The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Help with engine ID

I haven't had much luck researching what engine I have. I'll give you the truck info. 1951 Chevy 2 Ton 6100 series 137"wb 98HP with 16,000 GVW Dump. The question is the engine?? Block numbers are as follow 3835499, GM4. Is this a 235 (1951) or a 261 which I thought was a 1954 engine. Any help would be great.

The casting no. shows up as a '50 - '52 216. If you can get the ID number, stamped on the raised boss just behind the distributor we can probably nail it down a little closer.

Go to http://mortec.com/

gazim,

Is there a link at mortec.com for identifying a 216/235/261 6-cylinder engine (serial number and/or casting number)?

Tim

JEA 634629

JEA is the preface of a 1951 engine serial number for a 6000 series, 235

Good job tc! Another example of why we should take the casting no. charts available to us with a grain of salt.

According to the 54 Master Parts Catalog

Casting number 3835499 is a head casting number, not a block casting.

That head casting number is listed for the 261.

Jim Carter shows these 261 casting codes.

Even if the 29-54 Master Parts Catalog is correct, 3835499 is (also?) a block casting code for 50-52 216s,

Well guys I'm getting mixed reviews here. I have been told 261 by the numbers on the head 3835499 and 235 by the JEA stamp. What would be the explaination on this picture? Help.

Beacon,

Your first post stated the 3835499 code is on the block - is it?

The engine serial number preface, JEA is for a 1951 235.

If you found the 3835499 casting code on the head, and that is a 261 head bolted to a 1951 block, it would be interesting to know how many head bolts are there (15 bolts in 51 and 18 bolts in 54).

Tim

Thanks for the tip. I'll look into that bolt ? on Thursday as the truck is on the lift as was speak. Thanks again

beacon,

Do you have some photos of your engine that you could post? Does it have the tall or short push rod cover? Does it have these the oil distributor cover on the lower side on the driver's side? These features can often distinguish between 216 and full pressure 235 or 261 enginrs.

My personal experience shows that neither block casting numbers or serial numbers are positive identification. I own or have owned five 261s over the years and only one of them has or had a serial number that is for a 261. One of the 261 block casting numbers is 3835911, which always shows up a 54-54 235 on most casting number lists. If the block was a new replacement from Chevrolet, the casting number may not be consistent with the original, and the serial number can be whatever the owner wanted to stamp on the virgin surface on the distributor pad.

Hoyt

Casting 3835499 is not a block casting for the 216.

It is listed as a head casting for the 235 and the 261.

That head casting number was used twice and has 2 different part numbers.

For the 261, the part number is 3703569
and also the 1950-52 235, part number is 3835545.

Tom,

Thanks for the correction, The reference to that code being for a 216 came from Hemmings (I even got the head-block wrong). Here's another person correcting this on the H.A.M.B

Tim