The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 54-57 235 Block W/ '61 Head & Other Parts

I believe I've posted this in the right area, but
I've got a chance to pick up an engine for my red devil and was wondering, can I use my '61 engine head, etc on a 54-57 block? I don't know if they are interchangeable or not. I would think so, as I have read some of the threads here where newer head applications seem to do well with the engines some folks have on their AD trucks, etc. Just wanted to get a warm fuzzy before I dive into this thing blind and end up with more hassle than it might be worth. Any inputs here are welcome. Thanks again.

- Will

Bump.

Will, can you post here the casting numbers for the head and block? That might help us put our collective brains to working better. A 54 block will be different than a 57 block, though because of the lower water pump on the 55-2nd and later. The head should work in any case. About 15 years ago I went the other way and put a 53 235 head on a 56-57 block. Good luck

Sure thing, as soon as I get my truck out of its current storage unit (3 hours away) and delivered back to my house I'd be glad to.

1953-62 235 heads will all interchange. Starting in 56 Chev went to a electric temp gauge and a larger hole in the head for the sender. You can buy an adaptor fitting to use the mechanical gauge from most parts stores. Also 1953 heads are not drilled for the four bolt valve cover.

Pre'68 Dave,
I believe I have a '61 head that I want to put on the 54-57 block. As soon as I get those numbers, I'll post them to make sure. Thanks.

Well, I got my truck home today in one piece, and looked under the hood briefly, I found the following numbers, maybe one of you out there can help me figure out if my engine is really a '61 or not.

By the starter: CON 3 GM
21

By the water pump, passenger side of engine:

558 648(could be B58 648)
860(could be 850)
Hard to tell until I can break it all down...

Driver side of engine on head:
3836848
GM20

Does any of this make any sense to you?

- Will

Why would you want to replace the head on this engine? The head you have (3836848) is a 1956 model #. For the engine casting # look - pass. side, almost underneath the distributor. If you are looking to not use the 1956 head, casting # 3836848, I'm in Charlottesville, VA, and would drive down to pick up if you decide to sell. In addition there is a strong Inliner group in the Norfolk area that can help you with inline 6 questions. Inliners

Cosmo,

Thanks for the advice. I'm keeping the head, it's the block I'm worried about. Where did you find the info on what year my head is, I gotta start learning to do my own research instead of asking silly questions all the time. That's the best part of learning about these old beauties. I'll pull the distributor tomorrow afternoon once I get off the ship and post those numbers too. Thanks very much for your help.

-Will

Found the number on the block...

376 8716....can someone tell me how to decipher this?

Will, look at that number a little closer and I think you will find it to be 376(9)716 which is 60/61 235 with head number ending with 848.

As you have proably read on the forum this is the best head for the 235 and should interchange with your 54/57 block without any modification.

If you want to find all the information on the casting numbers, you can do a google for Inliners Casting numbers and that will give you a link to Inliners web site.

Best of luck, Hobert

Hobert,

Thanks for all the info and thanks to everyone else who helped point me in the right direction. I really appreciate this.

- Will