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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 12 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 12 | I tried looking for an article like this already, or about stovebolt head compatibility in general but did not find much, maybe I'm just not that good at looking. Anyways, I was wondering if anyone would know if these heads have some differences that would not allow me to use the 53' 235 head on my 48' 216. My problem is I have a cracked head on my 216 that is cracked to the water jacket from outside above the intake and exhaust ports. I got a head from a guy I know who thought it might be the same, but when I looked at the head casting number "GM 3701887" it appears to be from a 53' 235, by my research. The head is not in great condition and will require a complete rebuild. I don't want to pull off my old head yet to compare water jacket and oiling holes as the leak is not major and I can still drive as is, and may consider patching it up for now. Thanks for any input. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 | I think the head bolt-pattern is the same on those heads and blocks BUT the side covers (push rod covers) attach differently for the two years/engines. The 1948 216 has a side cover that goes over the spark plugs and the 1953 235 has a side cover that stops at the top of the block. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,867 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,867 | The '53 235 would be a babbited engine, so the side covers would match the 216. 1954 would be the first year for the full pressure 235 and short side cover. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,867 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,867 | Oh yeah, I think the '53 passenger cars were full pressure oilers but Im not completly certain... | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 | It is my understanding that the 1950-1953 235 side covers are different than the 1950-53 216 side covers (as I described above). See group #0.439 in the Master Parts Book. The 1953 235 passenger car with the Powerglide transmission was the only full-pressure 235 in 1953. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,867 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,867 | Hmmm, interesting. This will require more digging... Thanks Tim! | | | | | Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 91 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 91 | I'm not going to swear by this, but I've seen info saying Canadian GM trucks switched to full pressure 235s part way through the 53 year and I've seen a couple 53 Canadian trucks with full pressure 235 motors and 0-60psi stock guages.Seeing as Terence is from Canada.
Last edited by obrien1952gmc; 05/12/2008 6:35 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 12 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 12 | It is cast different on the spark plug side by the looks of it. I already got a line on another head. Thanks for the help. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 90 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 90 | On a similar note and although this isn't a truck, I have two '54 passenger cars. One has a '53 235 in it (PO swapped it in) which has the GM 3701887 head casting number and DOES have insert bearings, not babbited. This head is also the one that has what looks like a 216 valve cover on it, and it throws a lot of people who say "Is that a 216?" Nope. The other '54 has the later 848 head which is the more common one. As a matter of fact that converted engine is in my daily driver and I just turned over 40,000 miles since I rebuilt it just the other day. Runs STRONG. The best I've been able to piece together is that these early 235s were 'converted' 216 engines with a larger bore and insert bearings... kind of a freak of nature. By the way Terrence I have an extra 887 head minus valve train off a '53 if you end up needing another. 
Last edited by Justin Rubsam; 05/13/2008 6:26 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 388 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 388 | 1953 was a transition year for the Chevrolet six. The Powerglide cars came with the first "modern" 235, with aluminum pistons, high pressure, insert rods, and the 18-bolt head, but still with the old 216-style valve cover. The standard transmission cars came with a 235 with the the babbit rods, low pressure oiling, cast iron pistons, but with an 18-bolt head, also with a 2-bolt valve cover. Both engines had the low side cover that did not cover the spark plug holes. I'm less sure about what the 1953 trucks had, but as I recall (and what the Master Parts Catalog indicates) the truks with 235s were like the 1953 standard transmission car engines. In the late fifties I had a 1953 standard transmission Chevy. When I replaced the babbit pounder with a 261 in 1958 I used the head from the 1953 235, which came from a 1954 235.
Thus a head from a 1953 235 will not readily fit a 216, as the 216s were all 15-bolt heads. I have heard of people that have modified a 15-bolt Wayne 12-port head to fit a late 235-261 18-bolt block, but I'm not sure if one can go the other way.
There is a link to the 1929-57 Master Parts Catalog in the Links section of this great site.
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