The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop some questionable engine codes

i took a look at a semi-local junkyard today and found two appealing motors.

one is pulled already and painted blue it looks like a 235 and has the block number GM 3835911 looks like it might be out of a 53 corvette? would this be full oil pressure? maybe someone could run the numbers again for me.

the second is still in a 1954 truck maybe a 3800 it has no bed but i'm guessing it was a dump bed. the number that i got off that was either on the intake manifold or the head but i think it was off the intake manifold. is that number the same as a casting number? the number reads GM 3703570 which comes up as a full oil pressure 261ci. I'm not sure if these are correct but they do make sense. i was just wondering if someone could take a second look for me.

thanks for any help in advance, Rick

3835911 = 1953-1955 corvette
3703570 = head casting number on 1954-1957 261 engine

Tim,

I think that head casting number is for a 54-57 261. Jim Carter also lists it for those years' 261.

Rick,

If you are not going after that 261, I might be interested.

Tim

Tim,your right,i was looking at the wrong column on your site.
Thanks,I'll correct it.

well looks like you're right in NY so you might not be too far. its still in a truck so i;m not sure how badly it is seized i'm going back up soon too find out. i'll probably go for the vette motor is that full oil pressure?

Both engines would be full pressure. If the 235 is truly a '53-'55 'Vette engine, buy it and sell it to a restorer for nice tidy profit.

The 3835911 block can also be from a 1954 Powerglide or a 1955-first series 235 truck, according to the Chevrolet Master Parts catalog. I have a 261 block with that casting number also. The block was purchased new in the 1970s as a replacement block. The patterns must have mixed up when that block was cast.

Hoyt

well i was thinking that longbox but i'm not sure if it is truly a vette motor and considering the yard only wants $150 for it i would make a nice profit. is there any way i can tell if they are full pressure by looking at them?

The full-pressure engines do not have the oil distributor plate on the lower-central driver's side of the block. Engine illustration.

What accessories are with the 3835911 motor? Cylinder head number? As I mention above, there were other applications for that block.

Hoyt

Rick,

Are there any stamped numbers on the pad by the distributor.

Some records show 3835911:
Passenger 1954-1955 Std. Trans., Mech. Cam
Truck 1954-1955.1 Mech. Cam

Block 3835911 - 1954 Corvette was 150HP, maybe some 155HP??
Block 3835911 - 1955 Corvette was 155HP

During the 1954 production run, the camshaft was changed,
the horsepower increased to 155.

The later design camshaft can be identified by,
three dots between #5 and #6 inlet cam lobes.

Some websites list a Corvette block casting as 3701488.
That casting, 3701488, is the number for the crankshaft,
used in all full pressure 235 and 261 engines.

There is a block casting 3701481 for 1953-1955, 235 engine.
Some sites show the 1953 Corvette used this block also.

thanks hoyt and oilrag for all your help and i'm going to have to take a second look at this motor i think it has everything to run it besides the starter. its up on a self about 15ft up to i have to climb up to it making it hard too look at. and the yard is an hour from my house too.

My 1954 3800 had the same block number in it as stated above I would do some more checking before you make a purchase on thinking it is out of a Corvette.

your 1954 had the same as the second number right? the second number is a 261 out of a 1954 3800 lol

so i bought the 235 corvette motor. i looked at the head numbers and it turns out that it is indeed a vette motor from 1954. it does not have the originol blue flame intake but has been replaced with the regular 1bbl carb intake. the motor is not seized and has good compression. the 261 is still for sale there i did not ask them a price but you can look them up its collis truck parts in PA. i'll update how the motor runs as soon as i find out myself

How were you able to determine from the head numbers that the engine is "indeed a vette motor from 1954".

What is the head number.

Also, are there any numbers stamped on the pad near the distributor.

actually i'm not sure if it is now. it might just be a blue flame 115/125