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#1063149 10/19/2014 5:58 AM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 154
E
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 154
Are there any internal differences on a corvette engine verses a standard 53 to 55 235?? I just picked a 3835911 235 and was wondering what to look for to see if it is a corvette 235.It had a automatic trans on it.Is it supposed to have hyd. lifters, and there was no head on it.what head do i need to look for?? THANKS Eric

Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269

Post the engine serial number that is pressed into the block in the ledge to the rear of the distributor.

The Corvette 235 had a 261 cam and it had mechanical lifters.

3835911 is a 53-55 Corvette block, but that code was also on non-Corvette 235s.

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E
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Posts: 154
Ok number by Dist... OOI7979F55MB also date code...CON I204 and THANKS again guys!! Eric

Last edited by elm (51 Basket case); 10/19/2014 4:28 PM.
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269

You most likely figured this out:

F55MB

F = Flint, MI engine plant
55 = 1955 1st series
MB = 235 truck engine in a 1 ton truck with automatic (Hydra-Matic) transmission

Since this is a truck engine, it most likely did not come from the factory with the 261 cam (as was used in the Corvette 235 version of that block).

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'Bolter
'Bolter
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So is the 261 cam worth installing and finding the right head to have a(same as) corvette 235 ??

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Posts: 29,269
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269

It is your choice regarding 261/235 cam and regarding the head.

The 1956 and later heads were higher compression (and would produce slightly higher horsepower).

By the way, you mention hydraulic lifters. The Corvette 235 and the 1955 235 block that you have would have come from the factory with mechanical lifters.

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'Bolter
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Posts: 154
Thanks for the info. I got the cyls. cleaned up and cleaned the tops of the pistons off and found out it had been bored .040 over and no ring groove! it was stuck from surface rust in cyls. after a clean up with a wire wheel on a die grinder and some good old WD40 and soak for about 1/2 hour I turned it with a crowbar at the flywheel.Great not stuck any more!! This motor has been sitting in a shed for 30 years without a head on it. Ok enough history. What does the cubic inches work out to after the .040 bore?? I can't remember the formula.Would it be a good idea to put new rings and bearings in while the mortor is out? I am going to replace the rear main seal and all gaskets.THANKS again Eric


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