History of the Stovebolt 6 Engine
horsepower | casting codes | head-bolt patterns | side/valve covers
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1929-1962
the information below was obtained from Truck sequence/series codes/pre-fixes are nicely presented by John Milliman on The Stovebolt Page Keith Hardy ( The Old Car Manual Project ) kindly hosts GM engine serial number prefixes and suffixes 1929-1932 car identification from the Filling Station Much of the First-Generation information was obtained from Mike Boteler GM Canada casting codes and serial numbers 1916-1984 from the 1937 Chevrolet page 1929-1954 Model Serial Indentification from Keeith Hardy's OLD ONLINE CHEVY MANUALS
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First Generation 1929-1936 Low-Pressure Oil System (internal lubrication) - 1931-35 engine cover-page & engine-specifications most of the information in this First Generation table was kindly provided by Mike Boteler (1935 Master Technical Advisor for the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, VCCA) |
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Year |
Truck & Pass engine size |
B: Block casting code
H: Head casting code Ser # and Engine Serial # are Engine Serial Number codes or links to codes |
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1929 |
194 c.i. |
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1930 |
194 c.i. |
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1931 |
194 c.i. |
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1932 |
194 c.i. |
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1933 |
207 (206.8) c.i. |
Block: 837231 CA Passenger - Eagle
Block: 836915 CB 1 Ton Truck, Sedan Delivery, OA OB OC OD 1.5 ton trucks Head: 836961 CA Master (and others ?) Note: the 1933&1934 837231 Heads have the same casting for both years, but a different part number in each year. Engine Serial # Series codes |
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| 181 (c.i.) |
Block: 473180 CC Passenger-Standard Head: 600569 CC Passenger-Standard Engine Serial # Series codes |
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1934
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207 (206.8) c.i. |
Block: 837231 DA Passenger, Sedan Delivery, Master, DB 1/2 ton truck, PA PB PC PD 1.5 ton trucks Head: 836961 DA Passenger, Sedan Delivery, Master, DB 1/2 ton truck, PA PB PC PD 1.5 ton trucks Note: the 1933&1934 837231 Heads have the same casting for both years, but a different part number in each year. Engine Serial # Series codes |
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| 181 c.i. | ||||||
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1935 |
207 (206.8) c.i. |
Block: 837591
Head: 837230 (used up to serial #4783316, early April 1935) - identified by having 15 long head bolts. Head: 837682 (the "Late Head" - identified by having 8-long and 7-short head bolts) Engine Serial # Series codes |
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1936 |
207 (206.8) c.i. |
Ser #: 1936 truck serial numbers |
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Second Generation 1937-1953 216 & 1941-1953 235 Low-Pressure Oil System (internal lubrication) | ||||||
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Year |
Truck & Pass 216 |
Block: Block code Head: Head code Ser # and Engine Serial # are Engine Serial Number codes or links to codes |
Truck & Pass 235 |
Block: Block Head: Head Ser # and Engine Serial # are Engine Serial Number codes or links to codes | ||
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1937 |
216 c.i. |
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1938 |
216 c.i. |
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1939 |
216 c.i. |
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1940 |
216 c.i. |
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1941 |
216 c.i. |
Block: 839400Head: 839401 Head: Ser #: AA 100S to AA 1163720 & AC 1001 to AC 19549 additional serial number information at this link |
235 c.i. |
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1942 |
216 c.i. |
Block: 839770, 839910, 3835335 Head: 839401 Ser #: 2AA, 2AC, BA additional serial number information at this link |
