My Engine is FREAKING me out!

[Shalka04]

My rear plate showed up today, so I thought i'd be putting in my engine this weekend. �Now i'm not sure if what I hav will even fit / work.

I held the rear plate against the back of the engine and some but not alot of the holes lined up. �Then I held it against the bellhousing. �This time the starter hole was way off. �I then held the bellhousing against the engine, and then I got worried. �
Here are some pictures:

This is my engine serial number. �I tried to look it up but couldn't find a list / directory complete enough, point me towards it once and i'll never ask again.

Here's a shot of how poorly the rear plate lines up with my bellhousing, and yet they are both supposedly for / from a cj3a. �I think NOT.

Looking at where the starter would mount, I feel like there's just to much of a gap there for the engine and bellhousing to be able to work together.

Looking on the other side of the engine, just behind the oil pump, again to much space for me to think this is normal. �The three vertical holes in the flange of the block makes me wonder if it's an M38 engine.
The back of the engine, again showing the 3 holes running vertical on the left and two ruiing vertical on the right just below the starter area.

Here's one of the housing, it has an "access" port on the right hand side which is covered by a rectangular plate, if that helps.
My casting darte number and housing serial number are as follows:



My questions, worries:
Can I work with what I have. �
If my engine is from an M38 is there anything I need specail for that or can I continue with regular CJ3A stuff.
My flywheel has the 129 tooth gear which came on late 3A's.
I need a new starter, am I wanting a CJ3a one or an M38 model?

Any thoughts would help me not feel like i'm in a bad way,

-John

[WTB853]

I can answer a few of your questions, but not all of them.  M38 engines (block and internals) are no different than 3a engines.  The head and all accessories are different, but the blocks are the same.  You can transplant all 3a stuff onto an M38 block.  You want to use a late 3a starter with the 129 tooth ring gear.  M38 starters work with a 124 tooth ring gear and are 24V besides.  The engine serial # in your first picture shows a 3a engine; the idea that M38 stuff is mucking up the works is incorrect.  Your picture shows a 10 bolt flange which should be the 804380 casting that started in 1952ish.  I am not familiar with the casting on the bellhousing and can't tell much about the rear plate, but maybe those are for a 4 bolt flange Lhead (641087 casting)??   Where did you get the rear plate and bellhousing?

[Shalka04]

WTB.. Thanks for the reply and the info.  It as well as some things I learned we're of great comfort.
Yes it looks like there was a period of overlap where the block castings were the same number for the late 3a's and M38's.  My 3a is a '53 so that hit's that.
The Bellhousing is a model 802929 which according to the parts book was appropriate after serial no, (452-GB1) 30973)

The real wacking here is the rear plate is actually for an early model 2a, and while it could also be used on some later 2a's apparently there's no way it would ever work with a 3a.

i got it from Jungle Jim's out of Yuma, and it's going back tomorrow.

-John

NOW I can order my starter and not loose sleep about making a mistake.