The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Decode Engine... help please!

Hi all! First time here... I know it's not a truck but I think the engine comes from a truck. I have a 53 Chevy Coupe and I think the orginal engine should be a 235. I pulled the numbers off what I have and this is what I found: On the tab (by the coil) it has: LAA164998 and on the driver side it has: 3701887 GM2. The casting # 3701887 seemed to be used for both 216 and 235, so know I'm completely baffled. I'm trying to make sure I set my points / timing correctly, but first I need to know two things. The year and the engine size. Any help or direction would be great. Are there any tell tell differences between a 216 / 235 / 255? Thanks for any help!!

# 3701887 is a head # for 235 of 1953. This # is not on my list for any 216 eng.
Block casting # for 1953 235 may be 3701946 or 3701483 , found on the lower RH side under the GM casting ID .

Thanks for the info Dusty. I will look for the block # today. So the head seems to be a 235. I'm confused about one issue though. I was told that if the valve cover had two center bolts, as opposed to side bolts, then it's a 216. Which my valve cover does have the 2 center bolts. Was the information I recieved on the 2 center bolts not correct? Or is there some logical explaination about the two center bolts?

Thanks for the info, I'll piost again tonight when I find the other numbers.

I believe I have a '53 235 with an LAQ prefix stamped by the distributor but it also has the 2 center bolts for the valve cover. A NAPA valvecover gasket for a '53 235 (car or truck) has no holes in it which I assume would be there for bolts around the perimeter of the cover. So, 2 center bolts might not always mean it's a 216.

Mine also has the two captain bars cast in the block just above the starter. This says it's supposedly a 261 but I read somewhere that some 235's also had them!

By the way, the '45 that showed up at Andy's last month also had an LAA prefix to the number stamped by the distributor. I think the "L" says it's a '53.

I think your right Wally. I been searching arround on the Internet and I see pictures of people claiming there engine is a 235 and the valve covers sometimes have the 2 center bolts. So I don't think I can verify it by the 2 center bolts. I'm going to track down the blocks casting # tonight as that would be a "sure" indciation. Thanks for the info!!

As I pull it up here engine information it comes out as a 53 235.

Thanks Oly! And everyone else!! That site shows the LAA prefix as a 235 for a 53 and base on Dusy's decode for the head, it is also a 235 for a 53. I'm estatic right now. Is there any way for me to tell if this is the orginal engine? How do I know if it's a #'s matching car?

Thanks!!!

for the record, my 248 has 2 bolts holding the valve cover down, so does my buddies 270. tracking by number is the only sure way to go. i figure the other guys have that covered.

Hmmm... well the engine (block / head) both seem to be a 235 based on the casting #'s. Although, it has a 3 on the tree (standard transmission). Base on the last comment, either the engine or the transmission is not orginal. How can I verify to see if the engine is original? I wanted to know if I have a #'s matching car. I know on the Camaros, they have part of the vin stamped in the engine block. Is there something similiar for the 53 Coupes?

Thanks!!

Hmmm... I did a search and I'm getting some mismatching info. You say that a 235 only had a powerglide tranny... but I found this on another site:

1950-53 216 3835517
1952 235 Pass w/PG & Truck 3835692
1952-53 216 Pass & Truck 3835849
1953 235 w/ manual trans 3701946, 3701887

Which mine is the 3701887 which says 1953 235 w/ manual tranny. Fit's my bill exactly. Can you verify your source of info? I'm confused Thanks for any help!!

The vin has nothing to do with the engine numbers and they will never match on a pre-'60's car.

Hmmm thanks Josiah... I was dreading that Is there any way to tell if one has a numbers match car?

Thanks!

Fellows, back in 1954, when I first married, my wife had a 1950 Chev 2 dr Fleetline (Pea Green) with powerglide, I always thought it had 235 and DID Have hydraulic lifters, which she had had for 2 years when we married. we drove the car for 3 years after marrying and the valves were NEVER adjusted from the time she bought it till trading for '56 2 dr v8, 210 series in late 1957. I repeat the valves were never adjusted and there was not any valve noise after her owning car for 5 years and about70,000 miles. SO does that throw a monkey wrench in or not???????

Didn't the DMV use the engine number serial number to title the cars and trucks up through the mid 50's? My '37 had the engine serial number as the VIN. I thought they all did for years. If true, you could research the title and cross reference to engine number. Joe