The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop numbers help

can anyone tell me what these numbers are. i cannot find them anywhere.
block on top 3836850 GM3
con 4 j 190
ser# 21ksa 1183
on plate by distributor SC 425
bottom front of motor 3788950
any help would be appreciated. don't know if motor is 216 or 235. maybe thats why i cannot find these #

What dose the valve cover look like. Dose it have two bolts coming though the top of it. If it dose its a 216. What year of truck is it?

Hy jimbo 24, I could not find that exact block casting number over at the Inliners International site, but I did find 3733950 which is a 54-55 261, is it possible that what you thought were 8S were 3s, hope that helps.

1952 chevy 1 ton 9 ft. bed

first 7 pics

It looks to me like you have full pressure 235 engine cast Oct 19 1960 to fit a 1954 Chev. It has the high mount water pump last used in 1954.

u mean it's not original motor for 1952 1 ton

ser# is 21KSA 1183. what truck do i have. i am so confused

Jim,

Looks to me like you have a 261...

Block 3733950 = 54-55 ALL (261) (1st Ser.,)

Head 3836850 = 54-62 ALL (261).

The date code J 190...J = Month, 19 = Day, 0 = Year (1960)

Hope this helps,

Mike B

you say you have a '52, apparently someone has changed the engine in the last 60 years, what's the confusion??

Bill

Jim,

Here's your serial number breakdown...

21KSA 1183

21 = Janesville Plant

KS = 1952 3800 1 ton

A = January

1183 = Unit number starting wit 1001, so you have the 183rd 3800 out of Plant 21.

Hope this helps,

Mike B

thank u. so this is a 1960 truck

confusion is someone says 235 engine and others say 261 i am lost sorry

NO, see the note above KS = 1952.

You have a 1952 truck with a 1960 engine transplanted into it...

Mike B

?? thought you said it was a '52? the engine year has nothing to do with the vehicle year, does it look like a 60's series truck or an Advance Design truck?

Bill

I get all of my info from GM books...I don't post answers to questios I can't back up. Who says it's a 235 and what are they basing their statement on?

Mike B

look at some response to my post

bill looks like ad truck to me

t looks to me like you have full pressure 235 engine cast Oct 19 1960 to fit a 1954 Chev. It has the high mount water pump last used in 1954.

The valve cover with the center fill hole is like the one on my 53 with powerglide engine that has a 56 848 head on it. My point is, you need the stamped code behind the distributor to know what block you have. Someone can add all kinds of stuff to mislead you.

I don't think the water pump is the critical ID point .... trust Mike, you have a '52 truck with a '60 261, lucky you

Bill

The water pump design not matching the casting date is important if you are buying parts.
As I said before that pump design was last used in 1954 on cars and 1955 first in trucks.
This is a crate engine.
Engines I have seen like this are put together with date of assembly(1960 in this case) parts, even though it looks like a 1954 engine.
That means it will have tang main bearings, and the oil pan rail will bulge out on the pass side. The oil pump will also be different than a 1954/55 1st.

carl do u mean sc 425 by distributor

jimbo,

You posted above that SC 425 was on a plate? "on plate by distributor SC 425"

Carl is referring to the engine serial number that is pressed into the block in the ledge just to the rear of where the distributor goes into the block.

If you have a factory replacement engine, that code might be odd. Depending on state laws and the practice of the installer, a state defined code might be there, or the code on the former/original engine might have been put there (or, any off code might be there).

As you most likely know, the engine serial number was one of the commonly used codes for titling/registering a vehicle. This causes problems when the engine is replaced.

Nonetheless, as Carl asked, what code is pressed into your block to the rear of the distributor?

sc425 and maybe another 5. thi can see pressed into the block. also that C could be a 0 hard to tell

here r a few pics. i am working on engine and don't know what engine i have mike says its a 261 1960. guy from jim carter says its a 54 or 55 235 or 261. can i get some help[IMG]http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag3/cuz2424/truckrngine006_zps94bec366.jpg[/IMG]

few more[IMG]http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag3/cuz2424/truckrngine006_zps94bec366.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag3/cuz2424/truckrngine006_zps94bec366.jpg[/IMG]

another pic. this one[IMG]http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag3/cuz2424/truckrngine006_zps94bec366.jpg[/IMG] tells 261 54 or 55

I think some/most of this information/interpretation is also posted above:

3733950 : 1955-2nd through 1957 261 block casting code

3836850 : 261 head casting code used all years

What is the complete code pressed into the block just to the rear of where the distributor goes into the block (can you post a link to a photo)?

Also, what are the block date casting code and the head date casting code?

"sc425 and maybe another 5. thi can see pressed into the block. also that C could be a 0 hard to tell"

sc425 maybe sc4245 maybe S04245 maybe S04245S maybe F0425S

S 04 25 5?
S 04 25 S?

F = Flint, MI
04 = April
25 = 25th
S = big truck with 261

??

Your water pump is a 54/55st style (it extends above the top of the block), but it might have a relocation plate?

It is possible you have a 1963+ replacement block/head. If it is, it is the third I have seen (heard-of). Maybe Greg_H will chime in - WD Foster gave him information about these.

If it is a replacement block/head, the date casting codes might be interesting. And, the engine serial number is a "replacement" code that might have been stamped incorrectly/oddly.

This might be a guessing game.

Are there captain's bars above the starter and on the opposite side of the block?

no captain bars on either side

all the numbers on block by distributor either sc425 or so425 they are plain to see but no other numbers

any more help

The captains bars on both sides would indicate a 261. The lack of captains bars, I am not sure. Someone with more knowledge than me will surely respond soon.

thanks carl

My guess (WAG) is that it is a post-1962 GM replacement block, which could be machined after casting for use with a 54/55st or post 55st water pump.

It would be interesting to pull the head and see if there are the six extra coolant passages needed/used on a 261 block.

If my WAG is correct: CON 4 J190
CON 4 = Conveyor 4
J = October
19 = 19th
0 = 1970

This would be the third such GM replacement block that I have seen/hear-of.

Dave (Pre '68 Dave), what is your guess?

my pics
con12 and on other side K300