This should give you the info you need. https://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/4110.htm

@tiny From the way I read it the letter prefix on the engine serial number tells you where the engine was manufactured. According to the description it also tells you the model. For instance Flint produced engines with prefixes AA, AD, AAF etc.  How do I find out what these different prefixes tell me? I’d like to make sure anything I buy was a 1941 engine (casting number tells me that) and that it was used in a light duty truck as opposed to a car. Thanks for the help

I have the engine out of my 41 that I but a v8 in and not longer have the car. I would part with if your interested.

@dana-morgan69gmail-com-2 

Hi Dana

As per the information Tiny linked you to...

If you have a true AK, which is a 115 inch wheelbase 1/2 ton "commercial" truck,

then the serial number of an original engine should begin with the prefix AD for a Flint manufactured engine or AE for a Tonawanda manufactured engine.

You should find the serial number stamped into the machined flat surface on the block by the distributor.

Hope that's what you are looking for.

@dana-morgan69gmail-com-2 Dana, I assume you are doing this for your own satisfaction. If it is VCCA judging that you are concerned about, I can assure you that no one who ever judges your truck will have a clue as to whether it has the correct casting number or engine serial number. They will know that it I supposed to be an inline  six cylinder. They might be able to tell a 216 from a full pressure 235 if no effort has been made to disguise it.

I was on judging team with a guy whose 1940?-1946? truck was being judged by another team. He seemed shocked and confused when I asked him why it had fenders from a 1947-1954 Advanced Design pickup.

Mike

@ole-olson Thanks! That’s what I was looking for. I do have an AK in pretty good shape (I drive it locally). However it has a later engine in it. 216 but 1950 or 1951. I’d like to find a correct motor for it as part of restoring it starting next year. I found all kinds of conflicting information on engine serial numbers. Can you share the source that tells you the AD and AE prefixes were in AK trucks?

@35mike Yes it’s for my own satisfaction. Would like it as close to original as possible. Foolish because the later year 216 in it runs very well. I hope to take it to Hershey in 2031. My daily driver is a 2006 Chevy 3500 single wheel i bought new. Plan is to tow the 41 in a trailer with the 06 and put them both on the field.

@dana-morgan69gmail-com-2 

Following is part of the page Tiny linked you to.

The 1/2 ton was called a "light delivery" in this information.

@ole-olson what publication is the page from? Thanks

Take the link I posted. They're call Resto-Packs. You used to be able to get them free from GM. I don't think they do that any longer.

<An incomplete list of Resto-Packs>

@dana-morgan69gmail-com-2  @tiny

The information is available from the site Tiny links to... which supplies the same information you can get directly from the GM Heritage site here:

https://www.gm.com/heritage/archive/vehicle-information-kits

which has the 1941 Chevrolet truck page here:

https://www.gm.com/content/dam/company/no_search/heritage-archive-docs/vehicle-information-kits/chevrolet-trucks/1941-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf

where you can scroll down to page 13 and find it.

@dennis-christianson

Did it come out of a truck? If the numbers are right what would you want for it and where are you located. I’d have to get it shipped to Maine unless you’re in New England 

@ole-olson Thank you very much.

@dennis-christianson Did you get my reply?