I have a 57 with a 235 and the 4 speed automatic the CAM number is 3836330 so lifters appear hyd and reading information a automatic should have been hyd so does anyome know for sure what cam I have ? thanks
Chevy passenger cars with Powerglide automatic transmissions had hydraulic lifters. Post the stamped engine number on the machined pad behind the distributor, (not the block casting number) and we can tell if the engine is original to the truck. Trucks with the 4 speed Hydra-Matic ran solid lift cams. One of our resident number crunchers should be able to check that part number and confirm whether the cam should run solid or hydraulic lifters. Is that number something that's on the cam itself, or something you've found in a factory parts list? If it's a casting number, it's possible the same cam core was used for both hydraulic and solid lift camshafts. 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!
Based on some quick research, the number you provide "3836330" correspond in the Chevy Master Parts Catalogs as a "Generator brace" Group 2.317 for 6 cylinder engines. Not a correct "GM Part Number" for the cam in question.
Some further digging (see screenshot pics below from the 1929-57 Master Part List Catalog) shows that for the '56-'57 6 cylinders in Commercial and Utility Trucks, there was a cam that has a casting number of "3836390". Is it possible the number you see on your cam is this one??? If you can provide a picture, it would help determine yay or nay.
Beyond that, the book does not describe the cam as hydraulic lifter or solid lifter. But, looking at the listing for the "Lifter" (tappet) data, the corresponding '56-'57 Commercial and Utility Truck selection indicates the use of a 2-piece solid lifter (not hydraulic). The only listing for hydraulic lifters refers to Passenger vehicle engine applications.
Others will surely chime in here with more details or info I am not aware of (not all info is found in just these books), but this may help answer your question.
Dan
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
If you have a set of V blocks, a dial indicator, and a degree wheel, there's a method of measuring the ramp between the base circle of the cam lobes and the actual valve lift area that's noticeably different between a solid lifter cam and one for hydraulic lifters. Send me a PM and I can provide some ballpark figures to look for on both styles of camshafts. 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!
52-mobil That looks like 261 green paint,doesn't "mean" anything once that head gasket is taken off look for 261 vent holes six of them between cylinders. If you have those that is the wrong head gasket, also look for captains bars and large full floq oil filter holes on the drivers side. The head could be the wrong one too if not drilled for those vent holes. Read on stovebolt how to recognize all of that,if 261 3 3/4 inch bores or bigger.
Looks like that casting number in your 2nd cam pick matches the "3836390" number from the catalog data.
The Engine Serial# data decodes as:
F = Flint II = November (The capitol "I" was used do indicate the number "1" - so II equals the 11th month) 20 = 20th day of the month (November) HD = 3100-3200-3600-3800-4000 series trucks with RPO (Regular Production Order) #s 308-314 (see below screenshot that denotes codes 308-314 all apply to "Automatic Transmission equipped trucks, with "314" specific to 3000 Series trucks equipped with Hydramatic tranmissions)
The debate on the correct color for your '57 engine has been discussed/debated a bunch. There are a whole slew of previous conversations that you can find using the "Search the Site" tool to read up more on that topic.
Hope this is of some help.
Dan
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
