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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 21 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 21 | Hi all, sorry but its another engine question for you, I recently purchased an engine from a 52 COE over here in the UK, I have searched the previous posts and info about engines, but with some confusion. I have read that engine prefix KDA217289 should be a 52 235. but I have the captains bars above the starter, and behind the manifolds, however the casting date on the engine is con 3 I244, which i believe to be September 24 1954 ? another engine cast number in front of the fuel pump reads 3703414. Numbers on the cylinder head are 3836850 GM1 con 12 and L135, which I think makes it December 13 1955?? with the two sets of captains bars, from what i read says its a 261? but is it? any help would be appreciated thanks
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,792 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,792 | Doesn't the 1953 216 have captain's bars? Jerry
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| | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | My sources show KDA as being from a 1952 COE 2 ton, 235. It sounds like you have a replacement 261 that someone stamped with the KDA as that would most likely be what the truck was titled to.
Jerry, no 216's had Captains bars. The only engine besides a 261 that had them was the full pressure 1953 235.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 506 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 506 | the block casting # and the head casting # you posted are both listed as 261.
-Tom
1950 Chevy 3100 w/ 1956 235
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | According to Inliners International, 3703414 indicates a '54-56 261. That is strange because a '54 and a '56 engine are different. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | 3703414 = 1954 block casting code I244 = September 24 1954
3836850 = head casting code used 54-63 L135 = December 13 1955
KDA = 5000 series 1952 235 engine
My guess is that you have a replacement engine that has the 1952 engine code that was on the engine that originally came in your truck.
Jerry,
The bars were also on one of the 1953 235 engines (maybe on the high pressure 235 used on Powerglide cars in 1953). Pre '68 Dave would know which '53 235, and if only one pair of bars was on the '53 block.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 506 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 506 | I think block casting 3703414 & 3733950 are 1954-55.1.
1955.2 - 1957 had 2 different block numbers
-Tom
1950 Chevy 3100 w/ 1956 235
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | cletis,
3703414 cannot be a block code for 54-56 (Inliners had a few other mistakes in its codes). The 54/55-1st block uses the older style water pump and the 55-2nd to 63 uses the newer style water pump.
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | cletis,
3703414 cannot be a block code for 54-56 (Inliners had a few other mistakes in its codes). The 54/55-1st block uses the older style water pump and the 55-2nd to 63 uses the newer style water pump. Yes, I know. That is why I said the listing is strange. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 21 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 21 | Hi all, sorry for the delay in answering, but our internet host wont connect to stovebolt.com since an update, so I have to use a proxy server from now on. Tim. I think that your explanation seems to be the most logical. Im sure that this is a 261.Its got a four blade fan with a short shaft water pump and both sets of captains bars.It was the prefix KDA that didnt seem right. Thanks to everyone for the posts and thoughts
Kelvin | | |
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