Engine Identification

[Skip Lackie]

Don't forget that until the early 1950s, many states used engine numbers for registration purposes. Replacement engines were supposed to be stamped by the dealer with the number from the engine that was replaced. Perhaps this is a replacement engine that was mis-stamped by the dealer, or was installed in a much older truck that had a engine number that started with a T. BTW, Stude used the letter I for the number 1. Just one of their idiosyncracies.

[rwmarr]

Engine numbers

Yes it is in a smooth area on the front of the block drivers side. The numbers are preety worn. They are as clean as we can get them. It is an engine out of another truck that he has rebuilt. The other truck was also a 49, but I guess that doesnt mean that was the origonal to that truck either. It is deffinatley A "T" at the start it is the second and fourth letter or number that are hard to read. They look like "I"s. I took a pencil impression and used dye penetrant to improve being able to see them, but they just dont match what I'm finding on the net.

[Dwain G.]

The engine serial number would be stamped on a smooth area of the engine block at the top, front, left side of engine. Is that where you found this 'T' number? Studebaker had some 'T' engines, but they would be much older than this truck. I don't think the numbers went up that high anyway. Clean that area again with some solvent and a small wire brush. Maybe the 'T' is actually an 'H'. That would make more sense, but it would still be an older engine.
It might help to know the engine block casting number. Try to find some raised numbers somewhere around the distributor. Look for six digits beginning with '52----' or '19----'.

[rwmarr]

I'm trying to help my father-in-law with his '49 Studebaker truck with a supposed commander engine. The numbers are very hard to read on the block, but looks like it is TI2I693. I have searched on the net and have found no numbers starting with the T. Can anyone shed any light on this?