The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 53 235 block - what is it?

Transition year question. Can anyone help in identifying a "1953 235" block as either a splash/babbit vs a high pressure 235? This is a block said to be for a car, but not sure if auto or standard trans.

In a 1953, would a high pressure 235 have a tall or a short side cover? Is a tall cover always a reliable indicator of splash/babbit 216 or 235 and a short cover always a full pressure 235? Or did first year high pressure 235 still have the tall cover?

Also How many head bolts? Compatible with a 216 head? or a later 235 head?
thanks

Post the engine serial number that is pressed into the block to the rear of where the distributor goes into the block.

LAS and LAQ prefix indicates 1953 car 235 with Powerglide transmission.

If the code indicates 1953 car with Powerglide transmission, it is a high pressure lubrication system engine, Every other 1953 engine car/truck was low pressure.

All 1953 235s have 18 head bolts.

All 1953 235s would have short side covers.

The 1953 216 head would have 15 head bolts.

Tim,
I have a 53 with powerglide full pressure engine (no Oil distributor on drivers side) with short side cover. A good way to ID the 53 powerglide engine is the captains bars on the block above the starter. (The only other block that I know of with captains bars is the 261, but they have them on both sides of the block.)
Carl

You are, of course, correct about the side covers, Carl (and correct about the Captain's bars). I have edited the error out of my post, above.

Thanks.

Casting number is 3733949. Other cast number says CON3 B73
Most of the casting number lists say this casting number is a 1955 first series. (The P.O said 53 and one of the lists says 53-55).

Since that block date casting code (B73) is February 7th 1953, that block casting code (3733949) must be 53-55?

What are the head casting code and head date casting code?

Does the valve cover attach with two studs through the top of the cover, or with four screws around the base of the cover?

tclederman,
Hey, I just hope you're there for me when I get something wrong (again).
Carl

Thanks.
No captains bars, and unfortunately, no head. it has 18 bolt holes. No serial numbers - it has a blank boss, so maybe a replacement engine block?
So all that from feb 53 - seems to say an early 235, but with no captains bars, is it full pressure?

That block casting code indicates high pressure, but that date casting code is for a year when only the Powerglide-equipped car 235 had high pressure.

Maybe Dave will have the answer?

The full pressure version wouldn't have the oil distribution
plate on the lower block on the left??

John

The only way to know for sure is to look and see if it has an oil distributor. The oil distributor is a kidney been shaped cover held on with three screws, seen in this pic, right below where the exhaust head attaches.

Dave,

I think you told us this before: is the an oil distributor on any/all/none of the 1953 235 engines (truck or car, including the 1953 Powerglide engine)?

3733949 is a 1955 (or, maybe/apparently a 1953-1955) casting code, did you know that is was used in 1953? If there was a 1954/55 version of that block, would you expect that the 1953 truck version of that block would have had an oil distributor?

Thanks,

Tim,
An oil distributor is used on all "splash" engines and no full pressure engines.
1953 Power Glide equipped cars were the first year for the full pressure 235 and all of the ones I have seen have Captains bars above the starter (like a 1954 and later 261).
I do not have the documentation here(I am on vacation), but I would suspect 1953 full pressure engines would have there own one year only casting number.
If Chev changed something like dropping the Captains bars for 1954 (and moving them to the 261) they would have given it a new casting number.
It is interesting that the block in question is not stamped next to the distributor.
I would like to here if it has an oil distributor. I would also like to know if the pan rails are straight of does it bulge out at the center on the passenger side. If it bulges out on the pass side then the B73 date code may be 1963 or the 3 may be an 8????
A pic of both sides of the engine would be helpful.

Thanks for the responses, it is interesting. Here are some images - no kidney shaped plate, but no captains bars either?

[IMG]http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/4573/v6pm.jpg[/IMG]

http://imageshack.us/a/img853/576/w767.jpg

That is clearly a full pressure 235!

If this is truly a 1953 235 both pan rails will be straight down the sides and use a small journal steel cam.

A 1953 full pressure 235 without captains bars. Could it be Canadian?