235 c.i. |
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1943 |
216 c.i. |
Block: 839770, 839910, 3835335, 3837012 (Pass),
Block: 8335794 (Truck) Head: 839401 Ser #: WWII - military car but no domestic 216? |
235 c.i. |
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1944 |
216 c.i. |
Block: 839770, 839910, 3835335, 3837012 (Pass),
Block: 8335794 (Truck) Head: 839401 Ser #: WWII - military car but no domestic 216? |
235 c.i. |
Block: 839751, 839931 Head: Ser #: WWII |
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| 1945 | 216 c.i. | Block: 839770, 839910, 3835335, 3837012 (Pass),
Block: 8335794 (Truck) Head: 839401 Ser #: WWII - military car but no domestic 216? |
235 c.i. | Block: 839751, 839931 Head: Ser #: WWII |
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1946 |
216 c.i. |
235 c.i. |
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1947 |
216 c.i. |
235 c.i. |
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1948 |
216 c.i. |
235 c.i. |
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1949 |
216 c.i. |
235 c.i. |
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1950 |
216 c.i. |
Block: 3835497,
3837012 (Pass),
Block: 8335794 (Truck) Head: 3835517, Ser #: AHCA, AHCM, BHCA, BHCM, HAA, HAM, HAC, HAP, HBA, HBM, HCA, HCM, HCD, HCQ |
235 c.i. |
Block: 3692703 Pass Powerglide
Block: 3835499 3692713 Truck Head: 3835909, 3835499 | ||
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1951 |
216 c.i. |
Block: 3835497,
3837012 (Pass),
Block: 8335794 (Truck) Head: 3835517 Ser #: AJCA, AJCM, BJCA, BJCM, JAA, JAM, JAC, JAP, JBA, JBM, JCA, JCM, JCD, JCQ |
235 c.i. |
Block: 3692703 Pass Powerglide
Block: 3692713 Truck Head: 3835909, 3835499 | ||
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1952 |
216 c.i. |
Block: 3835849, 3835794 Head: 3835517 Ser #: AKCA. AKCM, BKCA, BKCM, KAA, KAM, KAC, KAP, KBA, KBM, KCA, KCM, KCD, KCQ |
235 c.i. |
Block: 3835692 Powerglide/Truck,
Block: 3692713 Truck Head: 3835909, 3835499 | ||
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1953 |
216 c.i. |
the last 216 (all 216s had low-pressure lubrication) Block: 3835849 Head: 3835517 Ser # (see right, below): ALCC. ALCP, BLCC, BLCP, LAG, LAT, LAJ, LAV, LBA, LBM, LCA, LCM, LCC, LCP, LCD, LCQ, LCH, LCU |
235 c.i. truck low-pressure |
the last low-pressure 235 Block: 3701946, 3701483 Head: 3701887 Ser # (see below): LDA, LDM, LEA, LEM, LAA, LAM, LAC, LAP | ||
| 1953 |
235 c.i. PG car |
high-pressure 235 - the first Blue Flame Six Block: 3701481 Powerglide (PG) Block: 3701481 (Corvette, until about 16 Oct 1953) Block: 3835911 (Corvette after 16 Oct 1953) Head: 3838066 (Corvette) Ser #: LAE & LAR w/Power Steering LAF w/Aluminum Timing Gears LAQ w/Powerglide Transmission LAS w/Powerglide Transmission & Power Steering Ser # (see right): |
1953 car & truck ser # |
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Third Generation 1954-1962 235 & 261 High-Pressure Oil System (internal lubrication) | ||||||
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Year |
Truck 235 (gray) & Pass 235 (blue) |
Block: Block code Head: Head code Engine Serial # are Engine Serial Number codes or links to codes |
Truck 261 |
Block: Block Head: Engine Ser # | ||
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1954 |
235 c.i. truck |
Block: 3701481, 3702436, 3835911 Head: 3835913 Engine Ser # T54 OR F54 FOLLOWED BY: L, LA, M, MA, MB, N, P, Q, R, S, T, TA, U, UA, UB, X, XZ, XB, Y, YE, YG, Z, ZC, ZE, ZH Pass?? |
261 c.i. |
Block: 3703414, 3702436, 3703414 Head: 3635499 ???, 3703570, 3836850 Engine Serial # F54Q, T54Q (5000 series) F54N, T54N (6000 series) | ||
| 235 c.i. car |
Block: Powerglide,
Pass: 5845363 (PG?) Block: 3835911 (Corvette), (and, maybe 3701488) Head: 3836241 (Corvette) Engine Serial # |
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1955 |
235 c.i. truck |
Block: 3733949 (1st series) H: 3835913 (1st series) Block: 3836233 (2nd series) Engine Serial # 1955-1st series Engine Serial # 1955-2nd series |
261 c.i. |
Block: 3733950, 3836340, 3837012
Engine Serial #
Engine Serial # | ||
| 235 c.i. car |
