Does anyone know what engine this is?

Unknown

Can anyone tell me which engine this is, or how I might be able to tell? I had purchased a '49 Commodore, but looked up the serial number on it and it was supposed to have a straight 8, but it obviously has this straight 6 with the Twin H. So, I am unsure of which manuals to get or replacement parts, since I can't tell what year this engine is from. I also read another blog which gave some description of the 7X racing motor and some of the "tail-tail signs" seem to correspond with this engine. Namely, the top front is stamped with a 232, but the header bolts are 1/2" and there is a double rib along the engine case about the oil pan.

Does anyone know if these do indicate it is a 7X, or what other features I should be looking for?

Thanks for the help.

Marconi

First off, is there an engine number stamped on the right front top corner of the block? It's stamped vertically in front of the exhaust manifold runner. That will give us a rough idea of what year it is. It's definitely a 308 w/ Twin-H, but start with any number on it and go from there. The 232 on the head is from a Pacemaker engine and gives the 308 a real compression boost, maybe too much for today's fuel.

SuperDave

So far it appears to be a 51-54 block. In addition, It appears that the head bolts have been changed to studs. Someone in the past,appears to know what they were doing.

[Deleted User]

It does not have the build out on the left side by #2 cylinder which was used to stamp the engine number on. It's a 51 to 54 308, just post the numbers like said above. Look under the distributor for the factory serial number, if it starts with a 3 for a total of 6 numbers, 51 to 54, but if it starts with a 5 for a total of 7 numbers, it's a 55 or 56 engine. Again, there is no such thing as a 7X engine from the factory, they were built by garages or the Hudson repair department when ordered, which was only for a couple of months when the factory LAWYERS, make them discontinue this item. What you got then was an engine bored 0.030 over and the crankshaft was 10 and 10 under, mains and rods, all else was stock. Walt.

Unknown

Thanks.
After looking, the number stamped vertically on the right is: T55088 and the serial number under the distributor is: 304539, CWC, 2.
So, any idea what all this means?
Also, any recommendations on where I go with it from here? I am a complete novice at this and am learning as I go.

Unknown

The number stamped vertically on the right is: T55088.
It was mentioned that the 232 potentially gives too much of a compression boost. Is this something I should be concerned about?

Marconi

The stamped number, T55088 sounds like a state issued number for a replacement engine. In Calif that number would have been 55088CAL and would have been stamped in the block by the Highway Patrol. Anyway it looks like a replacement engine, it is a 51 to 54 block with a 232 head on it. If you're going to overhaul or rebuild it I would replace it with a good 308 or 262 head, otherwise get it running and see what it sounds like. It may work O.K. for you. Get it running first and then see what you need to do.

Lee ODell

There is another group of 3 or 4 numbers cast above the 304539 under the distributor. That number will give you the date the block was cast. For example 534 would be May 3, 1954 or 2233 Feb 23, 1953.

First number 1-Jan, 2-Feb, 3- Mar ........
Second or second and third number is the day.
Last number is the year of manufacture.

I have a replacement 308 with a 1952 vin number but a 1954 casting number under the distributor. So you can not alway depend on the vin number or head number for accuracy on the year of manufacture.

Hope this helps you out.
Lee O'Dell