Pile of Parts
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2016 11:53 pm
1947 KBS-5 in Fort Bragg, CA
I am restoring a 1947 KBS-5, she's been sitting for nearly 10 years in the redwoods but is in remarkably good shape considering...every day brings new questions and new answers but I'm eager to learn. At present I'm having trouble even being certain about the motor type, clearly not the GRD233 indicated on the firewall tag, an overhead valve, likely a BLD250, but it doesn't look like the motor I see illustrated in the "K" and "KB" line manual as mine has a low distributor and the port for the radiator is forward of the valve cover, which has an angled corner to make room for it. I believed earlier today that it best resembles a Black Diamond which I understand to be a later engine type. But I cant find any verification of a Black Diamond that had a 250 displacement, (the bore on mine is 3 and 9/16ths, the stroke appears to be 4 and 3/16ths, the cubic inch displacement is 250.4417). It certainly does not appear to be a tilt-valve motor, despite the head gasket # being for a tilt-valve Silver Diamond. The "IH" man on tractor is embossed on the forward driver side of the block, no triple diamond logo, and I cant locate the engine number not knowing where to look and a lot of degreasing yet to do. The oil filter mount points downward. The original paint color on the block is black, if that detail even matters. I mention all this because I cant seem to locate a motor type that shares all of these characteristics in the books or online, although there seem to be a lot of other people having trouble with this similar issue and different motors, so the internet seems rife with more confusion and speculation than educated answers. I ordered gaskets for a black diamond motor this morning, sure hope they'll fit...it needs a new exhaust manifold as well, the casting came apart in several pieces. So, there are the puzzle pieces, I sure would be grateful for a definitive answer as I have parts to order! Thanks!