The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 Engine Identification

Hi All,

I have a 1953 3600, but it does not have the original 216ci engine. Rather, the engine is a 235ci. The most I've been able to determine is that the engine is a standard 235 model and was made on Feb. 6th, between 1957 and 1962. Apparently, from 1957 on forward, chevy 235ci engines stopped using serial numbers.

So, how do I determine the actual year of production for this engine? I have the following information from the engine block: Casting # = 3769716, Engine ID = F0206A, and two other strange things cast into the block and located below the Engine ID boss --> They are CON 4 and B52.

Can anybody shine some light on my confusion?

Thank you

There is a machined pad just behind the distributor with a stamped number on it. The letter prefix at the beginning of the stamped number should identify the year of manufacture, and other details about that specific engine. There are several websites available with engine number decoding information, just google "Chevrolet engine numbers".
Jerry

EDIT: Try this link:
http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/cast.html

Better re-check that casting number- - - -you might have a 261 engine instead of a 235. If so, that's a real find! The casting number you list differs one digit from either a 235 or a 261 number.
Jerry

Found it! The Inliners' site lists your casting number as a 60/61 truck 235.

http://www.inliners.org/becks/BCN2.html
Jerry

You're right about the serial no.s after '57, they just don't help much in ID'ing your engine. But, I think the B52 marking tells us the story, cast date of Feb 5, 1962.

If that's wrong, someone else will surely set the record straight.

I think that the 3769716 block casting code (235 ci block) was used from 1958-63.

As waldo53 posted, the date casting code is the clincher (1962).

hello all my first post, want to know what year my 235 is cast# 3886848 eng# F0408J

The A code in the serial number denotes it's a Passenger application.

Thanks to all for your help and information!

Looks like the engine block was cast in Flint, Michigan on February 5th, 1960/61/62 (conflicting websites abound) and that its intended role was "Standard" (as designated by the 'A' serial number suffix).

So this little truck rolled along for almost a decade and then had its original 216 replaced by a plain jane 235.

Excellent nostalgia!

hi all,
i have a 51 chev 5 window. it also has a 235. dont have the casting number but next to the distributor is #FO215JC. can anyone tell me what year the engine is from?? thanks

jeff
gig harbor wa

Brott,

Where was the casting number 3886848 found? The block casting number reference that I use do not have that number. However, 3836848 is the cylinder head number for most 1956 and later 235 engines. Look at this serial number reference for the FO408J decoding. The engine casting number is on the lower forward passenger's side of the block. The casting date code on the block by the starter is also useful. Look at Tim's great site for more useful information.

Hoyt

Hey all, I'm totally perplexed by this one. A guy is selling what he thinks is a 1952 Chevy 235. The numbers on it are:

N375583DAL
3701887
GM3

I can't find either "3701887" or "375583" on the list of casting numbers at http://www.inliners.org/becks/BCN2.html or http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/cast.html

Any ideas on what these numbers should be telling me? What the heck is this motor?

Best,
Nick

Here's a little more information:

on the block /distributor side: N375583 CAL
on the cylinder head, intake and ex. side: 3701887 GM3
on the cylinder head, distributor side B2 887 O66 670

N375583 CAL is a California assigned serial number.

So what do you think that means exactly?

3701887 - 1953 head?

From which locations did you find those codes (other than the head casting number and the engine serial number that Cetis has commented on)?

This question has been double posted.

I haven't seen the motor myself, so these locations are just hearsay from the current owner:

on the block /distributor side: N375583 CAL

on the cylinder head, intake and ex. side: 3701887 GM3

on the cylinder head, distributor side B2 887 O66 670

tclederman, I'll send him the link to that photo and get back to you all. As always, thanks for the input!

Hi tclederman and all,

Here's additional info, with locations for each number as outlined in the numbered photos linked by tclederman here:

Photo #2 Block Date Casting Code -- CON 4 G298

(G29=July 29, so is the "8" 1958? 1948?)

Photo #3 Engine S/N -- dis. pad is N375583 Cal

(Not sure what this means except that the 'cal' means it's a California s/n, as per cletis - is there any more information in the other part of the number?)

Photo #4 -- B2 887 066 570 but didnt take valve cover off

(no idea what this tells me)

Photo #6 Casting Head Code -- 3701887 gm3

(I still can't find this particular code on any of the normal casting code sites - any ideas?)

What did you find for #1, Block Casting Code?

As I posted above (with a question mark), I found 3701887 listed for 1953 on one website (and I put it on my casting numbers web page), but the Hemmings/Chevytalk website did not say what 1953 235 engine - (Powerglide, manual car, or truck block).

Sorry tclederman, I missed that mention of the '53 head date. I've sent the guy a note to see if he can find the casting code in photo #1 on your site.

Photos of the motor are here, by the way.

http://picasaweb.google.com/nrdesieyes/Chevy235#

Just looked at the pics. That is an interesting engine.
It is a splash engine, as it has the three screw oil distributor.
It has the 1952-54 side mount provision.
1953-55 head.
1950-62 side cover.
Can't tell for sure from the pic. but it looks like a 41-52 water pump.
I would say this was a crate 235, cast in 1958, for a 1953 passenger car with stick trans or big truck.,

Just got the casting number back: 3701946, so 1953.

You're right that it was for a big truck, it just came out of a 1951 2-ton.

