40 E vin and production #'s

[bjk47]

I am curious to know if there are knuckles with a 40 E #### VIN and would they also have 40 E #### production numbers. I have heard that 40 E's were special factory police bikes. I have seen a set of cases with these numbers on them and the correct casting dates of
A 0 inside both right and left side cases. so what"s the poop? thanks

[Jerry Wieland]

Yes to both questions but a visual (picture) would be better.

Jerry

[bjk47]

thanks. i will try to get pics

[bjk47]

any idea how many were produced?

[flat-happy]

1940 E were 176 units but they were all sidecar equipped (ES) there were 3,893 EL's that year

[Chris Haynes]

Special, no. Low compression, yes. E was low compression and EL was high compression. Nothing special.

[bjk47]

thanks a bunch. but why did they put the E in the line bore/prod. #'s instead of the usual -? i have not seen another motor with a letter after the year number in the belly numbers.?

[flat-happy]

post a picture of them and maybe we can guess better

[T. Cotten]

Here's a '40 EL producton number.


....Cotten

[Chris Haynes]

thanks a bunch. but why did they put the E in the line bore/prod. #'s instead of the usual -? i have not seen another motor with a letter after the year number in the belly numbers.?

70 years after the fact you ask us why the MoCo did something? I dunno why, that is just the way it was done in 1940.
The 1940 model was a stepping stone. The small port heads were replaced by the large port. Four bolt carburetors replaced the three bolt. All in preparedness for the forthcoming 74" engine in 1941. 16" wheels became an option.

[jwl]

I think the numbering system may have had something to do with the anticipation of the F series being introduced with the 41 model year. The first 41's would have to have had 40 linebore numbers so there had to be some way of keeping the E's and F's separate. I'm not sure when the first 41 was actually produced though. At some point the moco ultimately kept them separate by stamping the F's with a 7 by the rear engine mount holes. But like Chris stated, who can really know for sure what they were thinking or doing 70 years ago.

[bjk47]

40 E

thank you all. the picture is exactly like on the 40 cases. i appreciate all the info. i am helping a friend to restore his 40 E back to original specs. where is a good place to buy cylinder sleeves? BJ

[bjk47]

40 E

thank you all for the info. I am helping a member to restore his 40E motor back to original specs. the pic is exactly like it is on his cases. BJ

[Chris Haynes]

thank you all. the picture is exactly like on the 40 cases. i appreciate all the info. i am helping a friend to restore his 40 E back to original specs. where is a good place to buy cylinder sleeves? BJ

Knucklehead cylinders are not good candidates for sleeving. Over the years I have seen them crack completely around the cylinder and the top half starts rising.
However if you must sleeve this is the place. http://www.lasleeve.com/master.html

[bjk47]

40 E

thank you all