440 Engine

Nov. 18, 1941 - MB100001 thru Mar. 6, 1942 - MB125809 NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
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pbr332
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440 Engine

Post by pbr332 » Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:48 pm

I have had this Willys 440 engine for about 25 years, info as follows:
machined boss stamping 440-26877 with 80 stamped under the 68
Side casting 10-31 636953 N1-CR-N2
So my questions are, how old is this engine? Is it an MA engine, Willys Americar, early MB, other? What about the head? The head is painted silver and has a 6-16 casting date, as well as 63S6609 below that and W3 below that, The block is semi gloss dark forest green. The block paint appears to be original.
I have a December '41 MB with no data plates but by the axle dates my best delivery estimate is between 12-21-41 and 12-28-41.
Frank Asturias, SFC U.S. Army (ret) MOS 88L40, MVPA 5519
2 '41 MBs, one wrecked
2 '42 MBs
1 "42 GPW
1 '43 MB
3 '43 GPWs


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Michael O.
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Re: 440 Engine

Post by Michael O. » Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:51 pm

You have a Willys Americar engine. It would not have been installed by the military but it is a very common post war civilian swap.

I believe your engine was cast 10-31-40.

Out of curiosity, what are your ‘43 GPW’s serial numbers? I’ve been searching for any of the other 5 GPW’s that were shipped with mine from the factory. Doesn’t hurt to ask.
Michael O’Connell

Too many jeeps…and a Dodge.

MVPA 13861

pbr332
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Re: 440 Engine

Post by pbr332 » Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:59 pm

Thanks, Michael. I'm tossing coins as to what engine to install in my '41 MB when I do a depot rebuild, I have a '43 MB engine I can use, or I can rebuild this 440 engine and use that. Neither engine is original to the jeep but so few MBs and GPWs have the original engine that I'm not worried about it.

My GPW numbers are GPW 106480 delivered 4-6-43, original steel data plate. also I have GPW 154488, delivered 10-29-43. The third '43 Ford is buried under multiple tarps, I'll have to get to it next week.
Frank Asturias, SFC U.S. Army (ret) MOS 88L40, MVPA 5519
2 '41 MBs, one wrecked
2 '42 MBs
1 "42 GPW
1 '43 MB
3 '43 GPWs

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Michael O.
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Re: 440 Engine

Post by Michael O. » Fri Dec 08, 2017 4:29 pm

I would use the MB motor you have. Military depots would not have used a civilian engine. Besides, it will only add value to your restored MB.

Thanks for the GPW serial numbers. Curious what the third one is.
Michael O’Connell

Too many jeeps…and a Dodge.

MVPA 13861

pbr332
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Re: 440 Engine

Post by pbr332 » Fri Dec 08, 2017 8:23 pm

I can use the MB engine for my '41 jeep, but I have two other slat grill jeeps and only one has a wartime engine. I can put off the last one for a while and hopefully trade the 440 engine for an MB engine. My Jan. 5 '42 MB has an F head engine, I was hoping to trade it for a closer one.
Frank Asturias, SFC U.S. Army (ret) MOS 88L40, MVPA 5519
2 '41 MBs, one wrecked
2 '42 MBs
1 "42 GPW
1 '43 MB
3 '43 GPWs

pbr332
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Re: 440 Engine

Post by pbr332 » Wed Dec 13, 2017 10:11 am

My other '43 Ford is GPW 118191, delivered 5-24-43.
Frank Asturias, SFC U.S. Army (ret) MOS 88L40, MVPA 5519
2 '41 MBs, one wrecked
2 '42 MBs
1 "42 GPW
1 '43 MB
3 '43 GPWs

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Bangle 99
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Re: 440 Engine

Post by Bangle 99 » Wed Dec 13, 2017 11:33 am

What’s the date of your MB engine?
James Teel
Police Sergeant/Bomb Tech-Ret.
SFC OKARNG-Ret.
Edmond, Oklahoma
'43 Willys MB/ITM jeep
‘42 SS Cars lightweight trailer
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pbr332
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Re: 440 Engine

Post by pbr332 » Wed Dec 13, 2017 9:01 pm

The engine is stamped MB 226981, casting date 2-4. I believe that would be Feb. '43.
Frank Asturias, SFC U.S. Army (ret) MOS 88L40, MVPA 5519
2 '41 MBs, one wrecked
2 '42 MBs
1 "42 GPW
1 '43 MB
3 '43 GPWs

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Michael O.
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Re: 440 Engine

Post by Michael O. » Thu Dec 14, 2017 8:10 am

MB engines are somewhat plentiful so I'm sure you'll find one on here...in fact one was up yesterday and sold in a few hours. At least you would have a 100% period correct "motor pool" jeep. You could even install a GPW motor and still be correct.

As far as your 440 engine...you could run it. It would never be "correct" in any sense of the word though...like having a CJ motor in a g503... :roll: I have a Model 39 block...essentially the same as your 440 block....but nobody wants it since its civilian. I honestly can't even give it away because people don't want to pay the freight (and no, I'm not paying the freight on a engine I'm giving away for free...to the guy that asked me earlier this year!).

