1949 248cid - help decoding S.N. (to figure out if I have Babbitt or insert bearings)

Hi. I have a '41 Buick Super, and I'm going to be replacing the engine with a nice, low mile 248 from a '49 Special. It came out of my friend's wife's car, which was a very strong-running, clean car with 59k miles on it (they're installing a nailhead, so I got the straight eight).

I'm trying to figure out if this engine has Babbitt or insert bearings without taking the bottom end apart. The engine serial number is 54671255 (although the "1" looks more like an "I"), and the VIN from the '49 is 35253284.

Does anyone know where in the production run they made the switch to insert bearings? And, based on the S.N. above, can you tell when this engine was produced or where IT fell in the production run?

Thanks for the help.
Curt

The engine number you gave, 5467125 5 translates to a 1949 Super. I don't know when the inserts started, but seem to remember only a few thousand , maybe 5000, did not have inserts. Yours comes way into the years run, maybe half way.

The 1's are I's in Buick numbers. As well as 6's and 9's are lower case b.

Ben

Quote:

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Originally Posted by firstofeight

Yours comes way into the years run, maybe half way. The 1's are I's in Buick numbers. As well as 6's and 9's are lower case b.

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This is good to know. Thanks Ben—like I said, the engine is clean, low mile, etc. so if I know it's already got the insert bearings I'm probably not going to go farther than doing the head, re-gasketing everything, and rebuilding the bolt-ons (water pump, etc.) And yes, it is from a Super...engine's from a Super, rear's from a Special. Too many Buick parts to keep them all straight.

Thanks for the info!
Curt