this may be impossible to find out. I looked for the serial number on the engine and it is not there, the only numbers on the engine is the casting number on the block (3835253). I also got in touch with the guy I bought the truck from. He doesnt know much history about the truck either. It was his grandpa's and no one is around anymore that would know any thing about the truck. Is there anywhere to find a spec sheet of this truck when it was built via the Truck serial number?

If there is no stamping next to the distributor it would be a replacement engine.
If you pull the starter off there is a casting date on the block behind it.
If you can link to some pictures of the engine, we can come close to what year it is.

I have 3 pictures of the engine. Let me know if you need more. Here is the link: http://www.advanced-fleet-services.com/Travis.html

I can see in the picture a circle with 48 in the middle just ahead of the distributor. 1948 and 49 engines have this casting.
You can confirm the year by cleaning the ares that looks to be still greasy behind where the starter blocked.
The exact casting date will be there.

Yes it does have a 48 on the side. So this means it is a 1948 engine?

Here are locations of date casting codes.

Head and block casting code locations are also shown.

Post your codes here and someone will help you figure it out.

Both 48 and 49 had that casting.

Ok, Here is what I have.
On the block:
CONV1 E 69

On the Cylinder Head:
CON13 G 231

E= May
6= sixth day
9= 1949

The head could be 1941 or 1951
A 1941 head would have 10mm spark plugs.
A 1951 head would have 14mm spark plugs.

It is most likely the original 1951 head for your truck.

Thanks for the info. So I gather from this that the block is likely to be a replacement?

What does the CONV1 mean?

Speculation is that it shows what conveyer the engine was to go down for assembly.

Oh ok. Do you know why this engine does not have a serial number stamped behind the distributor?

Or it has been ground off.

During it's life-time, if the block has been decked, these characters would have been removed, during the process.

Not on a 216, you are thinking small block.
They would only be ground off if it was done intentionally.

I assume though even if these numbers have been removed at sometime the engine is not the original engine the pickup was built with, because the truck is a 51, the block is a 49 and the head is from 51. Are my assumptions correct?

In my opinion you have it right.
I am not sure it was true in all States but in most States cars and trucks were titled by the number stamped on the engine.
You most likely have a crate engine or someone ground the numbers off.

Aye yep

My various old GM trucks have had 50/50 titles/registration using the engine ID or the body/cab plate ID, with a different ID location used in different trucks in two states.

Also, I have a 54/55 GMC with a replacement engine with a smooth boss with only the engine size on it (270); and, a 54 truck 235 with the old engine ID ground off altogether. In either case, I could punch any code I wanted into the boss. There was not need to do that in NY.