The numbers posted will tell you if it is a 261.They are the raised cast in the block numbers that can be found ahead of the distributor.Then it is or it isn't.
Snarl, you are right, just because it has the 55-57 motor mounts does not mean its a 55-57. I stand corrected. but, more than likely when you see those mounts, it goes a hell of a long way to make you think you should expect it to be a 55-57 info from the casting numbers. Thats all I'm saying By the same token, your statement saying if it has the 3 mounts on the side it is a 58-62 is not correct. I have a 57 block in the garage that has those triangular 3 bolt side mounts provision - drilled, tapped the whole shot - just like it was to be installed in a 58-62 application. It has resided in a 57 since day one - I got it from the original owner and we took it out ourselves, so we know it was never replaced. The best way to ID is still the casting numbers and casting date.......... Everything else is just speculation
Yes, I agree that it is most likely a 55-57, but I would like to see that part of the block to be certain. I've never said that you shouldn't look up the numbers, Just trying to do my part in helping people realize the physical differences that these engines have gone through over the years. Most people aren't carrying a book of number around with them. Whats the date code on that '57 engine? even better would be the serial number off the car itself. A beer says it's really late... so one snuck in before the end of the '57 production run. I guess there will always be some exception to the rule, but there still isn't any application for those mounts prior to '58 that I've ever seen. It would also be interesting to pull the sidecover off of it and see if it has the oil line or if it's pluged...
I'll bet yopu are right - it was likely a real late 57. I checked and it does have the line underneath the side cover but I cant see the casting numbers. It is buried under a pile. I'll be lucky if I get to that 235 this year... some of this stuff has some weird exceptions - I agree. I found a 235 a year or 2 ago that had the doweled bearings when it should have had the tangs (maybe it was the other way around, I don't recall). But you are right - all sorts of stuff that shouldn't be sometimes are.
it has the three holes each side for the side mounts. these are all the pics that i have of it at the moment. It came out of a 1.5 ton truck if that helps. as of right now the only numbers that I have are the one off the head. #3836848
A head casting # ending in 848 is a late '50's- early '60's 235, while an ending sequence of 913 would be mid '50's and an 850 would be a 261". That being said, there was any amount of swapping around on these during rebuilds, and the fact that it was in a 1.5 ton truck may mean that it is a 261". The 848 head was sometimes used to gain a slight boost in compression ratio, like 8:1 instead of 7.5:1 or so. Look on the lower p***. side of the block, about 1/2 way back. Do you see what look like a couple of pipe plugs, and maybe an unthreaded stud set in a small raised boss? If so, its definitely a 261! More on this stuff later, if your's has them. Later, *****6
Y'all can look for all the stripes and pipes you want, but the numbers don't lie.Read the numbers and you will know what you have.
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