VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1955-1957 engine id

I have purchased a Chevy 235 engine to put in my 1937 Chevy PU. the engine SN is FII08A. The block casting number is 9837004. I believe that this is a 55-57 engine, but above the casting number is "SPEC-45". Can anyone tell me that what this means? Also, on the exhaust side near the front of the engine is a silver round object the size of a quarter that says "GUARANTEED VOID IF REMOVED".

3837004 is a 1956 or 1957 casting number.
The F1108A is the engine plant (F for Flint) 1108 (Nov 8th ) (my birthday) and A 235 small truck engine. This dating/sorce code was used in 1957 only.
The other mentioned items idiacte it was rebuilt at one time and that is the rebuilders information for his Info. if there is a problem in the future, etc.

Thank you for the information. I'm still wondering about the SPEC-45 which is part of the casting just above the casting number

Is it stamped into the iron or raised letters?

If it is stamped in it may refer to the use of undersized main bearings.....by Chevrolet or the rebuilders.
Chevrolet never used undersized main bearings in new engines until mid 1956 when the went to the tab type inserts.

raised letters - same as casting numbers - located just above the numbers

That indiactes that it was put on when the block was cast. Could the engine have been in a government/military truck?
What color was it painted?

valve cover and block are blue.

The 235 truck engines are gray. I am resonably sure it is a rebilt but can not explain the lettering.

I think I can give you a link to view the casting:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ixgytfb7mtfjw15/Block%20ID.jpg?dl=0
hope that this works

Doc

One other thought. A small number of late 1957 235 engins had the 1958 oiling system to the rocker arms. These engines did not had the short rocker arm oil line in the lower rear corner of the push rod compartment going from the back lower corner of the block up to the center just below the head area. If the block was "made" on 11-8 I would say that meant of 1956 so this may not be the case.....unless it meant Nov 0f 1957 but that is too late for a 1957 engine.

I will check the engine casting numbers when I get it out of the car and home. thanks for your feedback.

Doc

I have the engine out of the car and at my residence, this is what I found: the casting number above and behind the starter is CON 4 K 58. So, if I am correct, this would mean that the engine was cast in November of 58. This would be inline with the SN of F1108A? The other casting number that I could find was 3836848 GM 2. Is there any other place I should look for a casting number to id the engine date?

Thanks for your imput

Doc

4 = 4th day, K = Nov. 58 the year.
That would be a 1959 engine.
F = engine made at Flint plant, 1108 = 11th month and 8th day and in 1959 A = 235 passenger car engine with standard tranmission.
That being said the rocker arm cover will have no vents and the oil filler/breather cap in the center.
The 3836848 is the casting number of the cylinder head and that number was use for 1956-1962 235 heads.
The engine will ave hydraulic lifters and the low lift, low speed torque camshaft (desireable)
The 1959-1962 rocker arms are for that mdel as it has the improved oiling to the rocker arms (providing the passage between the head and block is not plugged-up)

the 4K58 is the casting number date.

The engine casting number is behind the starter. It will be 3764476 if I remember correctly.

Thanks for the information.

DOC

Okay, I have a correction to make the casting number behind and above the starter is CON 4 K56 (not 58), I guess my eyes were playing tricks. The other raised casting number is on the same side to the right and below the distributor SPEC-45 under this is 3837004 and under that the GM 11. the rest of the numbers that I previously furnished are correct.

DOC

Remove the starter and get the 7 diget casting number covered up by the starter.

Disregard my last post.....and it is a 1957 235 1/2 ton truck engine as I said earlier.

thanks

DOC