The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Another Engine ID help

I am in the process of doing a rebuild on my newly acquired 1953 chevy truck.

I need to order some gaskets and pieces, and so need to ID the engine precisely. I am ordering the pieces from LMC, but some of the engine parts only relate the 216 engine to a 1953.

When I use the VIN buster it lists my engine as a 1963. This is pretty funny, coz it obviously isn't.

My casting number is 3835913. The casting numbers list off this site only list 3835911 (53-55 235) and 3835917 (54-55 235).

Most of the parts differences seem to be between the gasket sets.

Any ideas.

do you have the S/N off the pad just behind the distributor?

...example...

I will get by tomorrow. I just pulled the engine, and took the starter off. I couldn't read it from inside the car(years of grime). I forgot to write down the number when I was there today.

Ok. The S/N is 0469677F54Z .

Flint, Michigan plant
1954 model year
Z - regular equipment car engine

0469677 - 1,000 = 468,677th truck out of that plant that year.

So.......I have a 53 truck with a 54 engine? Is that a bad thing?

Does the Z = regular car engine: mean that it is out of a car and not a truck, or is the term car general?

I have that 235 in my 50 also.

I don't think it's a bad thing unless you thought your truck was "original"

Sometimes at the parts counter I have to tell them I have A 54 bel air.
The engine spec's I get from Here

I'm to young to know but my guess is that it was a common swap in the 60's and 70's for these trucks

The 1954 truck engine is a high-pressure engine with internally-lubricated insert rod-bearing. The 1953 truck engine is low pressure with dipper/spray-lubricated babbitted rod-bearings.

The Z indicates in was first installed in a car that had a manual transmission. That engine would have mechanical lifters (as would all truck engines). In 1954, car engines with the optional Powerglide automatic transmission (2-forward-speeds) would have hydraulic lifters.

Ok, excuse my lack of knowledge. BUT.......

I have to order some parts for my engine. Is it ok to order seals and gaskets for the 1954 235 listed in the production parts catalog? I am currently considering the order from LMC (unless there are other recommendations), and they offer either parts for a 1953 216/235, or a 1954 235. Does it matter WHICH 235? Or do I need to find another supplier for a car version of the 1954 235?

Thanks for all help.

Steven

Ok, I finally got the clutch housing off the back of the engine (a cheater bar cannot be understated), and still the engine stand won't mate up with the back of the engine. So.....will have to carry it off to a metal shop that can modify it for me so that I can mount it up.

Then off to prepare the rest of the body for the body shop. But, not before I can get an order off, and wait for the slow boat to Italy.

Wow. I finally got the engine off of the lift and onto the stand. It was only after two trips to the metal worker to get the holes drilled out of the engine stand plate, to match the back of the engine.

Now to get these darn parts ordered, and the body off to the shop, and I just may be able to start reassembly in mid September.