I'm looking at a 235 for my '46 3/4 ton and came across one that was running but had a tap. I received some photos and a video from the owner. On the video you can hear the tapping.
According to what I'm researching the block casting number, 3764476, is from a '58 - '62 235. The owner seems to think it's from a '58. However, the head casting number is 3835913, which, again if I'm reading the research correctly, is from a '54 or first series '55. Would there have been any reason, or advantage, in removing the 848 head and putting this one on? Could this be the reason there's a loud tapping noise in one of the cylinders?
Also what are the numbers on the passenger side of the head near the No. 3 plug wire?
The 913 head will just make the engine have a little lower compression pressure, and a bit less horsepower. It shouldn't cause any noises. It's probably got valve clearance or connecting rod problems, depending on the frequency and the loudness of the noise. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
The 848 head entered service in 56. The earliest 848 head I have has a casting date of like August or September 55 (I forget which at the moment) which was a production head for 56. But I also have a 5913 head with a 56 casting date (I took the motor this came off of out of a 56 car in 84 or 85) so there appears to be some cross over although I don’t know whether it is engine plant driven, or car vs truck, or maybe even for 55 stick vs manual trans or what the differences would be. As for using the 5913 on a later motor, I have a 5913 on a 235 I ran for quite a few years on a 57 block. The original 57 head developed a crack so I used the earlier head. Worked fine. Might be the case with the one you are looking at, installed as a replacement.
I'm not sure, I don't have the engine yet. I'm going to talk to the owner today and maybe go take a look at it. Just seems odd that someone would replace the 848 with a lower compression head. I've been reading some materials on Hydraulic v solids, but if this is a '54 head it should still have hydraulic lifters. According to this article, http://chev235guy.blogspot.com/2013/06/noisy-235-hydraulic-lifters.html, the problem with the tapping noise may be incorrect installation. Guess if I get it I'll just have to take it in for a rebuild and see.
Just making a SWAG here, but at the time the head was replaced, there were probably a lot more early heads in salvage yards than later models. Maybe the owner's budget, or a shortage of the "right" part dictated what got installed. It's also possible that the shop that did the replacement had the attitude that "if it bolts on, it works!" Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
i am pretty sure the 5913 head was 7.5 or 7.8 cr, I cant remember which, the 55-57 (and possibly 58) was 8.0 cr and the 59-62/63 848 head was 8.5 cr. So not that much difference in cr between the 55 5913 head and a 56-58 848 head. Even today, I run across many more 5913 heads then I do 848 heads.
