New member from New Hampshire

[okiemark]

Sounds like you have a plan. I was going to suggest trying to rock it back in forth with it in high gear to get that last piston moving, but the stuck in neutral thing cancelled that. You have a lot to do there but you can get it done.

[bmorgil]

At this point I would suspect it is the original motor until proven otherwise. The number stamped by hand in the block right behind the water pump, is where the factory put the serial number of the vehicle it was put in. The number usually matches the serial number of the vehicle. There are exceptions to say the least. Some were not stamped at all for reasons that were production related. Some were removed from assembled vehicles that were not sold. Some were factory rebuilt. If during any rebuild the deck was milled the numbers will be milled off. Because the studs are still in yours, I would expect a number right behind the water pump on the deck surface. It should be 2 letters followed by six numbers. I think that is the "2" you have a photo of. I would say it doesn't look milled off but who knows! The "2" is odd.

The picture you have of the side boss looks like it begins with a MB. That would indicate it was destined or it was at one time in an MB. However, It is also very possible it was assembled for a military contract then "repurposed" because of the "wars" ending. As the old timers will tell you in the early 50's the plant was full of surplus Military and Civilian vehicles.