beacon,
Do you have some photos of your engine that you could post? Does it have the tall or short push rod cover? Does it have these the oil distributor cover on the lower side on the driver's side? These features can often distinguish between 216 and full pressure 235 or 261 enginrs.
My personal experience shows that neither block casting numbers or serial numbers are positive identification. I own or have owned five 261s over the years and only one of them has or had a serial number that is for a 261. One of the 261 block casting numbers is 3835911, which always shows up a 54-54 235 on most casting number lists. If the block was a new replacement from Chevrolet, the casting number may not be consistent with the original, and the serial number can be whatever the owner wanted to stamp on the virgin surface on the distributor pad.
Hoyt
Last edited by hoyt; 04/29/2009 3:33 AM. Reason: forgot to sign
