348 or 409

[itsgonnabreak]

hi guys new to the site (great job) I have a problem which is I have a 348 by the cast numbers 3857655 but the dip stick is on the passenger side which I thought meant 409 any help on this would be nice I haven't taken the engine apart yet because it has good compression and was told the engine was rebuilt a short time ago:dunno

[RCE1962]

Have a look at the suffix code...Block stamping pad location .. front pad on the block..passenger side. Look here for location. http://www.348-409.com/blockcast.html

Then..check this out. http://www.348-409.com/suffixprint.html:deal


Ron

[Impalaguru]

You have a 1965 truck 348. Some 348 truck engines had dipsticks on the pass. side, like a 409. I came accross an engine just like yours in a salvage yard in Huchinson KS. 655 block, 333 heads, and the dipstick on the pass. side, not to mention the gargantuan truck-only water pump!

Does your oil pan have the drain plug pointing to the ground? The truck pans had the plug in this location. The car pans had the plug on the front of the sump.

Ross

[39coupe]

I've got a similar engine. 655 block, dipstick on passenger side. Came out of a early 60's motorhome. I'm thinking some of the bigger trucks (Cab Overs, motorhomes, etc) had passenger side dip sticks because of restricted access to a driver's side rear dipstick????

[itsgonnabreak]

yep huge waterpump drain plug straight down 655 block and 333 heads found out it came out of an early 60s pepsi truck thanks for the info:bow

[bobs409]

I see we're missing this one on the casting code page. I'll add it... :)

Anyone know if this number was only for 1965 348 or was it for other years? :dunno

Also, I have 3857656 listed as a 1964 409 truck. Would like to know if that number applies to other years or just '64.

Really need to go through our casting number section. Ever since I bought the Chevy by the numbers books, people have been spotting mistakes. :mad:

[oldskydog]

Bob,
I don't have any specific reference but everything I've seen indicates that the truck 409 blocks used the same casting number as the cars with the difference in machining the cylinder notches and drilling the front mounting holes. The 656 block was generally a 65 truck and car casting although I don't know what the earliest date of application was. It may have appeared in late 64 production which might explain its appearance in a 64 truck. The casting date should tell the story. I know I've seen 814 and 068 truck blocks as well as 656 but no 623 truck blocks as I believe the 409 was not available in 61 trucks. I believe the 655 block was the last 348 casting and was in use in trucks from 62 on. I'm sure at least one of our members has better info than I do so fire away.