1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
H 197. Code for August 19, 1957. Date the block was cast. 3837004 is also for a 1957 235 block. Clean the flat area behind the distibutor mount to find when and where the engine was actually built and its application. Check the top of the head on the manifold side. Should read 3836848. With the valve cover off you can see a similar code to the H 197 cast in the head.
~~ Jethro 1954 3100 Back to Life In the Dity Gallery 1951 3100 (gone) / 1956 4400 (still in the neighborhood) / 1957 6400 with dump body (retired) / 1959 3100 panel (in the woods junked) / 1978 Custom Deluxe K10 / 1993 S-10 4.3 / 2004 Chevy Crew Cab / 1945 John Deere H / 1952 John Deere B / 1966 John Deere 2510 / 1967 John Deere 1020
rickmg, If the block casting number is 3837004 (most likely) it's for a 1955 2nd Series - 57 235 with the large water pump hole. CON4 H 197 decodes as manufactured on:
CON4 = Conveyor 4
H = August
19 = 19th day of August
7 = 1957
Nothing on the machined pad to the left of the distributor base could indicate it is a replacement engine block/assembly. I would double check that surface, thoroughly scrubbing any dirt/debris and take/post a pic to show us what you see just to confirm the lack of a serial number.
The other 3 digit sets sound like sand casting numbers, usually found on the block and head - see pic below for sample pic showing the stacked 3 digit numbers on a 235 head. These do not specifically identify the engine. They were used by the original plant to select the sand castings used to cast the basic heads and blocks.
~ 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)
The guy that owned this engine was going to put it in a 1954 Corvette. He died 5-6 years ago. His son is cleaning out the barn. The engine is complete minus the starter and fan. Bell housing, clutch, pressure plate and flywheel are still on it. It is a 235. It is not frozen. What would this be worth?
Rick, In the end, the value of the engine is what it's worth to you the buyer. Just IMHO, but I would do some more investigating to see if you can confirm the lack of a serial number and I would look to see what the head casting number is. The serial# can best define what the engine may have been in originally and it would help to know which head is there as some are preferred more than others performance wise.
Roaming the web looking at engines for sale, I have seen asking prices from around $200-250 on the low end to upwards of $1000 for engines that have no proof of their internal condition. If it was me, I would want to do some more inspecting/checking (pull the valve cover at least) to look for signs of severe neglect or good care taken. With more indications that it seems well taken care of, perhaps somewhere in the $400-500 range would be as much as I would spend myself. I personally snagged a running 1962 235 for just $250 several years ago. Use your best judgement and the size of your budget to help you decide.
~ 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)
About half of the dozen or so stovebolt engines I have stockpiled were given to me to haul them off. That includes a couple of 261s. I have paid anywhere form $50.00 to $200.00 for the rest. Any engine I can't hear run I consider to be a "rebuildable core" and make an appropriate offer. Any engine is worth what the buyer and seller can agree on, so don't get caught uo in a lot of hype about an engine being "scarce and valuable". If you're looking for a specific date of manufacture and/or part number for restoring a vehicle to "as manufactured" status for winning a car show trophy, that's a different can of worms! I did a prepurchase inspection and test drive on a restored "numbers-correct" 59 Corvette a few years ago. It was headed for a collector in France who was happy to pay the $90K asking price, plus shipping! 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!
Looked at the engine this evening. Number next to the distributor was F822H. Number on head was 3836848 GM23. Other markings on the head were B180 CON9. Pulled the valve cover and it was clean underneath the bottom of the cover and no sludge on the valves or head. Did not appear to ever have had an oil filter mounted on the intake manifold. It was sitting on the harmonic pulley so I couldn't see if it was stuck. His asking price is $200. Thoughts?
rick, Just IMHO, but $200 is a very reasonable asking price! You could offer him a touch less, then settle on the $200 if he won't dicker and get what sounds like a good deal!
Last edited by Gdads51; 04/05/202410:23 PM.
~ 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)
Just IMHO, but I would do some more investigating to see if you can confirm the lack of a serial number and I would look to see what the head casting number is. The serial# can best define what the engine may have been in originally and it would help to know which head is there as some are preferred more than others performance wise.