Stupid identification .....

[nali]

I found an engine for my 1938 . The sellers was sure it was a 263 from a 38 Mac Laughin . He had the great idea of cutting a running Buick frame to weld a Ranger frame and a SBC . Didn t argue . I have a whole front , suspensions , engine , trans for not too expensive , and far less than fixing my old rusted parts :P
I ve check http://buicks.net/shop/reference/engine_ident_52.html to no more about the engine , but no number match what I have ...

The cast number is on the right of the distributor , and is B 102 294 .
What is it exactely ? The cover valve is 30 inches , not 33 as a 320 .
Thanks a lot .
Phil

[1939_buick]

A 263 is basically a 248 bored out a little
Casting numbers are not part numbers or serial numbers
What is serial number ?

[Bob]

sometime the stamps aren't very clear, and sometimes they are missinterpeted.

It could be that the series number wasn't stamped, and the "B" is a 3. Then you would have seven numbers and they would show as a 1938 which may be possible.

http://www.teambuick.com/forums/view..._engine_til_52

[39CENT]

[quote=1939_buick;73532]A 263 is basically a 248 bored out a little
Casting numbers are not part numbers or serial numbers
What is serial number ?[/quote

One thing to be aware of is that a 263 basically 'looks like' a bored out 248, but when it comes to interchanging, only some external parts fit. Also it was first introduced in the US in 1950. A 263 block is very different internally, which is something I learned when i first got on this site. From my own experience a 263 will bolt up to a 39 Buick, and it should bolt to a 38?? but as I recall the fan is not centered so may require an electric fan.

[nali]

Thanks . I made a mistake . The number I give is the engine number , not a cast number .
It s on the engine number boss , as shown on the link .

[nali]

Got it






Sad news I don t have the bellhousing and the clutch .
For the price , I have a whole front with 6 lugs drums , vented , a rear , 4 springs , the trans ( not the same I had before , the donor is a Special ) and a few things .

Edit : what is supposed to be fixed to the valve cover ? The dead 38 engine I had before didn t have the sheet plate on the right side .. ?

[alleycat]

Without a doubt, it is a 263. It also looks to be a 1950, the very best one you could have got your hands on! Congrats! alleycat

[nali]

This make my day :P
The engine is from a 1938 .
The trans does nt fit my torque tube 1938 .. Don t care , I plan to install a manuel 5 ..
What makes you sure it a 263 instead of a 248 ?
Yesterday I even found 2 horm for 1 $ the pair in Granby .:P
I let 2 $ , I m too generous ..

How can I identify for sure a 248 vs a 263 ? Without removing the head , of course ..

[bob k. mando]

there was NO 263ci in 1938.

production for the 263ci only ran from 1950-53.

the 248 ran from 1937-50.

there were 10 different displacements of Buick straight 8 ( starting in 1931 ), but the vast majority of the production run was the 320 ( 1935-52 ) and 248.

the 248 and 320 were the only production engines available from 1937-49 so you've got a swap engine if it does check out as a 263.



It also looks to be a 1950, the very best one you could have got your hands on!

why is the first year production the best year, alleycat?

[nali]

I know there was no 263 in 1938 .
Maybe there s been a swap .
The trans I have doesn t fit my torque tube , it s strange , or maybe it s because it comes from a big Mc Laughin ..

Edit : the carb is a Stromberg Aerotype AAUVB 267 , and it seems this was used on the 1950/53 263 CID engine . It seems you are right alleycat