The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Car or Truck engine block

I've looked and can't tell which it is. Block numbers are Cast #3837004 Ser. #F60511, head cast. # is 3535913, I think their out of a truck. Block has boss holes for a car mount and the front plate has the holes in it. Block & head have remnants of light green paint.

Also, did the main bearings change (dimple on block half) during this year or later?

Mains changed in mid 55
Going by the Serial number it looks like a 1960 engine.
If the "I" you posted is a J,at the end, it is a truck engine, but after 1958 there are no differences in car and truck blocks anyways. They are all drilled for hydraulic lifters.

Thanks Dave.
1960? I thought, could likely be wrong, that 3837004 went from 1955-1957? A 1960 would be a bonus. Nope it's a 1 at the end, I'll keep the J part in memory though. This block has the "milk can" mechanical lifters, any for-see-able issues with that?

You can confirm the date by looking at the casting date above the starter.

Inliners does show 3837004 as 1955-57, but they may be wrong. Is your engine setup for center side mounts?

Can you post a pic of your engine?

No on the center sides, just the forwards and fronts. It's an engine for sale so phone pics are what I got. I forgot to get the date of the block, but I could get it. I was curious if there were differences between truck and car blocks, in 1955, other than trucks got Mech. lifters and front mounted? Is it possible to put hydraulic lifters in mech. truck blocks before '58 as long as the cam is appropriate?

Up through 1955 the only 235s with hydraulic lifters were car 235s used with a Powerglide transmission.

If it does not have center side mounts it is pre 1958.

Before 1958 only engines that had Power Glide transmissions, had hydraulic lifters. Stick cars and truck engines are not drilled to supply oil to hydraulic lifters.

Starting in 1958 all 235s are drilled for hydraulic lifters, whether they were used or not. This was done as part of the new oiling system for the rockers. See Fig.#15 in this LINK

Didn't all 235 car engines from 1956 and later have hydraulic lifters?

http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/373.cfm

Tim, in looking in the parts book I would agree, In 1956 and later, all pass had hydraulic lifters. So 1956-62 pass engines would all be drilled for hydraulic lifters, trucks would not be drilled until 1958, even though they did not use them.

That's what I've gathered. There was only one I6 engine used in cars from '56-'62 and they had hydraulic lifters. Then in '58-'62 all I6's were drilled. I just figured it out, the "drilled" wasn't a bore size it was the horizontal galley oiling the lifters around their annulus.
Thanks Guys

I'm not an engine guru but I beg to differ on that statement. My 261 is a car engine from '58.

But is it a Chev? and I don't mean in a Chev:)

In Canada the 261 was also used in a Pontiac car. It had hydraulic lifters. All truck 261 engines in the USA (and, I think in Canada) had mechanical lifters.

The Canadian Pontiacs were a different animal. They had Chevrolet power trains for many, many years.