The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop engine id

I'm a newbie to the stovebolt forums and need a little help identifying the engine in a 51 3600 I just bought. The engine ID number behind the distributor is LAQ282982. About all I can find out in my searches is that it is not a 51 engine. Thanks for your help.

1953 235 used with a Powerglide transmission?

Great! I think you are correct - it has hydraulic lifters so that makes sense. Thanks!

Tarheel,

Does your valve cover have two bolts or four bolts? If it has four bolts, would you post the casting numbers (on the side and, if you have the valve cover off, from the top-right on the manifold side).

The 1953 235 engine was a transitional-oddity and I am interested in the configuration of yours.

Tim

Tarheel,

LAQ was for Two-Ten Series - Model 2100 & Belair - Model 2400

All Built at the Tonawanda Plant w/ Blue-Flame" 235.5 cu.in. engine
w/ Rochester Carburetor - 7004478

Is your block casting #
3701481
3733949
3843363
listed as 1953 "full pressure".

Please help us out by posting your Block casting,
and especially your Head casting and date #'s.

Could it be a 53 "848".

Your numbers will help us better understand the history of the 1953 engine.

Thanks for your help.

It looks that would be a very rare 1953 "848" head.

Here is an earlier discussion about pre-1956 "848" heads. It would be very interesting to find a 53-55 date-coded "848" head with the smaller diameter temperature sender fitting.

Nonetheless, Tarheel, please post the various casting codes - the 1953 engine is a transitional oddity. We have learned a lot about 1953 engines from what people have posted in just this past year.

Tim

Tim,

Never thought I'd find a 53 "848", wouldn't that be something.....

Just tryin to generate some interest. It's a good topic.

So if it can't be 3836848, does that mean Tarhill has one of the first/early, "full pressure" pass. heads #3835913.

Sorry to take so long guys, I've been out of touch for a couple of days. I've checked all the numbers on the engine that I can locate and here is what I've found:

The block casting number (just in front of the fuel pump mounting boss and VERY hard to see) is 3707467.

The block casting date (almost behind the starter)is CON1 E 13 3.

The head casting number is 8707887 with GM 4 below that. Inside the valve cover is CON 13.

The head casting date inside the valve cover is E 1 3.

The number between spark plugs 2 & 3 is 14B with 887 below that.

The valve cover has only 2 bolts holding it down and the temperature sender does not use an adapter. The sender goes to the stock 1951 guage.

The serial number again is LAQ282982.

Hope I got all the numbers from the right places. I'd be very interested in what you all find out with these numbers, but my luck will probably keep it from being anything interesting.

That just about nails it down as the "new" high pressure" 1953 235 block and head from a Powerglide automobile.

E 13 3
May 13 1953

E 1 3
May 1 1953

Maybe someone else can help with the block and head casting casting codes?

The engine serial number is explained above.

The two-bolt valve-cover is appropriate for the 1953 235. It should have 18 head-bolts like the 54-63 235/261 engines (as opposed to the 15 head bolts on the earlier 216/235 engines).

It would be interesting to see the codes and features of a 1953 car engine and a truck engine that came from the factory with mechanical lifters.

Tarheel,

Thanks for the reply.

When you get a chance recheck the head casting #.
It should start with a 3. Sometimes after 50+ years, some of that oil dirt build-up makes a 3 look like an 8 an so on.

There is a 53 head casting # 3701887.

A quick check for that block casting # turned up nothing. If you would, take another look at the block casting # too.

Tom:

You are correct - the head casting number is 3701887. The block casting number is 3701461 or maybe 3701481. It's really hard to see the numbers with the engine in the truck, and the 6s and the 8s look a lot alike. I think it is a 6 but I could be wrong.

Do these numbers tell us anything more?

I really appreciate your help guys, it's interesting digging up the past especially when old trucks are involved.

tarheel,

3701481 is a 1953 block code
3701887 is a 1953 head code

The more we learn, the more it confirms that you have a 1953 engine.

Tim

Tom and Tim:

Thanks for the confirmation. It looks like it is a "full pressure" engine by the amount of oil pressure and the filter plumbed into the block, but I'm no expert.

The truck sat for several years and I've just got it running again. I've only ran it a few minutes until I get the fuel tank and lines clean. A couple of the cylinders are down to about 65 psi of compression and the rest are around 80. The engine sounds good, no knocks or other obvious problems and the cold oil pressure runs about 30psi. Do you think running the engine more may free or seat the rings more and help the compression?

Larry

Larry,

Another good way to differentiate the splash vs full pressure engines is the presence of the Oil Distributor Cover (1.785) on the lower driver's side of the block. Only the splash oilers (1953 standard transmission and all earlier) have the oil distributor. There is always the possibility that a previous owner converted a splash oiler to full pressure, but that did not happen very often.

The compression readings are very low. A good '53 engine would show about 120 psi or better. Some (or all?) of the rings may be stuck in the piston grooves. Do the compression readings improve if oil is squirted into the cylinder, as suggested in the Shop Manual? There have been some threads here recently about "flushing" the old oil and sludge out of an engine that has been sitting for several years.

Hoyt

Very interesting and heady topic. It made me check the numbers on both of my engine heads. The first engine is a 235 that came with my '53 panel, half ton. The head casting number is 3836848. This engine is on the shop floor waiting to be scrapped. My replacement engine is a 261 out of a '58-60 Canadian Pontiac. This head has the exact same number, 3836848.