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Thread: need help identifying engine

  1. #1
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    need help identifying engine

    I recently purchased a 38 Buick and cant id what engine this is. the number behind starter is 43559793. any help would be appreciated.

  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by jeffro1938 View Post
    I recently purchased a 38 Buick and cant id what engine this is. the number behind starter is 43559793. any help would be appreciated.
    The first number (4) indicates the engine is for a Series (40) car. Series 40 (Special) cars used a 240 cubic inch engine. That suggests the answer to your separate question about the body. (No assurance that the engine and body were originally assembled as a unit. A lot can happen in 79 years.)

  3. #3

    Buick engine number

    Probably a typo, but small [ 40 series ] engines are /were 248 CI. Number behind the starter? The engine # on the 248 is in front of the distributor. The 320 # is behind the distributor. Not sure what one means "behind the starter".

    Ben

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    engine help

    thanks for help guys. this number is to the left of the distributor. directly under side cover plate bolt, so it would be a 320?
    .

  5. #5
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    Beginning engine number for 1938 (for all series) was 3396937. First '39 engine was 3572652. That would place yours late in the '38 model year. Assuming all numbers were actually built, engine production would have been 175,715.

    Buick engine numbers did not match frame numbers back in that era. Buick built more engines than cars and numbered each separately. Beginning 1938 car frame number (for all series and all plants) was 3219848. First '39 frame was 3405088. That agrees nearly exactly with published car production of 169,689. So indications are ~7000 more engines than cars were produced that year.
    What has been, can be again. (Bob Wills, 1942)

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by jeffro1938 View Post
    thanks for help guys. this number is to the left of the distributor. directly under side cover plate bolt, so it would be a 320?
    .
    The numbers pin it down to a '38 Special series engine. So it has to be a 248. Optional engines weren't available on Buicks back then.
    What has been, can be again. (Bob Wills, 1942)

  7. #7

    Identify engine

    jeffro, some pictures of the engine will help. Something does not compute. Do this for me. Drivers side. there is a crankcase ventilation intake. About 4 in x 2 in. Is it at the front of the engine or the back.

    The number you gave does indicate a series 40 which is a 248. Prewar serial numbers started with series number, in your case a four. Postwar, I believe, this was changed to the last number. I was under the impression all 320 engine numbers were behind the distributor while 248 numbers were in front. Pictures of that number and the location of the vent intake will help.

    Ben

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by jeffro1938 View Post
    thanks for help guys. this number is to the left of the distributor. directly under side cover plate bolt, so it would be a 320?
    .
    No.
    Not a 320ci. 320's are about 3" longer than a 248ci

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