Block: 3835911 Block: Powerglide: 3702436, 3838004 (Beck's and Inliners) or 3837004 (Hemmings/ChevyTalk), Head: Pass & Powerglide: 3835913 Block: Corvette: 3835911 Head: Corvette: 3836241 Engine Serial # Z, ZC (HD clutch), Y (Powerglide), YG (Corvette), ZH (Aluminum cam gear), ZJ (HD clutch & cam gear) |
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1956 |
235 c.i. truck |
Block: 3836233, 3764476; 3838004 (Beck's and Inliners) or 3837004 (Hemmings/ChevyTalk) Head: 3836848 Engine Serial # X, XA, XB; XG, XGA & XGB (Hydra-Matic); W, WA; V, VA, VB (HD clutch); UA, UB , UD |
261 c.i. |
Block: 3733950, 3836340, 3837012, 3738813 Head: 3703570, 3836850 Engine Serial # F56TA, F56TD (P.T.) (6000 series) | ||
| 235 c.i. car |
Block: 3836233, 3764476; 3838004 (Beck's and Inliners) or 3837004 (Hemmings/ChevyTalk) Head: 3836848 Engine Serial # X, XA, XB; XG, XGA & XGB (Hydra-Matic); W, WA; V, VA, VB (HD clutch); UA, UB , UD |
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1957 |
235 c.i. truck |
Block: 3764476; Head: 3836848 Engine Serial # H, HD (Hydra-Matic), HE (HD clutch), J (Updraft carb), JA (Updraft carb & Hydra-Matic) |
261 c.i. |
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| 235 c.i. car |
Block: 3838004 (Beck's and Inliners) or 3837004 (Hemmings/ChevyTalk) Head: 3836848 Engine Serial # A (3-speed), AD (HD clutch), B (Powerglide) |
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1958 |
235 c.i. truck |
261 c.i. |
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| 235 c.i. car |
Block: 3738307 Head: 3836848 Engine Serial # |
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1959 |
235 c.i. truck |
261 c.i. |
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| 235 c.i. car |
Block: Pass: 3738307 Head: 3836848 Engine Serial # |
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1960 |
235 c.i. truck |
261 c.i. |
Block: 3836340, 3739365 (Jim Carter), 3759365, 3769717, 3769925, 3769923 Head: 3836850 Engine Serial # | |||
| 235 c.i. car |
Block: Pass: 3738307 Head: 3836848 Engine Serial # |
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1961 |
235 c.i. truck |
261 c.i. |
Block: 3836340, 3739365 (Jim Carter), 3759365, 3769717, 3769925, 3769923 Head: 3836850 Engine Serial # | |||
| 235 c.i. car |
Block: Pass: 3764476, 3769716, 3739716; Head: 3836848 Engine Serial # |
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| 1962 |
235 c.i. truck |
Block: Truck: 3764476, 3769716, 3739716; Head: 3836848 Engine Serial # |
261 c.i. | Block: 3836340, 3739365 (Jim Carter), 3759365, 3769717, 3769925, 3769923 Head: 3836850 Engine Serial # |
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| 235 c.i. car |
Block: Pass: 3764476, 3769716, 3739716; Head: 3836848 Engine Serial # |
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notes: 2. All 235/261 truck engines had mechanical (solid) lifters (see #3 for Powerglide 235 information). 3. 1950-1952 235 engines were used in Powerglide-equipped cars and they had hydraulic lifters. 4. 1953-1955 Corvette 235 engine: the Powerglide transmisssion was standard and the Corvette's Blue Flame Six used mechanical lifters (and it had a higher-lift cam that was used in the 261 truck engine). 5. 1953 was
an odd/transition year for 235 engines. In all earlier years, the
216/235 engines had low-pressure lubrication and they all had 15 head
bolts and a 2-bolt valve cover. In 1953, the Powerglide equipped
cars (and Corvette) had high-pressure lubrication 235 engines with 18
head bolts (as used in all later 235/261 engines) and 2-bolt valve
cover. To add to this confusion, the 1953 truck 235 had 18 head
bolts still had low-pressure lubrication and had the 2-bolt valve cover. 6. 1954 & 1955 Passenger cars with the high-pressure 235 and manual transmission continued to use mechanical lifters. 7. All
1956-1962 235 Passenger car engines used hydraulic lifters. 8. 235 engines
were used in some Powerglide-equipped trucks (around 1960 and later) -
hydraulic lifters were most likely used in those engines? | ||||||
History of the Stovebolt 6 Engine
horsepower | casting codes | head-bolt patterns | side/valve covers
©2006-2013 Warren Foster & Tim Lederman
