That is a '54 235, originally used in truck service (so will be a full pressure, solid lifter engine), manufactured in Flint, MI. Casting date decodes to April 14, 1954. The head is a bit later vintage. That '848 casting was used '56-'62, and is considered by some to be desirable, since it has the smallest combustion chamber size, good for about a half point of higher compression in stock form. There is a date code on the head, but the valve cover has to be off to see it - just a bit farther back from the casting number, on the driver's side (and under the valve cover).
Just so you know, the '54 blocks that were originally fitted with solid lifters don't have the oil gallery drilled to support hydraulic lifters. Solid lifters only at rebuild time, unless someone ambitious, with $$$$ and a good machine shop, modified. Unlikely, that.
Doug
Last edited by drdoug; 08/01/2020 10:39 PM.
