Jack Worstell Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 The engine number on our 1937 Special is 43170447 But the number ( on the engine block ) is to the rear of the distributor ...toward the firewall ??? I thought on the small straight eights the engine number was supposed to be forward of the distributor ....toward the radiator ??? Jack Worstell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted March 23, 2018 Share Posted March 23, 2018 I think you are confusing the 248 which should be in your car with the later 263 engine. The 248 engine number is near the rear of the engine. The 263 engine number is forward of the distributor. I am only familiar with 1937 and 1938 so I have no idea when the switch to the 263 engine occurred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 2 hours ago, MCHinson said: I think you are confusing the 248 which should be in your car with the later 263 engine. The 248 engine number is near the rear of the engine. The 263 engine number is forward of the distributor. I am only familiar with 1937 and 1938 so I have no idea when the switch to the 263 engine occurred. Matt, my `41 248 engine number is below lifter cover in front of the distributor, my `36 233 engine number is in front of the lifter cover. I`m not sure where the 263 engine number is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 I really only know about 1937 and 1938 and the engine numbers for those should be near the rear of the engine. I have seen online sources identifying the 263 engine number as being forward of the distributor. I have no personal experience with 1936 engines or 248's (or any other engines) after 1938. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 And from Gary Wheeler's restoration here you can see where a 1937 Special engine number should be... near the rear of the engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary W Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 1937 Special: Engine # 4 3279307 1937 Range : First Engine # 4 3166225 to 4 3396936 But I have a question for all you statisticians out there: It appears that Buick produced 230,711 Engines for the Specials. They built 156,489 automobiles in the Special line. (All 8 models combined) By my math, there seems to be about 74,222 extra engines. What did they do with them? Just curious Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 (edited) I am not sure of the answer . I am sure that sometime, and I thought, erroneously it seems, that by 1938 the 248 engine number was in front, the 320 in back. I DO know by 1950 this is so. My 1950 Special came with the 248. The engine number is in front of the distributor. The 263, which was first produced that year is in front as well. I believe this is true on the 248 at least back to 1939. Reference over on Team Buick says these locations start in 1935. Obviously mistaken. Hope someone can clear this up. Ben Edited March 24, 2018 by Ben Bruce aka First Born (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Worstell Posted March 24, 2018 Author Share Posted March 24, 2018 Ben It;s the Team Buick reference that has me confused. As i read their reference...it says the numbers for small engine are to the front of the distributor and the numbers for the 320s is to the rear of the distributor....do you read their reference the same as I am ??? Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Worstell Posted March 24, 2018 Author Share Posted March 24, 2018 To elaborate on my previous post above......from the Team Buick website: Engine number location - 1935 on right side of crankcase. 1935-52 series 40, 50 on right side of engine near front. 1936-52 series 60, 70, 80, 90 on right side of engine near rear. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 (edited) https://www.teambuick.com/reference/ident_engine_til_52.php Quote Engine number location - 1935 on right side of crankcase. 1935-52 series 40, 50 on right side of engine near front. 1936-52 series 60, 70, 80, 90 on right side of engine near rear. Like others I consider the teambuick not well written. My '39 248ci have the engine serial number under number 3 plug. Edited March 24, 2018 by 1939_Buick (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 3 hours ago, Jack Worstell said: Ben It;s the Team Buick reference that has me confused. As i read their reference...it says the numbers for small engine are to the front of the distributor and the numbers for the 320s is to the rear of the distributor....do you read their reference the same as I am ??? Jack Yes, Jack. And that is the way it is for my 1950, right below and between #4-#5. Obviously not there in '39 per 39_Buick, so must have started in 1940. That needs to be straightened out . Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Look where the engine number is on the `36 40 series 233.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 10 hours ago, Gary W said: 1937 Special: Engine # 4 3279307 1937 Range : First Engine # 4 3166225 to 4 3396936 But I have a question for all you statisticians out there: It appears that Buick produced 230,711 Engines for the Specials. They built 156,489 automobiles in the Special line. (All 8 models combined) By my math, there seems to be about 74,222 extra engines. What did they do with them? Just curious Gary Not an expert but, My best guess is some were used in non-automotive machinery. Some were built for service replacement. I have read that Flxible buses used Buick engines in that era. Perhaps other manufacturers also used Buick engines. Did McLaughlin Buick use US manufactured Buick engines? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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