The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Verifying the year...?

I am purchasing a barn find Chevrolet truck, has no VIN plate, engine appears to have been switched out, not sure it is a 216, could be a 235. How can I be sure of the year?
Also any hints on trying to get it titled? I have been told it is a 1952 1/2 ton.
I am new to this...any help will be appreciated.

Welcome to the Stovebolt Page! Good luck. You can look here for help in ID'ing your truck. The 52's and 53's are the most alike of the AD series trucks, except the 52 does not have a 3100 emblem on the hood sides. Also try looking in the gallery at 52 pickups for those ID'ing marks. Of course a lot can and does happen in 59 years and it may have other parts swapped from other year trucks.
Also depending on where you live the lack of proper serial numbers and paperwork can be a real pain.

The quickest and most obvious way, that I have found, to tell the difference in the 216 verses the 235 is to look at the passenger side of the motor. The big almost flat cover will go up past the spark plugs if it is a 216. This cover will stop below the plugs if a 235. Another way to tell is by the valve cover. The 216 has 2 mounting bolts that come up through the top. The 235 has 4 bolts on the bottom horizontal lip. Of course the number located by the distributor is the most accurate. As far as the title goes, call your DMV to get started on whatever it takes to obtain a new title. It might take some doing, but it is usually possible with a little (make that a lot) of patience.

Panhead59 correctly describes the easiest way to distinguish a 216 engine from most high-pressure 235/261 engines (1954 and later). However, distinguishing a 216 from an early (low pressure) 235 engine (especially 1941-1949) is not as easy to do from exterior appearances.

As Panhead59 posted, the engine serial number and block/head casting codes are the best way to identify an 216 from a low pressure 235.

Here are locations of codes on low-pressure engine.

Here are locations of codes on high-pressure engine (almost the same locations as above?)

Here is the side view that shows the low-pressure oil distributor that is used on low pressure engines (all 216s and low-pressure 235). There is no oil distributor on the manifold side of a high-pressure 235/261 block.

Thanks for your help. I am sure I will have more ??