The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop engine identification

How do you decipher engine numbers? Is there a reference anywhere on the web? How can you tell a 235 from a 250 or 292?

Thanks,
Fred

First Fred, welcome to the 'Bolt with post #1. Lots of experience and knowledge here, just watch out for the crazy political folks (I'd certainly never post to one of them political threads ).

There are several numbers on your engine. If it is the cast number, passenger side, just above the oil pan, and likely beginning with a 3, you are looking at the casting number. Post it and someone will probably go look it up for you, or just go to inliners.org and go to the casting numbers link yourself. If it is an incised set of numbers and letter(s) on the flat behind the distributor, it is a date code. Again, just post the number and someone will help you interpret it.

Can't comment on the 250 and 292 question other than the casting numbers (no experience with either engine). Others here will probably answer the question for you.

Welcome aboard.

For 194/230/250/292 info try
http://no25.homestead.com/index.html

Also good casting number references at
http://www.inliners.org/casting/numbers.html

Thanks gents. Those sites have narrowed it down some. The Inliners casting numbers site say my # 3850817 block is a 62-78 230-250 Chevrolet. My truck is a 68 GMC, so perhaps it is the original engine. Do the 230 and 250 engines have the same block and crank, with different lenght pistons? The stamped date code is 57323/804210295. So far I haven't found any details on the stamped code. My truck should have a 250, but I'm just trying to find out what actually in it.

And thanks for the warm welcome.

Fred

I should have posted this in the Engine and Driveline section. I'll move it there.