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I have had a hard time finding out what motor is in my 1948 chev panal truck. It has 4 screws 2 on each side of the valve cover. The vin is 6fsh2035 which tells me it is a one ton. I can't find anylthing on the motor or pan. There is B50 B48 B50 stamped on the motor.?? One other thing is I can't find the oil filter. There was one in the box of stuff I recieved when buying but I can not find one anywhere. This is all new to me so HELP.
Thanks

What is stamped on the flat area behind the distributor? That may help. Got any pics?

I can't find anything behind the distributor. Just to the right of it I find the B50 ect. I will look again but I have been all over this thing. Thanks

You definetly have a '54 or later full pressure 235 or 261, as identified by the 4 bolt rocker cover. There are a few numbers on the block that will ID what it is, and can be decoded if you can post them. 1 is the engine serial number stamped on the flat machined pad just behind the distributor. This will give the pant code and application, and in some cases, the year(s). The next is the block casting number. This will be on the passenger side of the block, just forward and below the distributor. It will be a 7 digit number, no letters. It should have a large "GM" under it. The last number, which will peg the year, is the casting date. Thsi is also on the passenger side, near where the starter mounts to the bellhousing.
I recall that you've posted about this before, and found a plate on the engine. I beleive that plate may be from a rebuilder, like Jasper.
On the oil filter, these engines, other than the '58-'62 261, did not come with an oil filter as factory equipment. They were almost always a dealer add on, if they did have one. It is a bypass style filter (exept for the mentioned 261), and is not necessary for engine operation. The filter takes its feed from the same port as the pressure gauge, the return is further to the front, not far from the mounting boss for the throttle pivot. The feed line goes in the side of the filer housing, return comes out the bottom.

first48,

Here are photos of locations of various codes on many high-pressure 235/261 engines.

Where did you find the "VIN", 6fsh2035? How did you decode it to a 1 ton truck engine?

You posted that you found "B50 B48 B50" stamped on the motor. Most likely it is a casted code (not pressed) near the center top of the distributer side of the head? No one has posted information on how to interpret that code.


Bill,

I do not think that you will find any paint information on any code on 216/235/261 engine?

"VIN" 6fsh2035
How to decode it to a 1 ton truck.

FS = 3800

Also lists engine prefix info.
AFCA
AFCM

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/4858.htm

Thanks, Tom

Whups! That should have said PLANT, not PAINT!

I have found two more numbers on this motor. One is just left of the oil dip stick - f523j. On the driver side in casting just under the rocker cover just before the carburator - 3836848 and under this number is GM25. I came up with 1 ton off of the vin#
6fsh2035. Is this right and also it sounds like I do not need to have a oil filter on, is this right. Oilrag you said something about AFCA & AFCM -- I have not found those on anything to this point. Sorry to be so uninformed but this is my first48. Now I just have to figure out how to put on my pictures. Thank you all for your input. This is a great site and great help.

F523J, Flint plant, built May 23rd, 3100-3800 w/manual transmission '58-'62. If you can find the date behind the starter, you'll get the year, seems the engine build date (stamped number) is usually a few weeks behind the casting date.
No filter is required, as they were optional on that engine. However, if you want to install one, it is very easy to do with some minor plumbing.
On to the serial number. 6FSH2035; 6, Assembly plant; Oakland, CA. F, Year; 1948, F Series; 3800 1 ton, H, Month built; August. Last digits are the basic production sequence number, starting at 1001. The AFCA and AFCM would be them engine codes for the original engine. That number would not be present on the body tag, though it may be on the title, depending on where it was originally titled.

Longbox55 thanks for your info. I have looked all over this site to find the right party to ask how to get my pictures from photobucket to this site. I have a heater that I would like some information on and a picture would make it so much easier. Just let me know who to contact. I'll get this site down yet. Still the new bee. Thank so much

Here's a quick tutorial put together by Zookeeper on how to link pictures. Links are preferred, as it keeps down the bandwidth usage.

I just took the oil pan off to make sure everything looked ok and clean it up. In doing so the gasket tells me that it is a late 235 or 216. Still not sure which one. The gasket has 11 holes on each side with rubber ends. After putting the pan back on it shows that it is full with only 3 quarts of oil. Can this be right? Thanks for any help.

the gasket tells me that it is a late 235 or 216
A late 235 would be a 1955-2nd series through 1963.
A 216 (and "early 235s) would have a different oil pan gasket than the later 235/261 engines. It looks to me that both styles of gaskets have 11 holes on each long strip. From the posts above it looks like you have the later style 235/261 pan gasket

After putting the pan back on it shows that it is full with only 3 quarts of oil. Can this be right?
Not likely. Could be the wrong dip stick, or the wrong dip stick tube.

What should I do then, put in the 4 quart even it is going to show to full. I hate to run to much oil but not full also. Not sure how to get the right dip stick if this is wrong. Thanks for your help.

It should be 5 quarts, 6 if you have the optional filter.

I will put in the 5 quarts then make a new mark on the stick for a new full mark.There is no optional filter. Thanks for you help