The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1st Series or 2nd Series

I have a 235 engine in my 51 Chevy. Then engine casting number is 3836233 which is I believe from a 1955 Sedan delivery. I read some of the posts here and located the engine ident. posts and this casting number shows a date of 4-1-56. Would this make this engine a 2nd Series 55 engine or a 1st Series 55 engine. :rolleyes: What has me confused is that a 1st Series is: 3733949, and a 3838004 shows as a 55-57. Does that mean a 3836233 is a 2nd Series engine. Reason I'm asking is that a lot of engine parts list for a 55 engine but have different part #'s based wheather its a 1st Series or 2nd Series.

what is the differance????doc

I've never heard of any differences in the engines, 55 1st and 2nd trucks, and there is no such thing as a sedan delivery 1st or 2nd - if the date shows april 56, it wouldn't be an original for a 55 delivery - the block castings cover quite a range of years, you need the number off the pad by the distributor to determine what the engine is from

Bill

Jon, I think you are confusing yourself but if not then I'll attempt an explanation. Red is correct in what he says but there is an early 235 using the 3733949 number you note. It may have been for PG cars and therefore drilled for hydraulic lifters. That engine as well as most other 235's would have some different parts. Early 235's were poured bearings as you perhaps know. Perhaps that is what confuses you. As for the last number you mention, 3838004, I can't even locate that. Are you sure it isn't 3837004 which is a good number?

Where did you get the idea that the engine came from a Sedan Delivery? Tri-five cars had no link as to what engine came in them other than a six or V8 which was onthe serial number as a V if V8 and no V if a six.

3837004=1955-57... Head numbers of 383684 GM 28 =1956

Let me try again. The pad on my block shows a number of 3836233. I went to the Inliners link page and looked at the list of 235 engines for the appropriate 55 year/casting number. The list shows a 55 engine, 235 as follows:

55 - 1st Series = 3733949
55 - 04/01/56 = 3836233 (my casting number)
55-57 - Chev = 3838004 (this is the number in the listing.)

Some parts suppliers list different part numbers for a 55 engine. I am assuming that this may be for an early or late engine, thats why sometimes you get a part and it does not fit exactly. All I'm trying to do is make sure mine is an early or late series to avoid any problems in ordering. (or returning parts)

Moneypit, I got the sedan delivery info from one of our Stovebolters who apparently looked it up. I just took his word on it.

Red58, if there is no difference between a 1st or 2nd Series 55 engine, then why do suppliers have different part #'s listed for for a 55 engine? Emample: Jim Carter Truck Part - Oil Pump, page 101 shows as follows:

Part # ME251 = 1954-55
Part # ME252 = 1955-62

Which one would you order, I'm not sure or am I missing something thats really simple? I just don't want to go through all the hastle in returning a part, paying a restocking fee, shipping and all just because I did not know what I was ordering or what I have. I'm sure mine is a late 55 according to "inliners" and just wanted to know the difference.

I'd order the newer, if you think you have a 55-57 the reason for them showing different parts for the same year is options or model differences, like car/truck or 'heavy duty', and the fact that some 235's had solids, some hydraulics - the oil pump difference is likely to be the later one is higher pressure - your example there doesn't actually say that they're "1st" and "2nd series", and it's likely they actually mean 'pre' and 'post' 55 - I don't know of any real change in 55, but higher oil pressure could be one, and there may have been a different Rochester carb number standard - the 1st/2nd designations had to do with body differences, the 55 1st series truck was effectively a 54

the 235 that was used in the TF series trucks, 55+, continued the standard version that started in 54 [sometimes called "high pressure 235"], but there were 2 variations, the "thriftmaster" [109hp] and the "loadmaster" [105hp] - there were a number of different details every year, so you need to identify the year if you start doing major work, but you've said the number identifies as April 1, 1956, so there's the answer, and as I said above, if the engine was built in 1956, it's not from a 55 sedan delivery, tho the same casting number may have been used then - what would id it as from a delivery would be the emgine number [pad by distributor], not the casting number

Bill

Jon,

I think this is the block casting number and not what red58 was referring to above as the "number off the pad by the distributor".

I have seen references that show that casting code for 1955 Powerglide and 1956 Truck.

As red58 suggested, the engine ID Sequence/Serial number/code is pressed (not cast) into the ledge (pad) to the rear of the distributor. This code included a sequence/serial number and a suffix of letter/letters from 1954 and later which indicated the year. This code will provide good information about when your engine was made.

Tim

Red58, the high oil pressure is what actually started all the posts for me. My engine shows a hair past 30 psi at idle, and with rpm's applied jumps to 60. Maybe this is why I have higher oil pressure than normal. ??? I looked at the ledge where the oil dipstick tube is located and there is a number stamped into the ledge. I believe it reads as follows: 0309I48F55Z.
Will this code tell me what I'm looking for?

Jon, if higher than what you expect in oil pressure "is what actually started all the posts for me" then I think your worried about nothing. It is entirely likely that after all the years since your engine was built that it has been rebuilt at least once. Or even failing that the oil pump may have been replaced. We don't often hear from folks complaining of too much oil pressure. Overhaul kits for these old girls arn't that crucial so tear it down and get whatever parts you find you need. It really isn't as big a deal as you may think.

Thanks moneypit, your not the first to tell me that a peg of 60 lbs. is nothing to worry about. Its just that with the cost to restore (kind of like selling both my kidneys) to get this truck right, don't want anything to go bad on it and thought I would get others advise.

Does anyone know what the ledge number of 0309I48F55Z means or represents. :confused:

By the way, I appreciate all who have responded.

I do not have my ID book with me, but F54Z indicates a 1954 235 engine built in Flint MI. The Z refers to a standard engine used on cars & trucks.

Here is a link to 1955 codes. It looks like the Z suffix indicates a regular 235 engine in 1955 (solid lifters, 1 barrel carburetor, and standard transmission, used on cars & trucks).