C8A HUM s/n 3844536691 1944

[Shayne]

Yes, a great site and I have perused it but saw nothing specific to the differences between the '53 and the later 235's. I hate to just show up and ask questions without being able to contribute.
The manual page is a real gem!
The pushrods are definitely a different length but I don't know about the lifters. Not only length but diameter. It stands to reason that the combined length should be the same but the moving assembly on the head is somewhat different so...
The parts looked to be in good shape so it should last another 15,000 miles. ;-)

[Phil Waterman]

Here is a web site that I've found useful in sorting out Chevy 6's these engines because of their long life and interchangeability are often a mix of years before you even start working on them.

http://aera.org/techtools.aspx is a site for checking casting numbers there are also some other good casting number sites. One of the first things I do is check all the major casting numbers to see if the engine is a unit of all the parts atleast coming from the same year.

[Shayne]

The problem with having a truck engine is that none of the generic sites seem to have any information. I do know both the block and head are 1953:

The head, cast 3701887, nets me this:
"GM No Model 3.9 235 49-62 L 6 Head 3701887 1953, W/MANUAL TRANS, Chevrole"
The stamped number behind the distributor is XC70817 while the number below the 'GM' on the front right of the block is 5843351. Although any search I have attempted comes up empty according to information from Mr. Hayward this does indicate a 1953 block. I trust his information as the XC prefix does indicate the heavy duty truck engine.

What is a good place to source parts for these? Little things like the valve cover grommets, thermostat, an oil cap/cover/breather in anything but chrome... I bought a chome part and sandblasted it then painted it!