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I have a 1949 chevy with what I belive is a 235 engine. I'm tyring to identify the year but can't match numbers

3886848

Also has F 20 3 on passenger side under distributor. Can anyone help with this, I'm getting ready to pull and rebuild

There will be a casting date on the right side of the block, next to where the starter sits. About the only thing I tell yo for sure about the code from by the distributor is that thengine came from the Flint plant, there should be another letter in the code. I take it that the casting number you posted is from the cylinder head? It's probably actually 3836848, they can be hard to read, especially if the engine is grimy from years of use. That head comes up as a '56 or later, so that points to at least a 235 full pressure.

Might F 20 3 under the distributor (to the left, under the distributor?) be a block casting date? If so, it would be June 20th 1953?

Is the F 20 3 code in the ledge/boss in the block, to the left of where the distributor enters the block (as LONGBOX55 suspects)? If so, there should be more characters in the code.

Here are photos of where the various codes are found on the block.

The date above has been changed as per rednate's correction, below

your right, after i cleaned it,it's 3836848. But I found another number on the passenger side that is located under the distrubutor across from the F 20 either 3 or 8 I have to pull the starter to see it better but that number 3738307?

That casting number comes up as a '58-'62 235.

wouldn't it be june 20th '53?

it's actually F 20 8, the 8 and 3 look similar unless really clean. more than likely a 1958 235. Iv'e had it running several times but can't keep it running. I'm not going to fool around with it, just pull the engine and rebuild. Thanks for the help.

f 20 8 instead of 3 does make more sense in consideration of the casting #3738307 showing up as a '58-'62

Something that will peg it is the engine serial number. It will be stamped on the machined pad next to the distributor, like this one. That number will give us the plant code as well as original application.

The stamped # will peg it.
Block casting 3738307 is listed as,

1958-62 Passenger, Std & P.G., Hyd. Cam
1958-62 Truck, Mech. Cam, Front Side Mounts, Van 60-62 only
1960-62 Truck, Mech. Cam, Front Center Mount

poking around in dad's garage, I found two transmissions to fit this 1958 235, what is the going price if in good shape?