Old Continental 4 cylinder power unit?

[Bill Stafford]

Hello:
I have found a continental 4 cyl power unit with multi disk clutch.
Any information anyone can give can give would be appreciated.
The tag on the block reads : 2 S12 279.
On the outer cowing a plate: P 39A 2 140.
I have no idea the age but I'm sure it's pre 20's or 30's
Thanks in advance.
Bill

[Jeff Chattin]

Does it have an aluminum crank case?

[Bill Stafford]

Cast iron I believe, It's has a dog box cowling and buried in vines
I'm trying to get some photos as of it .

[John Schwiebert]

Get some casting numbers from the engine block as well.

[Bud Tierney]

Can you be more precise re' what the tag on the block says the 2 S12 etc number is??
Ditto on the plate on the outer cowling P 39A etc number...
There was (maybe is, in your case) an odd P39A power unit, apparently the PU version of the J382 gas engine; there was also a JD382 diesel, all 41/2x6, unusual long stroke for Cont. Don't recall seeing the J/JD382 before; may not've been that popular an engine. If your engine model is the P39A, the other numbers will ID some of the accessories (carb, ign, clutch, etc.), and if there's no tag on the clutch itself Garrad Moon at monte's can probably decode it, if one of the numbers is the serial #.
Quick look thru a couple catalogs shows only the 4cyl B2, B4 and B5, dating from 1914 up, as 43/4x6, and the B7 and Power Unit version of the B7, the P52A, as 5x6.
Dates given for the B's in 1929/30 catalogs(which are NOT reliable as to dates) are:
B2: 1914-23;
B4: none;
B5: 1922-28 (maybe later if catalog info not fully up to date);
B7: 1925-28 etc as for the B5.
A 1938 Victor catalog says the B2, B5, B7 and P52A were cast in pairs; is yours??

[John Schwiebert]

Bud: J 382 engines used in 55/555 M-H tractors. When I taught ag mechanics I had a JD 382 with a ballancer in the pan and a Roosa fuel system. It came out of a fire truck! No not that common.

[Bill Stafford]

Went back for a second look and have some more info.
Outside data plate reads 39A 2 140, engine # S12 279
Engine plate on the block reads Continental Motors Corp ,
Muskegon MI. motor # 2 S12 279
One cast #'s on block S11 6019E
Some photos attached.......... OK, how do I do that ??

[Bill Stafford]

I think I got it.
Bill

[Bud Tierney]

Well, it's obviously not cast in pairs, at least...
My 50 Motor Trk/Trctr (covers 36-49 gas only) shows the MH 55, 47-49, with "own J382G", and a 55K, same years, with "own J382K". All specs given are the same for the two. This book doesn't show the 555's.
A 79 Fel-Pro catalog shows American Steel dredge built a crawler(??) they sold as American and as Terratrac models 1000, 1000D and 1010, that used the diesel...the Case section of that catalog shows models 1000, Industrial 1000, 1000C, 1000D, 1000BR and 1010 with the diesel, so the American and Terratrac must've actually been Case or Case-built (the Case models are listed under the Case crawler section in that catalog). An oddity?? A 94 Clevite catalog lists the Case "1000 Series" and "1010" as Combines, a mix of tractors and combines for 1030 thru 1090, but no "382" engine.
The 382's and 39A are in a 68 bearing catalog, just the JD382 in a 76 bearing catalog, and none in my next catalog, an 84 Federal Mogul.
If no one here has exact info, Garrad Moon at Monte's can probably tell you what it came with and what parts are available, if MH and/or Case laugh when you ask. Good luck.

[John Schwiebert]

Bud: Slow down here: Terrarrac became the Case line of crawlers. Case also had a model 1000 Combine. I looked at that engine, we did one constructed about the same way a good 10-12 years ago that was probably smaller in physical size and it was out of a 1914 car.

[enginenut2]

Well, I've found a Continental S-12 listed in a chart of industrial gas engines 10 to 45 HP in "Motive Power" magazine dated Oct 1930.The specs listed are as follows; 45 rated HP @1450 RPM, 4 1/4" Bore x 5" stroke, wt 840#,"L" head, gear oil pump, 3 main brngs,Bosch mag,electric start available,power unit is P-39-A weighing 1300#.Sure looks to be a good one to start with.

[Bud Tierney]

Well, now, that's fascinating....
I didn't finish bringing my Cont list up thru 60's, trying to figure out which PU went with which engine in Cont's weird and wonderful designations....anyhow:
Just as enginenut says, 38 Victor catalog shows S10, 11, 12, 15, and P39A as 4cyl 41/4x5, cast en bloc...that catalog doesn't show any J382's.
1966 Thompson engine bearings catalog is the one that shows the J382 and PU P39A as 41/2x6, apparently a misprint, and the misprint was carried over into a 68 Thompson bearings catalog. (Unless there was a major change in the P39A designation, but nothing refers to "early/late" versions, so that's highly unlikely).
1944 Sealed Power catalog agrees with the Victor, and it doesn't list any J382's.
45 Hastings agrees with Victor, showing two different pistons; doesn't show any J382's.

[John Schwiebert]

Bud: The and in no particular order Continental engine models such as the Z, H, E, G & J models I think all came about the time frame of the end of World War 2. They were all overhead valve engines and were also available in diesel versions. Maybe if you get a minute see when they were introduced.

[Bill Stafford]

Thanks everyone for the information. This will give me a good start since I'll be picking it up in a few days with wasp spray in hand.
If anyone comes up with a manufacturing date that would be great.
All the best.

[Bill Stafford]

Up date on the 39A continental power unit:
Removed the head and only one cly was stuck.Soaked it, cleaned it up, turns free, and looks like it will run.Still need to go over the carb and mag.
Any source for a head gasket ? I thought i read somewhere there was a chap making replacement copper sandwiched head gasket.
Bill

[Bud Tierney]

Gasketstogo.com is one of the sponsors here (click on "sponsors" at top of page, and scroll down thru ads, he'll be there).
There's also olsonsgaskets.com, Port orchard, WA, often recommended on the various old farm/ag sites. Good luck.

[Bill Stafford]

Thank you for the information

Bill

[Jim Ryan]

While we're on the subject of old Continental 4 cylinders, I've
got one in a 1922 truck that I have suspicions is a later model. The id plate on the block gives a "Motor Number"
183 K44163. The cylinders are not cast in pairs, but it is an
"L" head.

[Bud Tierney]

Is there any more on the tag?? Cont did use numbers for engine models in the 1920's and 1930's, but they only went up to 48B, and all the 30's B's to 48B were Brockway engines; I've foung nothing like a model 183 designation.
There was an old Cont K in a 1917 catalog (41/4 bore) and a K4 (41/8x51/4) dating from around 1922 or so, both 4cyl's.
What's the make and model, maybe I've got a listing for the original engine.

[Bud Tierney]

Forgot to mention the K disappears quite early, but the K4 (early and late versions) was used in a whole raft of trucks: 40 listed in the 1930 McCord, and it's lists that I've checked in my other catalogs have never been complete yet.
Listings for the K4 seem to start 1921/22 and run through 28/29, altho didn't do more than eyeball a couple easy catalogs.