The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Engine ID

Could somebody please tell me something about the 235 engine in my 48 with ID# LAQ395313 ?

Thanks,
Tom

I have a 235 with LAQ 83376 stamped next to the distributor. Although it has B33 (Feb. 3, '53) cast in the block by the starter, could not find a casting number. It also has the two Captain's Bars above the starter which frequently says its a 261. It drove me nuts.

When I pulled the engine and cleaned things up, I found the casting number in the block just ahead of the FUEL PUMP! It is under a horizontal ridge in the block and I don't think I could have seen it without a mirror while the engine was in the truck.

It has hydraulic lifters so I think it is a 235 from a '53 car with Power Glide. I guess this was a preview of the '54. I think Ken has an "LAQ" along with BigGreen48.

Thanks Wally,so there's no info in the LAQ #s ?
I'll look for more casting #s in those other locations.
Tom

The casting number on mine is near the fuel pump also. It has hydraulic lifters, and it turns out that it comes from a 1954 Corvette
Classic Truck Shop ID #s

Hemmings

Stovebolt Page

And here is where I found it was from a Corvette
Rowley Corvette

I had the suspicion it was a '53 from the "L" in "LAQ" since a lot of other L## prefixes were for 53's. My casting # ends in the 1481.

The numbers by the starter are CON1 G173.There are two vertical bars there also. The numbers on the lower front right side of the block are 3701481

The G173 means July 17, 1953 (A=Jan., G=July). I have CON4. Someone said that this designated the conveyor or assembly line. I also have the 3701481 casting number forward of the fuel pump. I'll bet yours has hydraulic lifters, too. Mysteries solved!

Are the "captain bars" on those engines in the same place as these? These are on the 261 in my '59. The casting number is between the distributor and the crankcase vent.(3769925) I also have a matching one in my '55. I have two 235s with the casting numbers in the place where y'all's are. (3835911) Neither of them have the bars. They are the early model 235 with the short water pump. It is not the same block as the later 235. For instance, I have one with 3764476 that is the same outside as the 261s. Do either of you have pictures of your "captain bars"?

Cletis, It looks like my bars are in the same place as yours. I know it's a 235 from the casting # and the bore diameter. I'll get a picture posted.

It sounds to me like the captains bars were used to denote the big engine available at the time. In '53 there were no 261's, so the 'big' engine would be the pressure 235, with the standard being the dipper 216. Then in '54 when the 216 was gone the captains bars went away on the 235 because it became standard and then when the 261 was introduced in '55 the captains bars came back and got used for it.

Now I have something else to muddy the water. Today I picked up a '53 6500. It has the short water pump and the numbers forward of the fuel pump and the bars. According to Inliner's chart it is a '54-'56 261. Casting number is 3703414. The stamped number by the dist. is LFA 94173. Where are y'all finding a chart to look those up?

Yes the casting number is for a 54 to 56 block, sounds suspect to me. When the 261 came out in 54 ,it had the higher mounted water pump with the 4 inch pully same as the earlier 216's.in 55 the 6 cylinder blocks were cast differently with a lower water pump mounting.So a block is either a 54 or 55-56, not a 54-56.So the old photo of a high water pump 261 I looking at can be a 56 engine? Unlike the 235 did 261's keep the early style block until 56? Or are the casting numbers incorrect?
This could be earth shattering information.

Cletis,

I hope you can see things. The Captain Bars are above the starter position. Below that is "CON4" and "B33." There's "3701481" just forward of the fuel pump under a ridge that sticks out almost 1/2 inch. LAQ 83376 is stamped next to the distributor. It had hydraulics. That pretty much describes this thing.

[img]http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL137/662484/1080315/24468904.jpg[/img]

Wally, those bars appear to be in the right place but they look slanted to the right in your picture. Are they really or is it camera angle distortion?

Cletis,

The bars are straight up and down 11/16" apart. The clay and crud hadn't been cleaned up in the photo.

Where were the Stovebolt engines made? We should make an effort to see if anyone in that area used to work on the engine assembly line.