What year was my 230 manufactured?

[Mendon-Man]

Hollo,
My winter project is rebuilding a 230 engine. I'm trying to determie the date of manufacture.. the numbers stamped on the block are T137-5462.
From what my research shows..this is a very early number..as most engines I've seen have five digits > T137-#####. Is there a listing?
Thanks

[Frank Irons]

You can check the Power Wagon Registry on the Dodge Power Wagon Forum to check serial numbers and engine numbers. I just happened to look at Cint Dixons record for his '47 WDX and his engine is listed as T137-5461!

Frank

[Steve in NJ]

The date is on the engine just below the dist.

There is also a date on the trans.

Steve

[Steve in NJ]

Did you find it on the block???

Steve

[Clint Dixon]

Hi Frank!

Hollo,
My winter project is rebuilding a 230 engine. I'm trying to determie the date of manufacture.. the numbers stamped on the block are T137-5462.
From what my research shows..this is a very early number..as most engines I've seen have five digits > T137-#####. Is there a listing?
Thanks

You can check the Power Wagon Registry on the Dodge Power Wagon Forum to check serial numbers and engine numbers. I just happened to look at Cint Dixons record for his '47 WDX and his engine is listed as T137-5461!

Frank

What are you doing looking over my shoulder? ;^)

T137-5461 is the original engine to serial number 83903787. Right now it sits on an engine stand, but will never stray far from the truck. I rebuilt and installed engine T137-7438 out of serial number 83905420 (also a 1947 WDX model) back in 1988 because 5461 was still running and I did not want to have the truck out of commission during the engine rebuild. When 7438 wears out, 5461 is getting rebuilt and will go back into its home.

I would be interested in finding out what serial number is on Mendon-Man's truck. I don't think engines were used in numerical order to match the truck serial number, but it is probably not too far away from mine. The two could even have been on the assembly line at the same time.

[Clint Dixon]

The date is on the engine just below the dist.

There is also a date on the trans.

Steve

On my early engines, I have never seen where the numbers below the distributor correspond directly in any way to a "date". Here are the numbers from my four T137 engines:

1946 model, T137-3711 - below the distributor is the number "77". Below that is the number "10-30"

1947 model, T137-5461 - below the distributor is the number "18". Below that is the number "D 29" (about an inch of space between the "D" and the "29")

1947 model, T137-7438 - below the distributor is the number "709". Below that is the number "J 2" (about an inch of space between the "J" and the "2")

1951 model, T137-21440 - below the distributor is the number "51". Below that is the number "1-12". This is the only one I have that I could see reflecting an actual date.

All the numbers are very distinct and easy to read.

[Eric B.]

Well I have not been very good about checking the casting numbers under the distributor, I just started adding that to the information I collected last year.

But the answer to the year of the T137-5462 engine is easy as Clint has shown you have a 1947.

This list compiled from the trucks I have checked is a good starting place:

http://t137.com/registry/help/engine/engine.htm

Scroll down towards the bottom to see the list of T137 numbers matched with years. All of those are trucks I checked both engine and serial numbers for, and the engines appeared to be original.

The only question left to answer in regards to T137-5462 is whether it is an original stamping or not. I find a lot of engines with various stamps, some T137, that are not original. Lots of people replaced engines over the years and then stamped the original number into the block. This is how you get a 1948 T137 number stamped into a block with a 1951 casting date for example.

I hope this helps,

Eric

[Mendon-Man]

Engine mfg date...

Hi Clint, Steve, Frank
First, thanks for the replies... its a big help.

I am unable to comfirm what the original truck serial number is. I bought the stand alone engine (* in poor condition ) as a project engine here in Mass. * It was sitting in the dirt.

I am quite confident that the engine serial number T137-5462 is the orginal engine number.. and thanks to Clint at least I know its a 1947.
Yes, I checked the PW Registry..though not mentioned specifically.. the serial number fell in the 1947 year grouping.

The engine is now on an engine stand is is well on its way to having a new life... The engine now having been stripped down to the bare block and throughly cleaned and inspected and painted... new con-rods, pistons, valves, valve guides, timing chain and every bearing and seal replaced with new parts through out.
All the peripherals.. carburator, starter, 6-V generator have been meticulously rebuilt..... along with new fuel pump, watere pump, clutch..
manifolds sand-blasted (* well, I did everything!)
This engine will go in my 51 B-3 ( when and if the good engine that's in the truck needs a replacement ) The engine project was for my pleasure and amusement during this long and snowy winter.

As to the raised numbers in the casting below the distributor .. they are
B 28 D 26 and off to the right is 1119729-3 .... I'm wondering if the last digits of the last number *29-3 could be March 29..?

Anyway: I still have a long way to go before I consider my winter project done.
When in the spring I will put the new pristine (museum worthy) engine out in my special little barn where I keep my "cool things to look at"....
Ha ha ..

Mendon-Man