On typical GM stovebolt blocks we have the date of casting.... C for March 17 for date and 1 which can be 51 or 61.....
Or 1941! You then have to go by engine number and / or casting nunber to work out which year!
The we have a seperate casting number 3835327....... referred to as the block casting number....
Number 3835327 was a McKinnin Industries Ltd casting used in Canadian 216 engines it seems from 1948-50 but there could be a 1951 casting, possibly for spare parts replacements?
Than a unique serial number on the flat near the dizzy ...sometimes with a prefix.....
The nunbers are more or less sequentail year on year but the new numbering system started in 1946 it seems. Preifixes indicate something different about the use other than a manual car, e.g. C, X or T for commercial uses and R for rhd,
Questions..... in checking the block casting listed on Inliner International.... is the listing absolutely gospel..... or is the listing of documented numbers.... Reason for asking is we somethimes find numbers that are close to but not the same.... or are we reading them wrong due to crude, rust etc... 3 and 8 and 6 or 9 or 0 can be difficult....
They do not include Canadian castings and my website pages are probably better! http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/...ry/index2.html
Is there a listing of the unique stamped serial numbers and prefix available on the web...?
Only for 1955-57 Canadian Tri-Chevies, and only as regards engine nunbers. Anything esle, I look to my database to see.
Can the serial number be related to the casting date (circa) and tied in to the 7 digit block casting number ex. 3835327
Yes, and sometines blocks were used one-year only.
Now for the tricky part .... when we dig up a Canadian Pontiac 261.... can the Chev listing apply to ID time/year of manufacture..... will the serial number have a special prefix such as "W".....304525.
W prefix is Pontiac Astro-Six 261, and 9 is Powerglide, whether Chev or Pontiac. This Forum is always a mine of information: http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/index.spark The casting date coide will identify the year and the serial number will confirm.
So many things to learn..... so little time.
I have been at this for nearly 20 years and still learning!
Thanks for your help David......
At last some work to so on MLU!
