Silver/Black/"BG" Diamond engine ID and information

[Uselessdog01]

Originally Posted by John Donnelly

This is the overhead valve engine found in most IH pickups from late 1949 to 1959.



The above pic is of the first generation "Silver Diamond" engine and shows some queues when trying to visually spot your engine on your truck. Namely the low-mount distributor, and the reinforced tall valve cover.

What it won't tell you is the displacement. The early straight-valve engines also had "SILVER DIAMOND" cast into the engine block inside a set of the early "Triple Diamond" logo at the back end of the drivers side of the engine block. As the picture below shows.



Below shows the above engine installed, with some of it's accessories.



Note the engine mounting. Specifically the front motor mount, which attaches under the water pump. I don't know when IHC went to "dogbone" mounting, but have seen this under the water pump mounting as late as 1956 in some trucks. Also note the early oil filter canister. The one shown should be a "Marvel" brand filter assembly, and it uses the "sock-type" oil filter common to just about all manufacturers at the time. The filters are still available new, and easily sourced from NAPA, Baldwin, Fleetguard, and just about any auto parts chain or tractor supply.

Later on in the 50's (some time around 1955/56) International altered the Silver Diamond engine and came out with the "Black Diamond" engine. This motor essentially is the same as far as the lower-end of the motor goes, in fact, the intake and exhaust manifolds are even swappable. What is different is the cylinder head and oil filter setup.

This was the debut of the "Tilt-Valve" engine. Which IHC created to improve valve retention and decrease heat-related failures of thier engines from this family. Below is a picture of a Black Diamond engine.



This picture just barely shows the change in width of the valve cover to accomidate the larger rocker arm assembly used in the tilt-valve design, but also shows the earlier engine mounting system still being used.

Below you will see this same engine before installtion in the frame.



Note the oil filter assembly difference from the earlier pictures of the Silver Diamond engine. What is now used is another easily sourced canister oil filter that is of full-flow design. The canister isn't installed in this picture, but you can see the mounting header for it. Also note the fuel pump block-off plate. This is an SBC item that can be used if you choose not to run a mechanical fuel pump.

Also note that the Triple Diamond logo is no longer cast into the engine block. Instead, up at the front of the engine, you can see the famous "Man on the Tractor" IH logo we all know and love This is between the fuel pump block-off plate, and the timing cover.

If you have other pictures to share, or information to add, please post to this thread.

Keep on Binderin',

John

John, When I worked for IH I found that over the span of these engines there were at least four different oil filter setups. The original one on the Silver Diamond, a cartridge type bypass used on BD at least through the A series, a full flow cartridge type used until the early 70's in medium duty and a spin off used on the late BG in light duty and some 1600 Loadstars. There is a note in the service manuals for the factory branches that they do not interchange in the first three cases. The full flow cartridge is the same filter found on the V8 engines in the Loadstar and is interchangeable with the spin-on used in the 1971-2 pickup. The large crankshaft pulley in your picture is for use with an alternator which has to spin faster than a generator. You have to have the low bracket to use that pulley. Somebody asked about power steering. There was a bracket to mount a pump on the late BG's in the pickups and Travelalls. There is a lot of confusion over what BD stands for since IH designated two different engines with the same letters and they even got it backward once in the Master Service Manuals. The "modern" high rocker cover, short distributor engine is the Silver Diamond>Blue Diamond>BG. The Black Diamond is older, has a shallower rocker cover only slightly taller than the Red Diamond and like the Red Diamond has a long shaft distributor. It was made as a 269 and 308. I believe there was once a smaller version as well, but I never encountered one. When I worked for IH the 308 was still common. Most people I know call the modern engine the wrong color, but the other engine had at least the rocker painted black. I usually just use the letters rather than nit-pik the trivia. Thanks.

[carnuck]

Will the BG241 in the '68 Travelall I'm working on fit in place of most of the 6 cyls back to '49? I'm trying to find a new home for this great running motor as I am swapping out to V8. I put a new fuel pump and starter on it so it can be seen running. (took a short vid of it running too)

[Rob Peterson]

Will the BG241 in the '68 Travelall I'm working on fit in place of most of the 6 cyls back to '49?

Yes, starting with the 1950 L models - see if you can find a good home for it!

[msujones]

Is the 1949 SD 220 engine identical to the 1953 SD 220 engine?

[Bruce A. Frank]

Originally Posted by Doc Stewart

Randy: The manual steering is not strenuous at all except when stopped. I have never felt the need for power assist nor have I seen one installed. But I'd bet someone on this forum has done it and has pictures....

Long time later to pick up this thread, but I am in the process of installing power steering and power brakes. I have owned this vehicle before (same model, different serial number) and I have to say that with the large heavy carcass radials the previous owner has on this, I cannot turn the steering wheel without pulling my arms out of the sockets. I have to be moving at about 5 mph before the effort goes down.

I have two sets of tires and rims. I installed the bias ply M&S lug tires on it a few day ago and the effort to turn the steering wheel is literally 1/10 the energy. My previous Travelall was long before aggressive off road radials were available. My wife at the time was only 98 lbs and 5'2" tall. She had no problems with the steering with the heavy M&S bias ply tires. This vehicle with the wide foot print radials, she cannot back it out of the driveway because of the impossible steering effort.

While I am at it, I am also adding dual-boost power brakes.

[hoot17]

Originally Posted by carnuck

Will the BG241 in the '68 Travelall I'm working on fit in place of most of the 6 cyls back to '49? I'm trying to find a new home for this great running motor as I am swapping out to V8. I put a new fuel pump and starter on it so it can be seen running. (took a short vid of it running too)

Is this motor still for sale? If not does anyone know where there is a SD 220 Silver Diamond for sale for 1954 Pickup?

[carnuck]

Originally Posted by Rob Peterson

Yes, starting with the 1950 L models - see if you can find a good home for it!

I've been trying. At the low price I have it up for, I'm surprised no-one snagged it. I'd make it cheaper, but the new starter, Delco dist with Pertronix and new fuel pump weren't free! (or even cheap)

Originally Posted by hoot17

Is this motor still for sale? If not does anyone know where there is a SD 220 Silver Diamond for sale for 1954 Pickup?

It is. I didn't get notice of the post for some reason, ergo the late reply.