The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1953 235 blue flame

i have a 53 truck im restoring, im only 27yr old and im trying to restore my truck. the motor thats in it as i was told was og and when futher inspected the og color was blue and never painted. so to really find out i cant find the id numbers on the block to research and find out what i have. so if anyone knows where i can locate these numbers and maybe a website i can do the research on would be very helpful
thanks branden

The numbers are on a pad directly behind the distributor cap. You may have to scrape off some grease to get to it. Someone here(not me) should be able to identify the year and other info on the block.

With the engine being blue, and apearently not repainted, it points to it being a Passenger engine. Truck engines were for the most part a bluish-gray, although manual transmission Passenger engines were also that color. Like Jordan noted, there is a number stamped on the machined pad just behind the distributor. If there isn't a number there (factory replacement engens were't stamped), there also are several casting numbers that can help ID it. One is the block casting date, which is located on the right side of the block, right behind the starter. There's also a part number cast on the same side of the block, but further toward the front. The head castting number will be on the LF portion of the head, on the top ledge fairly close to the lip of the rocker arm cover. Any of those will get the approximate year/application, but the stamped ID number by the distributor will peg the exact original application.

thanks for all the help, will check when i get to the shop in the morning and post up what i have found and thanks for all the quick replies and 1 more thing the parts truck i pulled out the woods in the back of the bed it had a 235 in it and it was a green color so would that make it a thrift master

Green? That one could be one of 2 things. 1, a Jasper reman (they used to be painted green) or possibly 2, a 261. If it's the latter, it would not be an original engine, as they were used in 2 ton and larger trucks/ However, if it IS a 261, that's a MAJOR JACKPOT!! great upgrade engine. Full pressure oiling, more power, if it's a '58 ir later, full flow oil filtration. In the tech tips section, there is an ID guide on how to tell if it is a 261, namely, how to identify the Captains Bars that are cast on the block.
If you can, get the numbers from both engines, and perhaps some pics.

ok i will take pics, numbers in the morning

ok i finally got around to getting the block number and this is what i got F12IbJ any help or websites that i can find out what i got would b a great help

Don't see that exact code, but could it be that perhaps the "LB" (weird, that's my handle on Gearz) is actually "18"? If so, that decoded to a 235, Flint plant, built on 12/18, and could be a '58-'62 1/2 ton w/manual trans engine. There should be a cast date code just behind the starter which will give us a closer manufafture date.

ok how bout this num located under the distrb 3769716

1958-62 235 . Thats what I found in Patrick's book.

kool thanks and do u know the specs or any knowledge on these motors

1946-1960 Chevrolet engine specs (mostly automobile engines).

Post a few more and codes and people should be able to help you figure out what year you have.

Tim

behind the starter
CON4 L150
left side of the distrubter
F12IbJ (engraved)
under the distrubter to the rite a lil
3769716

[IMG]http://i33.tinypic.com/2mplmhw.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i34.tinypic.com/25sos9c.jpg[/IMG]

3769716 = 58-62 235
L150 = Dec 15th 1960
F12IbJ = ?

Tim

can someone also help me with mine please here they are. thanks early. i was told it was a 235 out of a 62 biscayne. just like to make sure or find out what exactly i am dealing with.

3769716

con4 c71

number on the head is b56 848
85

The casting number for the head should begin with 383xxxx.

You could get lucky and it's 3836850.

3769716 = 1958-62 235 truck block

con4 c71 = C71 date casting code = March 7 1961 ?

b56 848 = is a code that no one has explained
85

Here are locations of all the codes.

thanks for the help. i will check the head later

Just curious as to why the 850 head would be the lucky head to have. I thought the 848 head was the good one do to its compression??

Well, if it is not a 235 block, then an "850" might indicate a 261 head. However, an "850" head on a 235 block is not really something special (lower compression than a 235 head).