Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 235 or a 261 casting numbers ????

i need help with this motor.

the head has casting numbers of B53848850
which comes back as a 56 235 head

i cant find any casting numbers on the block ?

all i can find is CON3F100
serail number 506T46

PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP ME WITH THIS ???

THANKS

Are you sure that's the correct number off the pad by the distributor? The 235 block casting number should be just to the right of the distributor.

There are several numbers on the passenger's side of a 235-261 six. This link shows a photo of a 1954 261 block, pointing out the location of the casting number, the distributor pad number, the date code, and what I have been told is a "conveyor line" code. Note that this casting number, 3835911, is usually listed as belonging to a 1953-55 235, but this block is definitely a 1954-55 first 261. I have heard of another 261 that alsp had this casting number.

Later model 261 blocks had the casting number further aft, just forward of the distributor, as Drew described. Casting number location for a late 261.

There have been several previous threads on the casting number questions. Search on "casting" or "number" or "date".

There is also some confusion about the 235-261 cylinder head casting numbers. This link shows the location of the "real" head casting number. It is on the horizontal surface on the manifold side of the head. I have not head of a good explanation of the meaning of the numbers cast in on the spark plug side of the head shown in this image.

THERE IS NO CASTING NUMBER IN THE BLOCK I LOOKED IT OVER GOOD ! ALL I CAN FIND ARE THE NUMBERS I ALL READY POSTED. THIS IS A STRANGE BEAST THAT I CANT TRACE DOWN.

SO IF THE CON 3F100 IS A DATE CODE HOW CAN A GUY READ IT ??

IS THERE ANY WAY FROM THE SERAIL NUMBER STAMPED ON THE DIST. PAD OF 506T46 TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS ??
THANKS TERRY

If you apply the later gen of 6s (194-292) block date code, I come up with June 10th 1960. I don't know if they used this method prior to 1963 but it's a possibility.

dew 101,

CON3 F100 should indicate June 10, 1960. If it is a 261 from 1960 it should have a full-flow oil filter, with 1/2" NPT fittings for the oil filter and the drive-in pin on the manifold side of the engine - 261 oil filter fittings. A 235 (or earlier 261) came with 1/8" NPT fittings for a bypass filter - photo of bypass filter fittings.

What type of front or side engine mount attachments are on the block?

Has anyone ever seen a block without a casting number? I have seen several blocks without a number stamped on distributor pad, as replacement blocks usually came blank on the pad.

Could you post some images of the block and head similar to those that I have? Assuming that the engine is not in a vehicle.

Mr. Hoyt is correct (no engine ID) and some military engines from WWII were Mfg W/O those numbrs too.

You have an engine from the 60s though.

Good luck.

Sometimes the starter obscures the block casting numbers.

Hey wouldn't the 261 have the captains bars above the starter?
Dom

A quote from "The Forgotten 261" in "Tech Tips" from the menu to the left:
"Watch for the 'Captain's Bars!' The 261 has two pairs of parallel raised 3/4 inch long bars cast in the block. This is not seen on a 235 except 1954. One pair is above the starter and the second pair is at the top middle of the left side of the block very close to the head. ... The one exception is the early 261 produced in 1954 to mid 1955. It has only one "Captain Bar" above the starter but keeps the pair on the left side."

However, I have two 1954 261 blocks; one has both Captain's bars, one set above the starter and the other set on the opposite side, between the two core plugs and about two inches below the cylinder head deck. The other 1954 261 does not have any Captain's bars; it also has a casting number that belongs to a 235 block, according to the published guides. Both of these blocks were replacement blocks.

The "real" casting number is located on the forward part of the block; for the 1954 blocks it is forward of the fuel pump and just above the oil pan flange. On a used engine this area is usually covered with crud that must be scraped off to see the numbers. The later engines have the casting number forward and slightly lower than the distributor.

The only useful information in the "casting numbers" behind the starter is just the date code, for example: "E74" = May 7, 1954.

The numbers which may or not be stamped (not cast) into the distributor may or may not contain useful identification information. Sometimes it is a serial number, but not always. Sometimes it is blank, usually meaning that the block was purchased new as a replacement and the owner never bothered to stamp the apprporiate number on the pad.

A search on "casting numbers" etc. in this forum or in The Stovebolt Page will provide lots of information, both helpful and confusing. Example of helpful thread.