The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 cyl head

I keep reading about the good head,,what is considered the good head for the 235 aren,t all heads for the 235 from 55 to 62 the same or is there a differance if so what year and number...doc

the 848

so what is this 848 and what is it off of and what years

Head number is 3836848. Came on the 235. Listings show it from 54-57 and 58-62, but I have never heard of them on anything but the 58-62. Compression is slightly higher on this head.

The compression is higher and the 848 head has a higher nickle content to resist cracking, a common problem with the 6's.
Tom

I,m wandering if these are power glyde engines,,werent the pg,s rated at more horse power???

doc41
I currently have 4 engines a 261 and 3 235,s one each 55/56/and57
The 55 had a powerglide on it out of a passenger car and the head casting # is 3835913
Both the others are Std.shift motors and wear casting #s 3836848 Regards

os is there a standard that the 848 head was installed on???pickup,,standard trans,,auto trans,,maybe with air cond for the extra hp??? I,m interested as I live next to a small salvage yard that is full on 40,s thru 60,s cars and trucks and going to start on a 51 chevy sport coupe for a grandson and want to install a 235 or larger chevy or gmc with 5 speed and modified inline just trying to get handle on what works to start collecting...doc

os is there a standard that the 848 head was installed on???pickup,,standard trans,,auto trans,,maybe with air cond for the extra hp??? I,m interested as I live next to a small salvage yard that is full on 40,s thru 60,s cars and trucks and going to start on a 51 chevy sport coupe for a grandson and want to install a 235 or larger chevy or gmc with 5 speed and modified inline just trying to get handle on what works to start collecting...doc

I believe the 848 head came out sometime in '56, and it became the standard, and probably the one and only, 235 head, or it at least became the standard replacement head for all 235's back to '53. That assumption is based on the '58 and '68 parts manual listings, which only show that head for the '53-up 235's.

I like what your trying to do. If all works well, I want to build a hot rod like that with my son when he is older. My plan has been a 50 or 51 coupe with the 235 I'm taking out of my truck (replacing with a mildy built 261 I will be building soon). Best of Luck!

I found my last 848 on a 1959 chevy 1/2 ton truck engine with a standard shift. The stock conpression ration for that engine was 8.25 to 1.

The head will also fit on a 261 engine but you need to drill out the steam holes, use a 261 head gasget as a template to drill the head.

Good luck on your project, please put on some pictures during your build.

I have a 913 casting number on my cylinder head, currently in a '50 half ton. I assume the 235 head won't fit on a 216 block? Is this a higher compression head then? How is it compatable with the 3 speed manual trans? The engine is currently not running, and haven't taken time to look for a block numeber. There are also casting numbers on the other side of the cyl. head, which are: (6?)35,918,241,570. Many thanks for your help!! Manifold numbers are 383550

My 56 235 has the 848 head and it is the orig head for this engine.

bluedot38,
You are correct the 235 head will not fit on the 216 engine. Different water pasages and side cover problems etc. However with some machine work the 216 intakes will fit on the 235 head.

Thanks, I plan on restoring to original, but the 235 is probably the better engine, I can not find the casting number of 3835913 amywhere, will double check my head numbers. I think the engine was just dropped in as a replacement about 30 years ago! Mike

I just found a site with casting numbers for heads, and I found the 3835913 numbers. It states either for the 54-55 1st series 235, or for the 58-62 235 front side mount. What is the front side mount, I am unfamilar about this. Definately have to check the block number soon! Thanks again for your help! Mike

bluedot38,

The head casting number for the 235 is on the top of the head next to the valve cover facing the manifolds on the drivers side. They are about 3/4" tall, can't miss them. As far as the side mount thing that was for the late engines built 58-62. You can use the late engines in swaps where you have the front frame mount by just slotting out the front engine piece just like the older engines. I hope that was clear?

Will look at this weekend, i think it was just a drop-in replacement engine from another old chevy truck. Gonna look for the block number, I do have the head numbers and intake numbers, correlates to a 54-55 235

bluedot38,
The block number to determine age of block is just above the starter. Happy motoring.

Question;
I have read numerous times about drilling the "steam holes" or the extra water passages for the 848 head when used on a 261 block. Since it appears that many of us have the 5913 head on 261 blocks, should the steam holes be drilled in the 5913 head just like the 848?

Just found a local, who will completely rebuild my engine, new bearings, valve job,rings, oil pump etc for $750, so maybe going that route, plus he's only 1 mile down the road!