I have a Jan '42 MB...SN 111414. I would like to find an engine in the MB112XXX range for it! What's your 1-5-42 Slat Grill serial number? Do you know your original registration number?
Michael O’Connell

Too many jeeps…and a Dodge.

MVPA 13861

pbr332
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Re: 440 Engine

Post by pbr332 » Thu Dec 14, 2017 4:52 pm

My 1-5-42 slat grill serial number is MB 108809. That jeep is in the best overall shape of the three, with a pristine frame and a body that needs two new panels (driver's side, axe indent and below). and a new fuel tank sump. It does have an F head engine, though. I have not yet sanded down the hood or back panel to recover the USA number. A deer hunter had this jeep and sprayed thick beige-yellow primer all over everything, my best guess is the original paint is under there somewhere.

I just went through the back of my garage and found two MB engines I'd forgotten about, I've had them so long. One is stamped MB 395364, casting date 4-4. I'm assuming that would be 1944.

The next is stamped M 576274, casting date 3-17. I could not find any trace of a B after the M but it may just be so faint as to be almost invisible. I'm assuming this is a 1945 engine. At any rate, I won't have to use the 440 engine after all.

CJ2A engines were authorized replacement engines for G503s starting shortly after the supply of wartime replacement engines dried up. I have seen these with an MR (military replacement) stamp. From a mechanical engineering viewpoint, they are better engines than the wartime ones. Stronger crankshaft, bigger counterweights for smoother running, a gear driven cam and a reinforced head all made the postwar engines stronger, quieter and smoother.
Frank Asturias, SFC U.S. Army (ret) MOS 88L40, MVPA 5519
2 '41 MBs, one wrecked
2 '42 MBs
1 "42 GPW
1 '43 MB
3 '43 GPWs

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Michael O.
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Re: 440 Engine

Post by Michael O. » Fri Dec 15, 2017 5:39 am

pbr332 wrote:
Wed Dec 13, 2017 9:01 pm
The engine is stamped MB 226981, casting date 2-4. I believe that would be Feb. '43.
You are correct. Based on the serial number, this block was cast on Feb 4, 1943. The matching date should be around 2-7-43.
pbr332 wrote:
Thu Dec 14, 2017 4:52 pm
One is stamped MB 395364, casting date 4-4. I'm assuming that would be 1944.
Yes. Cast on April 4, 1944. The machining date should be on 4-6-44...add a day or two.
pbr332 wrote:
Thu Dec 14, 2017 4:52 pm
The next is stamped M 576274, casting date 3-17. I could not find any trace of a B after the M but it may just be so faint as to be almost invisible. I'm assuming this is a 1945 engine.
Correct. On many late MB motors, the “B” is stamped faint sometimes. This block was cast on a March 17, 1945 (on a wonderful day!). The machining date should be on 3-19-45...maybe a day or two later.
pbr332 wrote:
Thu Dec 14, 2017 4:52 pm
CJ2A engines were authorized replacement engines for G503s starting shortly after the supply of wartime replacement engines dried up.
Maybe so, but a CJ2A motor in a g503 is still not correct for a wartime motor pool restoration (sorry, I’m a purist). Most guys don’t care what engines are in their g503’s and that’s fine. I strive to at least get the correct unit (MB for an MB, GPW for a GPW) and then get the serial numbers as close as possible....which is much easier for MB’s, obviously.

Congrats on “finding” those two MB engines in your garage! I’m glad you have proper wartime engine to use in your Slat Grill. A much better option than your 440 block, I assure you. Is one of those MB blocks going to be surplus to your needs? I’d be interested in one if that’s the case!

BTW...thanks for posting the serial numbers and casting dates. Hopefully, those that are compiling MB engine data are taking notice. Having additional information like that which you posted is very helpful.
Michael O’Connell

Too many jeeps…and a Dodge.

MVPA 13861

pbr332
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Re: 440 Engine

Post by pbr332 » Fri Dec 15, 2017 11:40 am

I'm afraid both MB engines are spoken for, of my 3 slat grill jeeps two need wartime engines. I will be giving or trading away the F head engine when I do a rebuild on that jeep, Surplus City Jeep Parts is not too far from my house and they always need M38A1 parts so they'll get it. I'll be driving there to pick up a repro slat grill body anyway. But that's in the future. I acquired the L134 engines back in the early 90s as part of a trade and put them under the work bench for future use. But with all the deployments and missions that came up after 9-11, my jeep projects went into cold storage.

I had one of my '43 GPWs on display at the Travis AFB museum in the main building for 26 years. One day I had the hood up, doing some minor maintenance and an Air Force guy walking past looked at the L134 Ford engine, laughed, and said "All the power of a Singer sewing machine. Why would you want to keep that, anyway?" He was serious. My response was, Why does anyone keep an original engine in a Model A? He didn't answer, not surprisingly. He didn't want to have that conversation. I'm quite certain that if he owned it, he would put a V8 in it. I should have phrased my response in aeronautical terms and asked him if he thinks a P-51 engine should be installed on a Stearman.
Frank Asturias, SFC U.S. Army (ret) MOS 88L40, MVPA 5519
2 '41 MBs, one wrecked
2 '42 MBs
1 "42 GPW
1 '43 MB
3 '43 GPWs


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