The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 216 or 235 Help?

The numbers on the left of the dipstick are G2955
to the right of the dipstick are 3836233 with GM5 stamped underneath. The valve cover has the 2 bolts on top to hold it down which I believe make it a 216, but the Carburator to manifold extension gasket used the 235 instead of the 216 which was too small. Help! I looked at the manual and it shows no sign of those numbers..

3836233 shows a '55 235 at www.inliners.org . The best way to tell is the lifter covers. If they stop at the head, it's a 235. 216 covers go around the sparkplugs to the top of the head.

Someone tried to disguise a 235 as a 216.

Wow, I just ordered a oil pump for a 216, I guess it wont fit hugh!

No, it won't fit. I do not know where you ordered it from, but in case you did not know, your local auto parts store carries parts for these engines, often a lot cheaper than the vendors. They just will not be in the computer, the clerk will have to look it up in the books. If you get some snotty-nosed kid, he may not want to, and tell you they do not carry it. You will often get this story at Auto Zone.

jlr,

The Master Parts & Accessories Catalog (up to 1954) gives a casting number of 3835517 for 1941-1949 235 heads and also for 1941-1953 216 heads; 3835908 for 50-52 235; and 3701887, 3701886, 3710359 for other 53/54 235s.

I do not have numbers for 1955 and later 235 heads.

It is possible that someone put adapter bolts in the rocker assembly of a post '54 head so that an earlier valve cover could be used. If that is the case, there would be 4 machine screw holes in the head under the seating edge of the valve cover (these holes are for the '54 and later valve cover hold-down bolts). Are you easily able to lift the valve cover to look for the four machine-screw holes?

If you can lift the valve cover, compare the bolt pattern to those at the following link (sorry about not having casting numbers):

http://www.inliners.org/tech/tech5.html

Tim

The bolts are located on the rocker arm assembly,
If I wanted to change over how would I hold the valve cover down. Is it possible it to be a 216 head.

Thanks for all your help, I did order the pump from a local auto parts and Thanks to you all giving me the quick response I was able to call him and he will have his warehouse ship it asap, and I'll have it 2marrow.

216 and later full-pressure 235s used different head-bolt patterns. So the 216 head wont fit a 235 block. Are there 4 tapped holes in the top of the head where the valve cover gasket goes? Thats a hallmark of a 235 head, and its how a 235 valvecover is held on. How wide is the fan belt? 216s used a very wide belt like 5/8", '54-'62 235s used a fan belt thats the width of a normal V8 belt, like 3/8" or 7/16" wide.

chip

1953 235 heads, whether from a splash or full pressure engine are the same as 54-62 heads but are not drilled with the four bolts as they used the 216 style valve cover.

The 5/8" belt was used through 1952 then it went to 3/8", except for 261.