Chev engine identification

[Nathan O'Malley]

Definitely a blue flame but would like to know a date and how many horses it may be packing.

[Shaun Mastin]

Late 40’s early 50’s pretty sure
I think it’s the same size as a 235 but with bigger bores in it
I think ? ,
Couldn’t tell you the hp

[Lang]

This engine is a a replacement hence the R prefix and ratty hand stamped numbers. Up to the 60's replacement engines were supplied blank and the mechanic would stamp the old number but not the prefixes (which told what factory and date). Unfortunately without the letter prefixes of the old number we can not identify it from this. No Chevrolet factory 6 cylinder engine number was ever a single "R" prefix.

Your casting number does not match any I can find. There are many detailed Chevrolet casting number sites listing every model ever made. The year and number are not sequential and much later motors had smaller numbers in many cases.

I believe, if you look hard again at your casting number it will be 383 7 004

not 383 1 004. Which would make it a mid-fifties 261 - a winner out of all the Chevrolet early 6 cylinder motors!

[Nathan O'Malley]

Sorry mate I thought the casting number photo had uploaded apparently not so I’ve attached it here.

I thought I may have misread the number when I couldn’t find a 1004 it seems like a strange looking 1. If it is indeed a 261 that would be a nice little win

[Lang]

Yes, it is a 7 and you have a 261.

Lang

[Grant Bowker]

For more on Chev 261 identification see: http://devestechnet.com/home/thevenerable261
There's also good information through www.stovebolt.com

[Lang]

Nathan

I think you will find your numbers are on a Canadian built motor. Many of the Chevrolet casting charts found on line (not only Chevrolet but Chrysler and Ford) completely ignore the huge production that the Canadians have achieved over the years and only include USA production.

It took me several searches where your numbers did not match anything listed before finding at first a list on Hemmings then eventually a couple more confirming it is a Canadian 261.

As you are probably aware the US/Canadian company splits are smoke and mirrors BS designed to produce vehicles for the many British Commonwealth countries during a period when non-British goods suffered huge import tariffs.

If you Google a map of the old factories you will see that the US and Canadian factory workers can talk to each other across the river without raising their voices! There are hundreds of apocryphal stories about the Canadians and Americans having Made in USA or Made in Canada stamps to put on components, and indeed full vehicles, as they wandered back and forth across the border.

If someone has not written a book on the subject they should.

Lang