I would also appreciate help in identifying the 235 I bought this past weekend. The PO says it came out of a '57 Chevy truck.
Numbers and locations as follows:

Engine block stamp (on flat plate by dist.) FIII5H (These are the letter "I")

Head casting # 3836848

Manifild casting # 3836822

Engine block casting # (below and right of dist.) 3837004

I've gone to the Hemmings and Inliners sites linked to in the previous posts and cannot find much. Any help about the date of manufacture would be appreciated.

Chuck

The Inliners' site shows block # 3837004 as a 55-57 235. I'm not sure about the FIII5H; could it be F1115H? Sometimes the "1" looks like an "I". F1115 could mean an engine produced in Flint, November 15. For 1957, the "H" suffix seems to indicate a 31-32-36-3800 235. The head casting number is correct for a 1956-62 235. That casting number was also used for replacement heads for 1953 and later 235s. The casting date code behind the starter may also help. For example, F167 would indicate June 16, 1957.

Hoyt

Hey Hoyt,

Thanks a lot for helping ID my motor. Yep, the III may indeed be a 111. I thought a series of letters instead of #'s and letters was weird, although I swear the things look like I's.
I'll try taking off the starter to get at the casting code behind it. Bought this motor at a swap meet and I'd just like to find out all I can about it.

Many thanks!

Chuck

So finally got the other set of numbers off my 235 engine. they are 3763716. what year is this? the other set is "FO215JC"

head number is 3836368 GM29

I come up with
Block 3769716 Chevrolet 60 235 w/HD clutch exc fwd control
Head 3836386 Chevrolet 55-57 235

exc fwd control?

Hey Guys,quick question...what do the captain bars on the block mean? if anything...
Thanks

The so called Captains Bars on the side of the block indicate it is a 261. Some early 261's didn't have them however. It is considered desirable and especially so by this crowd.

After reading all of the posts, visiting each link, and collecting all the numbers from the block, I think I have decoded the engine in my 59 Chevy 1/2 ton Napco. It appears it is the wrong motor.
Please take a look at my conclusion and let me know if I am right or wrong.
Block casting Code - 3769716 = 1960
Block date-casting Code - Con 4 G60 = July 6, 1960.
Engine Stamp Serial # FO 707A = Flint MI, July 7th 1960.
Head Casting Code - 3836848 GM 30 = Number used for several years on 235.
Head Casting Number - B59 848 = February 5th 1959 ?
While it is a good running motor, if it is the wrong one I will probably be looking for a correct 59 engine. I am also confused by the fact that the throttle linkage seems to attach in a different location than my other 59, requiring the rod to to be shorter. I will need to modify linkage to get it to work.
Once again your input and opinions are greatly appreciated and I look forward to responses.
Thanks,
Brian M

F0 707A is for a 1960 Passenger car or El Camino, which is why the throttle linkage mounting is different.
A note on the Captains Bars, the '53 full pressure 235 used with Powerglide equipped cars had them as well.

Thanks. Looks like I'll be searching for a correct 59 motor.

Ok I've got one. This is what I have so far:

The VIN prefix: 1P352T
1 = 1961
P = Dubl-Duti Package delivery
35 = 1-Ton 125wb
2 = Chassis & Cowl
T = Tarrytown NY

Head Casting = 3836848 / GM 16 / CON 9 / F 9 0 / (#s by plugs) = B51 848 850
3836848 = 1956-62 235 c.i.
F90 = 06-09-1960

Block Casting = 3764476 / GM 8 / D 7 1 / CON 4
3764476 = 56or58-62 Truck 235 c.i.
D71 = 04-07-1961

Serial = F04I9K 1 68

Please let me know if I am screwing anything up here but I'm having the devil's own time decoding the engine serial # and that is what I need some help with. Most serial format sites stop at 1957 or I simply cannot find my format.

The engine serial number comes out as Flint engine plant, assembled April 19th, P20/P30 application.

LONGBOX55, Could you link me to the decoder for that, or tell me what meant what in that serial? Did you see that they used a capital "i" before the 9. I don't mean to pester but you know ,"the more you know"...

For the code on your engine, it breaks down like this, first letter is the plant code, F being the Flint plant, T would be Tonawanda NY. The next 4 numbers are the Month/Day of assembly, whihc as you may notice, is only a week or so after the block was cast. Last leter is the application. ou mention the "I" that's in the code before the 9, it's meant to be a "1", and is very common to see thm stamped that way. Mine has the same "I" in it's code as well.
Something I will mention, as you've found, most decoders do not go past '57, in addition, most of them do not list anything that isn't a Passenger car or Light Truck/Suburban. The Medium/Heavy Duty Trucks and Double Duty/Step Vans tend to get left out. Much of the information can be found on the Heritage site, though. http://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits.html.

LONGBOX55, Thank you very much for your help. I'm trying to go from 0 to competent on this project of mine and the opportunity to learn in an entirely new area of knowledge was one of my main motivators for tackling it.

I have a 1950 Chevy pick-up that I bought non-running and am having similar issues determining what engine size/year is in it. Close to the dipstick is: 0945635F547. On the block ahead of the distributor is: B39-913. And below it is 241-570. The head has the following : CON13 and H104. The valve cover is held on by 4 screws. Any idea on the cu in and year of this motor???? Thanks. Nealo