JRamage

Hello all,

I am hoping someone out here can help me. I have a 1947 Oldsmobile series 68. Flathead 8cyl. I am in the process of putting a new water pump on it. I bought a new one from Kanter. I installed it and started putting coolant in it. I put 2-1/2 gallons in it and it started leaking between the block and the water pump. Upon further inspection, the new water pump doesn’t have a provision for the hole in the block (by what I am understanding from the shop manual it’s a pressure relief for the cooling system.) any one have any ideas, knowledge of what I need to do? I appreciate all your help in advance.

thank you,

jake

New water pump

Old water pump

Compared

Three holes are for the mounting. The hole at the top of the block in the center is where it’s leaking when I installed the new water pump.

JRamage

UPDATE*. I talked to the fine folks at Kanter. they say they have the correct water pump for this engine. They think that maybe the engine was swapped sometime many years ago. I will be looking for casting numbers here in a little bit. Any good resources for breaking down the casting numbers?
Thank you

Charlie Jones

Post some pics of the numbers you find on the block.
The engine serial number should be stamped on a machined pad on the left side of the block in the upper corner.
Also post pics of any casting numbers or casting dates you see on the block.
I have a number of books that I may be able to research an answer.

I checked my parts book, and found that all '37 to '48 Olds ( exc '48-98 ) used water pump gasket # 416433 .
1948 98 and '49 & '50 76 models used a different gasket # 419807.
It's entirely possible that someone in the last 76 years put a '49 or '50 "76" motor in it to keep it going.

JRamage

I only found two numbers one on the side of the block and one on the head. I will do some more searching when i get another chance. thank you.





Numbers on the head

number on side of block

Charlie Jones

Those numbers that you posted are casting dates.
The head was cast on April 25th, 1947 (or '37)
The block was cast on April 22nd, 1947 (or '37).

The casting date codes decode as follows.
The letter indicates the month, A=Jan, B=Feb, C=Mar, D=Apr, etc.
The next digit or two indicate the day.
The last digit is the last digit of the year . 7=1947 (or possibly 1937)

It's not going to matter if it is a 1937 engine, because the water pump gasket was the same '37 to '48.
There is a number stamped on a machined pad on the upper left corner of the block.
It is circled in the picture below.
You may have to wire brush it to read it clearly.
That is the engine serial number.
That number will tell us for sure what year engine you have.

JRamage

I got it cleaned off. Says 8-63797 H

thank you

Charlie Jones

That "H" suffix means Hydra-Matic.
Hydra-Matic wasn't offered until 1940,so that defiantly makes it a 1947 engine.

jborregoy2k

Thanks for the info Charlie, helped to figure out my 48 98.

By the way, is there something as a “Birth Certificate” for Olds? I have VW and you can find production dates, color, accessories, export company, and so.