Vintage Cars: 1950 chevy pickup, chevytalk, chevy pickup

Question
Is there any way to tell if the engine in my 1950 five window pickup is original? Should there be a VIN number stamped on the motor somewhere or other identifying marks?

Thanks


Answer
In 1950 I am pretty sure that the VIN was NOT stamped on the block.  But if it is the original engine, the codes on the block will still tell you if it was probably the original engine.  A date code cast into engines will tell when the block was cast (and probably the head and maybe intake/exhaust manifolds) and if that date is within a few weeks/months of the year of your vehicle, chances are it is the original engine.  If it is off by more than a few months, it probably isn't original.

Here is a page that gives some information on those codes:

http://www.mortec.com/locatpg2.htm

Here is another page with casting number info for heads and blocks:

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/1916-57cast.html

and another:

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/1916-57cast.html

and one more:

http://adlersantiqueautos.com/articles/htbuyaot4.html

This should give you a good start.

Don