which engine do I have?

[jeffbcn]

Greetings,
Newbie here, first post. I recently purchased a 47 chevy thriftmaster. I love this truck already. I'm trying to find out which engine I have. It has been halfway converted to 12 volt. The casted number on the head is 3836850. The serial number on the block is 24768er cal. The engine has no oil filter.
I have done some research. It should have a 216 but the head number comes back as a 261 from 55 to 62. Since it has no oil filter I assume it could be 55 to 57.
The engine serial number seems untraceable. I can't find that number anywhere.
I did use the search option and followed to the mentioned sites. Still nothing.
I have no history on this truck and really want to know. Any suggestions?

[OrrieG]

Take a look at this. Then post what you find.
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/en...tification.htm

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by jeffbcn

Greetings,
Newbie here, first post. I recently purchased a 47 chevy thriftmaster. I love this truck already. I'm trying to find out which engine I have. It has been halfway converted to 12 volt. The casted number on the head is 3836850. The serial number on the block is 24768er cal. The engine has no oil filter.
I have done some research. It should have a 216 but the head number comes back as a 261 from 55 to 62. Since it has no oil filter I assume it could be 55 to 57.
The engine serial number seems untraceable. I can't find that number anywhere.
I did use the search option and followed to the mentioned sites. Still nothing.
I have no history on this truck and really want to know. Any suggestions?

If its a 261 head then is certainly not a 216 motor, they would not interchange. Possibly you have a 261 or a 235. those heads interchange with slight modification. It was a common swap back then to replace a busted 216 with the 235 or 261

[jeffbcn]

After looking at your reference link. It could be a 235. I see maybe 1 captain bar just forward of the starter behind the oil dip stick. Hard to see. No numbers on oil pan. Side panel stopped just short of spark plugs. 4 bolts hold down valve covers

[jeffbcn]

Clearly no captain bars. Must be a 235 with a modified 261 head.

[dwcsr]

this should be helpful for ID ing the 261

http://1954advance-design.com/Web%20...gine/index.htm

[jeffbcn]

Finally found block number 3764476 which belongs to a 58 to 62 235.
Head number 3886850 belongs to a 55 to 62 261.
I understand that back in the day a 216 to a 235 or a 261 was common and that the 261 head needed a slight modification to fit a 235. So I'm pretty clear now except if the block came from 58 to 62, where's the oil filter?

Thank you for all your help. I'm gonna like this forum.

[dwcsr]

no oil filters until 1963 230ci. 235 has an optional filter that really did nothing for cleaning the oil. 58 - 62 had hydraulic lifters, its the better of the 235's

[OrrieG]

My truck had a 58 passenger 235 in it when I got it. Had the factory cartridge type that hung on the manifold.