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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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| | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 | I did a pre-purchase inspection on a vehicle today, and it does not have the original engine. It's a high water pump full pressure stovebolt six engine, and the stamped number behind the distributor is JAA128185 . So far, I haven't been able to match the letter prefix to any 54/55 year 235, car or truck. Can the number crunchers give me a little hand, please- - - -I'd like to include the engine's original application in my report. Unfortunately, the casting numbers are not visible without removing a few parts.
Thanks!
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!
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 | Jerry, JAA128185 J = 1951 A = Passenger Car A = Flint 128185 = Serial number starting with 1001 That makes this a 216 engine code... Mike B  | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 | OK- - - -I'll bet it's been re-stamped to match the title, then. It's definitely a full-pressure engine with a short pushrod cover. That serial number would match the vehicle I inspected. The letters and numbers didn't look like factory stamps.
Thanks!
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!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 | Situations like this are what keep me in the inspection business- - - -being able to spot anomalies in details on 70 year old vehicles isn't something that can be learned in a classroom. With the outrageous asking prices for restored and resto-mod vehicles, the cost of an on-site inspection can be cheap insurance for a potential buyer. This one also had the obligatory eye candy- - - -dual (leaky) Rochester B's, "Fenton" style repop headers, no intake manifold heat, and sooty tailpipes from power valves being open too much of the time due to being over-carbureted. It also had well-lubricated front suspension and frame rails from engine oil leaks at both ends and a transmission grease leak from a sloppy torque tube ball joint. It was the classic "looks good from 50 feet" cosmetic restoration.
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!
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 164 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 164 | Makes me glad I wasn’t expecting much when I bought my 52 with 54 front nose truck 25 some odd years back. No restoration involved, was happy it ran when I put a battery in. I mean for 600 bucks what could go wrong. | | |
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