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216 or 235?????

I found the following on the block of my recently acquired 1953 Chevy 3100...

1. Behind starter...GON1 J163

2. On flat part of block to the left of the dist cap...JAC 760064

3. Right of fuel pump...3835849

Can anyone help me with the engine size and specifications, capacities, etc.

New to Chevy's...

Thanks

eightfan

Inliners web page has a casting numbers chart. According to it your engine is a '42-53 216.

Eightfan, I see you found your casting # since your previous post. Unfortunately, this creates some confusion.

If you check here you'll find one of the charts to which cletis alluded. Your block is a 52-53 216, according to this chart. Your casting date of J163 translates to October 16, 1953, so it's a 53 block. The confusion comes in the serial number. The JAC prefix suggests a 1951 passenger car engine (according to the 51 passenger car specs), and the chart also shows JAC as a '51 prefix. Perhaps the serial # was stamped wrong?? A 1953 3100 series 216 truck engine should have the prefix LBA or LBM. At any rate, according to the casting number, the engine is a 216.

The 1953 3100 series 216 is rated at 92 gross/85 net horsepower and 176 gross/170 net ft-lbs. torque.

Can anybody else here help clear up this little serial number mystery?

My book says it's a 1951 216 from a 1/2 ton pick-up,
Scott

Scott, which book are you using? Looking here at the 51 car resto pack, the "A" in the serial number designates passenger car. Unfortunately, there may be lots of conflicting info out there when it comes to some of these numbers.

According to the Chevrolet master parts catalog for 1929-1954, the 3835849 block, which was the last 216 block made, is used as the replacement block for all 216's from 41-53. This makes me wonder if perhaps eightfan's block was a replacement block made in 53 for a 51, and the original 51 serial number was stamped on the new block. Is this possible, or were replacement blocks stamped differently, designating them as replacements? I guess that would ultimately be up to the mechanic doing the replacing.

Eightfan, finding the casting number and casting date for your cylinder head might help for further indentification, assuming it's the original. Or, that may just cause more confusion. :rolleyes: :confused: There may be no way to know for sure.

To your original question, though, your engine is definitely a 216.

The point Xram53 made concerning the replacement block and the 51 serial number being stamped on the block possiblly by the mechanic is good one...The "JAC 760064" is actual stamped on the block. The numbers and letters are not even and appear to have been done by hand. The other numbers on the block---J163 and 3835849---are raised and appear to be cast into the block when it was made. In addition, the place on the block where the "JAC 760064" is appears to have been machined flat and does not have the factory blue paint applied. Xram53's comments concering possible replacement reminded of the time my uncle, the original owner who is unable to communicate with me now told me once several years ago that he "ran the ole truck dry of oil back in the sixties."

On more question...How do I clean the interior of the fuel tank without removing it?

Thanks for the info..

Eightfan

The engine serial numbers were normally stamped on the machined pad next to the distributor.

I don't think there is any way to thoroughly clean the gas tank without removing it. The chemical cleaners made for this purpose require the tank to be placed in various positions so that the liquid can cover every square inch of surface. If you go through the trouble of cleaning, you may as well seal the tank, too. See here.

Alternatively, you can buy a new (or reconditioned) tank. They are available at most of the truck parts vendors (check the Stovebolt links page). Price range varies.

When I worked at a Chevy agency in the early 50's in California we regularly stamped serial numbers on new blocks to match registrations. That very well could be the discrepancy in numbers.

My book is "Cars and Parts Catalog of Chevy Truck ID Numbers '46-'72 Pick-ups, Suburban and El Camino" and it says that the "J" stands for the year (1951). The "A" stands for regular which means standard 216 cid. and "C" stands for the plant (Flint). Other prefixs for that year were, JAA, JAM, JAC, and JAP all for the 1/2 ton pick-up. They all had the "A" and my book lists nothing for cars so it's possible it could be a car engine but I have it as a 1/2 ton pick-up engine. Doesn't really matter, it's still a 216. I would look for a 54 or newer 235 or convert the 216 to inserts for reliability and durability.
Just one guys opinion,
Scott

im very new to the game of restoration and got the same problem,mine says 3836848 and the letters GMC stamped under neath it is locacated at the top of the block above the manifold facing upwards.next to the valve cover on the head.guess i'll have to dig deeper,the plate on the firewall says eng:c 428290.body #75525,paint 5003 can i find out where others are located,this is all very new to me and very crical to the restoration decision.for me..thank you and GOD BLESS STOVEBOLTERS!! ive cleaned my tank using CLR and hot water rinse and use methyle hydrate or petroleum either to remove any residue and yes it must be removed .my truck is a 58-59 GMC stepside,still dont know the size of the motor?just picked it up 2 months ago to see pics go to www.webshot.com and look for project 58,,thanks again for any help

The 3836848 head was used on 54-62 Chevy 235's, according to one source. You must have a Chevy 235 in your GMC (Canadian GMC's used Chevy engines). Check the right side of the block for other numbers: on pad to rear of distributor, over the starter, and down low up front by the fuel pump.

The block casting to the right of the fuel pump is interesting. They were usually above the starter. My old 235 had 3701481 in front of the fuel pump. The block casting date that told me it was a from a '53 235 out of a car with a Powerglide. I'm probably just confusing things but yours is an interesting problem.

The head casting number isn't definitive since cracked heads were common and swapped with other heads.