The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop cylinder head question

i purchased a cylinder head thev other day, for my 235 block. but after close inspection, i noticed there were no holes for the valve cover to bolt on to.so this vmust be a 216 head? or am i missing something? any help would be great. thanks.

How many head bolts?

15 head bolts on all 216s and on low-pressure 235s
18 head bolts on high-pressure 235s and on all 261s

All low-pressure heads (216 and 235s) had two-bolt valve covers - bolts through the top of the valve cover.

1953 high-pressure 235 engines also had two-bolt valve covers.
All other high-pressure 235s and all 261s had 4-machine screws valve covers (attachment at the edges of the valve cover).

What is the casting # and the date code.

Usually located on top, under the valve cover, across from each other.

Tim, I don't have the bolt count in front of me but, there is also the 1950-52 Power Glide, splash 235, which is different than the 1941-49 235 head.

Thanks, Dave. I had forgotten about that because I was only referring to valve covers.

well i checked the head bolts, there are 18 to the count. so it is a high pressure head. that is what i was wanting. my block is a full pressure 1954.i just didn;t know they still had the two bolt valve cover.thanks for the comeback. r/c66

hey tom, i have the casting numbers if you can identify them, that would be great. 3701887 gm 6 con13 1223. those were on top of the head, inside the valve cover. thanks. just trying to be sure. dad always said to measure twice and cut once.

3701887 is a 1953 235 cylinder head

The 1223 is probably a date casting code that might be I223, which would decode to:

I = September
22 - 22nd
3 = 1953

Wait for Tom to confirm or correct.

What is the block casting code and the block date casting code?
http://1954advance-design.com/Web%20images/casting-code-photos/low-press-codes-ser-nums.html

So, it looks like you have a 1953 235 head that works with a later high-pressure block. The 1953 was a transition year for the 235 heads and blocks.

3718887 is a 235, 108hp 2stud rocker cover, 1953-62 listed in Mark Allen's Facrory Casting Number & Code Guide.
This number is not listed in the 1929-57 parts book nor the 1929-54 parts book so it must have been a later release. And, it is not listed in the 1947-72 parts book. So my guess would be that it was a '58-'62 head that was later replaced by the 3836954 head.

3835913 is a 235, 108hp 4bolt rocker cover, 1954-57.
If it is the stock truck motor of this vintage it would have this head on it.

3836241 Would have been the 1954-55 Corvette head.

3836848 Would be a 235, 108hp 4bolt rocker cover, 1956-62.

To further confuse things, in the 1946-72 parts book they list pn. 3836954 as a replacement for ALL 1953-62, 235.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

"3836954 as a replacement for ALL 1953-67, 235."

Denny, don't you mean 57?

No Dave, if your looking in the 1929-57 parts book, that may indicat that. But in the 1946-72 1/2 to 1-ton Trucks parts book that I have it lists it as a replacement head for 1953 thru '62. The effective date of this parts book is May, 1977

And I made a correction to the typo i.e. changed the '67 to '62 which of course was the last year for that series.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

thanks for the info . i am convinced that it is a 53 high pressure head now. as i said, i have 54 235 full vpressure block under it.and vthe head has vthe 18 count head bolts. so i believe i have a good set up to drop in my 1950 3600 series.i have had it all rebuilt at the local machine shop,that shrunk my wallet. my fat finger keeps hittin the v button, sorry. well thanks again to everyone who helped out.r/c 66.

rodC66,

Yes, that should be a good engine in your 1950 3600. Please post a few photos when you have the engine installed.