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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!
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| | | | Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 48 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 48 | | | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,901 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,901 | Those aren't it... Right side of engine behind dizzy on the flat pad.
'Indented' not 'raised' sequence of digits.
Give me ambiguity
or give me something else
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Here are locations of various codes. The engine ID is pressed into the block as described above. | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | Those aren't it... Right side of engine behind dizzy on the flat pad.
'Indented' not 'raised' sequence of digits. I beg to differ. The pictures do show casting numbers. Casting numbers are cast into the block. Engine serial numbers are stamped on. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 506 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 506 | Your first pic is the cylinder head, casting #3701887.
That casting # was first used in 1953.
-Tom
1950 Chevy 3100 w/ 1956 235
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,901 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,901 | My bad Cletis... I was having a low coffee induced episode of dyslexic understanding and got things turned around.
Give me ambiguity
or give me something else
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Tom/Oilrag,
Wasn't that head style (and casting numbers) only used in 1953? Would that be for an 18-bolt 235 head with the two-bolt valve cover?
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 48 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 48 | Thank you all for the input. I don't know what the 18 bolt stuff means..YET... but the two bolt valve cover thing might be right. I just bought it and looked it over before trying to start it. I thought the valve cover wasn't bolted down so I didn't start it... this pic isn't the best but will take better ones tomorrow. Thanks http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n229/rgunnz/20131119_084354.jpg | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | rgunnz, Look for the casting codes and engine serial number that are shown at the link in my earlier post. That information will allow you/us to ID what you have. From 37-52, there were 15 head bolts; and, from 53-63, there were 18 head bolts. 1953 was an odd/transition year - the oil lubrication system could have been the older, low-pressure system (235s in trucks and manual transmission cars), or the high-pressure oil lubrication system (if the engine was used with a car with the Powerglide transmission). The various codes should clear up what engine you have. From 37-53, there were 2-bolt valve covers (like yours); and, from 54-63, there were 4 machine-screw valve covers. On this page, pattern #1 is the 15 bolt head and pattern #2 is the 18 bolt head. | | |
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