Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | |
11 members (Eisenholtz, Gone, Peggy M, Donf, Otto Skorzeny, Wickedbass, Hawkman, NJC, GRNHydra, hdgeren, 1 invisible),
72
guests, and
2
robots. | | Key: Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,023 Posts1,055,370 Members48,420 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
Don,
Here's a try at interpretation:
3835913 = 54/55 235 head
Head date: 913 = Sept 1 1953 or 1963? (2 bolt valve cover(1953) or 4 machine screw valve cover (1953)
3764476 = 56-62 truck block
Block date: A88 = Jan 8 1958
217 in the engine serial number location on the block?
Some sort of replacement-engine code?
Maybe others can provide better information?
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | Thanks Tim. The valve cover is held on with 4 screws. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | The 913 you show is not the head date code, just the last three digits of the casting number. The date code will be under the valve cover and will start with a letter.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | Thanks Dave, I'll pull the valve cover and get the numbers.
Thanks again, Don | | | | | Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,362 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,362 | Don,
Here's a try at interpretation:
3835913 = 54/55 235 head
Head date: 913 = Sept 1 1953 or 1963? (2 bolt valve cover(1953) or 4 machine screw valve cover (1953)
3764476 = 56-62 truck block
Block date: A88 = Jan 8 1958
217 in the engine serial number location on the block?
Some sort of replacement-engine code?
Maybe others can provide better information? Is there really such thing as a from 56 to a 62 block? There is a caution notice in the factory shop manual, 1958 truck, page 8-10 to not install early 1957 mechanical tappets in 1958 six cylinder truck engines. So there is a difference.
Last edited by Truckrolet; 06/12/2012 7:43 PM.
Kicking self for selling off my Taskforce trucks.
Still looking for an LCF or conventional big bolt in decent shape.
As of 10-26-2022, A 55.2 Taskforce long bed now the work begins
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | It always drives me nuts when they give such a wide year range. For a replacement engine Chev may have sold one that spanned all those years, but there were many changes in factory installed engines through the years.
For one engines did not have provisions for center side mounts until 1958, and I could go on.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Yes, there are apparently differences in blocks with the same casting code. That information I posted came from Inliners.com and Beck's Machine & Tool . | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | I pulled the valve cover off today. The code is, D 14 55. I also noticed that the oil tube coming up in the center of the rocker shaft is pinched off, is that someones idea of a fix? Just curious.
Thanks Again,
Don | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | It is common to see the tube pinched off to send more oil to the rockers.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
Don,
When the engine is running, does oil come out of the rocker-shafts/rocker-arms? If so, all is well with the rocker arm lubrication.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | I'm going to hook up a remote gas can and get a battery in and get it going. I want to run it and check it out before I pull it out. I'm guessing that the cylinder head is a '55? Would this be a replacement motor for a car or pickup based on the numbers? I can always pull the side cover and have a look at the lifters to see what I've got.
Thanks for the help
Don | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Don, The engine can be better identified with more codes. Here are locations of engine codes. The engine serial number Is usually helpful in determining the model in which the engine was first installed. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | Thanks Tim, I posted pics in my first post of the numbers I found. Thats where I am confused, I believe its either a factory replacement short block or remanufactured by an outside source that stamps their own number into the block. I'm interested at your interpretation of the pictures.
Thanks Don | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
Sorry, Don
OK, you have a 1955 head (D 14 55).
If all you have is "217" where the engine serial number is found on the block (as shown in your first post - to the rear of where the distributor enters the block), then there is a good chance it is a replacement block: either factory and the 217 was stamped by the installer; or from another 56-62 (a 58 block - see below) vehicle and the old code was ground off and the 217 was stamped by the rebuilder/installer (the block was apparently cast in January 1958, A88)?
| | |
|
|
