The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Inliners no help!

Hello Boys and Girls.

Trying to figure what engine I have. I have been to Inliners and could not find my casting #.
JAD 865652. Found on a plate behind the distributer.

I remember one time I found a site that helped me figure out my VIN #, I just typed it in and it was decoded. Don't remember the site.

Have many other ?????? about the ####'s but if you could help me with the first one that would take me through the winter!

Thanks in advance!

Bob

Looks like maybe a 51 if it's JAP & not JAD. Good Luck.
Decoder

That is not the casting number, that is the engine number. The casting number will be cast into the metal of the block, not stamped.

JAD is the prefix for a '51 powerglide-equipped (RPO 317) 235 passenger car engine, built at Flint.

Thanks People,

The prefix is JAD. What does (RPO 317) mean?

Is this the "Good" one or the "Bad" one? High pressure?, low pressure?, babbit pounding blah,blah,blah,etc...?

The truck runs well enough but I'm having some carb issues and I want to make sure I replace it with the correct one

The title says '47, the Vin says '53, the head says 216, The Carb King says if the center to center point on the carb mounting studs is
2 15/16 than its a 235 and he recomends a Carter YF, I have a Rochester.

What do ya think?

Bob

The number on mine right behind the distributer is F530J. I can't find that anywhere. It looks like a later model 235 but I haven't been able to confirm that.

I also found what looks like 3738307 on the block which according to inliners would be a 58-62 235. Does that sound right? That would make the better engine I believe as far as the oil pressure ect...

Big Pop:
RPO (regular production option) 317 is the powerglide transmission option. This option also included the 235 engine with hydraulic lifters. The regular car engine was a 216. This 235 is a "bad" one, with babbitt bearings and low oil pressure. How does your head say 216? Did you check the casting #?

Mario:
The J suffix in your engine serial number is for a '57-'62 Thriftmaster 235 backed by a 3-speed tranny. The J engine was used in the '57 34,35,3700 series, the '58-'59 31,32,36,3800 series, and the '60-'62 C10-20-30 series trucks. The casting date code on the block would pinpoint the year. Going by the format of the serial number, it's a pre-'60. I would guess a '58 or '59. Yours was built on May 30 (530) at the Flint plant.

Nice thanks for the feedback...

Curt, Thanks for the "Bad" news. I did check the casting # (3835499) on the head and it came up 1950 -1952 216. The transmission is a 4 speed. 216 head on a 235 block? Should I be concerned?Found this truck in S.Dakota last summer. I guess the old farm boys were doing whatever was necessary to keep it running.
Bob

216 and early 235 heads had the same bolt pattern; so, most likely, they were interchangeable.

Inliners International tech page on head bolt patterns

Big Pop:

If you checked your head # on Inliners, I believe they made a mistake. A 216 head will not work on a '50-up 235. The 235 went thru some changes in '50, including a new head design and repositioning of the head bolts. Other references show 3835499 as an early (54-55) 261 head. See the '54 parts manual here (at the top of the page where it says 54 ALL w/261). Also see another casting # list here.

But there is still a problem. While a 261 head would probably work on a '53-up 235, I'm not sure it would work on a '51 235. There were more changes to the blocks and heads in '53, including the addition of three more head bolts, but I'm not sure if any of the original 15 bolts were moved. The 261 head might bolt up, but some of the bolts would have had to be left out.

If you are sure the JAD serial number prefix is correct, I'd check the block casting number and casting date code. Also check the date code on the head. There would have been no 216 heads from '54-up, and no 261 heads from '53-down.

We have a bit of a mystery here!

I appreciate your effort Curt. I am sure of the JAD prefix. I am not locating the block casting #. Behind the starter? Where else should I look? Date code on head, where?
Thanks again!
Bob

Since you are positive about the JAD stamping, then it has to be a '51 235 PG car engine, unless it was originally stamped in error, or restamped by someone.

The block casting number is somewhere on the right (passenger) side of the block, usually near or possibly behind the starter. Later blocks had them up front by the fuel pump. The block date code is usually by the starter too, possibly after the word CON. The head date code is probably on the right side of the head, around the area between the 2nd and 3rd spark plugs. There may be a bunch of numbers cast there. Paint, grease, and other crud could be concealing the numbers. Date codes are a letter followed by two or three numbers.

Just out of curiosity, what is your truck serial number (VIN). You said it suggests a '53 truck.

Ok Curt. Found this #, 3692703 by the fuel pump. Inliners says 50-52 235. Can you tell me anything more about this motor?
On the head 3835499 GM4, I also found, behind the coil, 488.
The vin # is H53J004574.
Bob

Bob:

I've found other resources that confirm that 3692703 is a '50-'51 235 block. Some even list it as a powerglide block, though it was used in the trucks too. The only difference would be that for the powerglide application, the block was prepped for the hydraulic lifters.

After doing a little more research, I found that that head number came up in a thread from back in July of this year. I had participated in that discussion and had forgotten all about it. See here. I guess the '54 parts manual has an error and the head really is a 235 head. brjr51's '52 Chevy parts book seems to confirm that, as does the engine from the car shown at the bottom of this page , which has a JAD prefix and the 3835499 head.

Your VIN is definitely for a '53 1/2-ton. I wonder why your title says '47. Is that VIN on the title?

Curt. Yes the VIN is on the title.
Ireally appreciate all your help.
Till next time!
Bob