235 head question. is there a difference

between a 53-54 corvette head, and a head from any other 53 or 54 full-pressure 235? i ask cause i see a guy trying to sell a 235 "corvette" head for $1000.
in his description it says "this is the 53' '848' corvette head", with a picture of the casting numbers. thought to myself " hey, yours says 848 on it !" .is this just some douche trying to trump up his parts, or is there something different bout my head? i notice alot of folk there sell parts that are common to all 53 and 54 cars, and just put corvette in thier ads, presumably so they can ask alot for thier stuff

 

First off, the 848 head wasn't in production in '53, so he's misinformed. If his head sells, I've got one I bought off a vendor's dollar tarp that I'll let go for half of that.

 

Check the date code under the valve cover, driver side, next to the valves for the year.
First 848 heads were cast in 1956.

NOS 848 heads go for $300 max. unless you like to pay more.

There are some corvette specific engine parts, like the manifolds, that go for big $$$.
The 848 head was used on trucks as well.

 

My books say the 848 head was mid 56 replacement head and 57 and later regular production head. it is also my understanding that the 53-54 corvette head was a factory, off the production line head with different casting numbers but the same head as the p***enger car none-the-less.

If it is worth a lot of money to show off a casting number and say you have a corvette head, by all means step up and buy a limited edition corvette head. But its still the same head as every other 53 or 54 p***enger car.

 

According to this 'casting #s' link:

1956 3836848 235 head

1954-55 3836241 Corvette 6 Cylinder head

Looks like he has a run of the mill '56 235 head.

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/1916-57cast.html

 

I agree with 6inarow. Back when i thought I was the 6 jug guy around here I found the vette to be the same as the others. My 2 cents.

 

Thanks for the info.
I wonder why that was done?

 

figured they were the same thing.

 

we are non conformists. Any more similarities between the 6's?

 

As far as I know, the only other change on corvette 235s, apart from the intake and exhaust, was the 261 camshaft in 1954.

I wonder if anybody has tried to sell that cam as a special 'vette cam' ?

And then there was also the corvette-unique overflow coolant tank directly mounted to the intake. The corvette radiator had no overflow tank on top to fit under the low hood.

 

im sure they have, when i was looking for suspension parts after the wreck i kept seein 53-62 "corvette" control arms, uprights, and spindles. they wanted alot of money for really common parts, and got it by advertising "corvette parts". i suspect some rich guy that though they were different bought em so his mechanic could install them

 

The valve cover was shaped different at the front too - for hood clearance, same as the overflow tank.

I think the reason for the other head casting number was just as a verification for the bean counters in GM at the time.

 

O/T to this head thread,
I put drop spindles on my 54 210. Cost me like 250 for the set a while ago. Got the money back on eBay because a Corvette guy bought my old ones. Free parts is good.

Frank

 

It's funny though how it works for the ones who want the unusual and rare stuff.
They get to pay many times more than anybody else for the same stuff.
Must be a special feeling alright.

 

really. i was thinkin about blasting and painting my extra suspension parts, and listing them as "corvette parts", but id feel like an ***hole. id much rather sell them to someone a little more like minded for cheap, and keep a clear concience

 

Someone who thinks Corvette parts are special is going to find someone to sell him those parts for $$$.
You're not "saving" him anything - he's a victim. Has nothing to do with IQ - NASA has the same problem "it must be better, it cost 10 times as much".

 

You'd be the same as the guy trying to sell the "Vette" head...