The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 216 or 235ci ???

My 53 6400 engine number is 00774I9 F54ZC. Can anyone tell me what engine I may have? If it's a 235...how can I tell if it has babbot bearings? Thanx alot

might try the inliners site

Get the _casting_ number from above the oil pan rail on the passenger side and visit the inliners site.

It says it's a 1954 235,
Scott

Since it appears you have a 235 ci 1954 motor, you have a full pressure, non babbit motor. '53 was the last year for the 216, so you are one lucky guy. Also it could be a 261, so find the casting number off the block and check it to make sure what you have.

All of the 1 1/2, & 2 ton '47-'53 trucks were equipted with the "Loadmaster" 235, no 216's.

The ZC suffix is from the "regular" 235 passenger car engine with heavy duty clutch.

Wow...That would be great if the engine is a full pressure 235. I went to the inliners website to compare the number with there list of block casting numbers and my number doesn't match any on their list. Looks like for the year of my truck, 1953, the block casting number should start with a "3". The number I found is on the passenger side behind the distributor above the oil pan. That number starts with a "0". Am I using the right number? If not, is there another place to look? Also, my engine has the (2) acorn nuts on top of the valve cover. I think thats whats throwing me off. I thought the babbot bearing motors were the only one's with double acorns.
Thanx to everyone for your replies!
Ron

Your engine is definitely a '54 full-pressure. The number you gave is the engine serial number. For the F54ZC part of the number:

F=built at Flint plant
54=model year
ZC=engine ID suffix as translated above.

The block casting number would be somewhere on the right side of the block, either by the starter, or down low by the fuel pump.

I have a '54 1/2-ton engine in my '53 6400, and it too has the earlier style valve cover. It's possible to put the early cover on the '54+ heads. Either someone was trying to disguise the engine as a '53, or they just didn't have a 4-bolt cover when the swap was done.

It sounds like you have it identified by number. If you are still in doubt, the low pressure version will have an oil distributor plate on the driver's side of the block, midway down and near the front. It has an odd shape and is only a few square inches in area.

I did some work several years ago on a '52 Chevy pickup that belonged to a friend. It had a 235 from a '60 Bel Air and I put an aluminum Wayne valve cover on it for him that was a two holer. Looked pretty nice on there. Just glad he was buying

Willy

Is there a differance between the engine serial number and the block casting number? I need to know what area of the engine to degrease so I can find the number I'm looking for. Thanx for the help!

the block casting number will be on the passenger side down low under the distributor or between it and the fuel pump.

YES!!!! I finally found the number I was looking for. "3835911" Sometimes it takes a little longer for us newcomers. I checked it with the inliners website. It says I have a 1954 235ci Powerglide. Can anyone tell me what "Powerglide" means?
Kudos to everyone for putting up with us first timers!

Powerglide was the automatic transmission used in the passenger car.

Good Luck! Every 54 235 will be full-pressure lube with insert rod bearings. This powerglide motor will also have hydraulic lifters. You scored!

Ronald:
Sometimes those online casting number lists are not completely accurate, and casting numbers are not the be all and end all of engine identification. While the 3835911 block was used for Powerglide-equipped engines, it was also used for non-Powerglide engines. Remember the serial number suffix as decoded above? ZC was a regular car 235 with manual trans and heavy-duty clutch. It would've had mechanical (solid) lifters. A '54 Powerglide-equipped 235 would have had a "Y" suffix.

The '54 block in my '53 shares that casting number, but it was originally installed in a 1/2-ton truck (no Powerglide).

Did you find your head casting number to help verify that it is a '53 head?

Ram...I did find a head number. I'm going to repeat myself here and list all the numbers I was able to find:

Engine serial #: 00774I9 F54ZC
Engine casting #: 3835911
# beside the starter: CON L53
Head #: B13 887
006
570

If I do have the solid lifters...is it possible to replace them with hydrualic? Also, not to change the subject, but did you have to purchase any new body parts for your truck(fenders, hood, etc.) that would only fit on the 6400? If so, any preferance where to get these items?
Thanks again for your help!

I believe we've gotten all of your numbers figured out. There should be a casting number on the head right next to the valve cover on top of the left side toward the front. Given the casting date, though, it has to be a '53 head.

I don't think any of the '54 non-powerglide blocks were prepped for hydraulic lifters (drilling the required oil passages). This wasn't standard practice on all blocks until '58 or so.

I recently bought a whole bunch of patch panels for my truck. The body is as bad as you described yours. For AD's, all the cab parts are identical for all truck series, and many reproduction pieces are available from any of the vendors. As far as any other parts, such as anything for the front clip, there are no new big-truck-specific parts being made. The only option for them is to find good used pieces.