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| | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 | Newbie here, trying to figure out what I've got. I recently rescued a 53 Chev 2 ton 5100S COE and am trying to identify the engine. Four screws holding the valve cover down, which somebody hand cut three louvers in the top of. Casting number behind the distributor is DA596436. Thanks for any help. Geo Richards. Phoenix, AZ | | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 | The four screws on the valve cover says '54 and later, which style water pump??? The numbers that will really tell the tale are 'cast' on the block down near the fuel pump. Also on the side you'll see date code then get all the numbers off the head. There are charts posted here also on www.inliners.org site. Best of luck | | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 | Thanks Jim. I'll get down on the block and see what I see. From one 53 Chev guy to another, happy holidays. Love your truck. Mine currently has a small dump bed on it, but I'd like to find a good home for it and maybe go flat, stake or even a welding/hauling type bed.
Geo Richards | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | | | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 | | | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 | OK, so the four screws in the Rocker cover say 54 or later, but the engine serial number prefix, LDA, says 53 babbitted 235. Any chance that somebody put a later model head on a 53 block? Interestingly enough somebody cut three louvers in the cover. Still looking for the cast numbers and date code. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | An LDA would be a 1953 splash 235 from a big truck.
All 1953 235s used the same head, A 1954-62 head will bolt right on and will have the four screw holes for the 54-62 type cover.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 | OK, that's what I'm going with until I learn better. 53 splash block with 54 or later head. The real question is will it run after sitting in the hot dry desert for 25+ years. It does turn over fine by hand. Stay tuned. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 255 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 255 | well - I finally got down to the casting codes on my 1950 3800 only to find out that my 235 is really a 216 (drat). So with casting 3835849 I have a 216 from 42-53. The block numbers are CON4 F290 so it looks like it was cast in February of 1950.
Last question - what does the CON4 identify? I haven't been able to find any data on what those 4 chars stand for.
Thanks | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | "F" is the sixth letter which makes it the sixth month, June 29 1950.
I have heard the CON was to identify which conveyer the engine was to go down.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | |
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