I am trying to determine the stovebolt in my 1963 C20. The stamp next to the distributor says F04I8N. It does not match any numbers I've seen for these motors. Could be a zero or the letter O.

 

230[edit]

The Turbo-Thrift 230 (also known as the High Torque 230 in Chevrolet trucks), with 230 cu in (3,768 cc) displacement, replaced the long-stroke 235 cu in (3.9 L) version of the Stovebolt six beginning in 1963. Bore and stroke were 3+7⁄8 in × 3+1⁄4 in (98 mm × 83 mm). It was also used by Chevrolet and GMC trucks, primarily for the half-tons. It produced a peak 140 hp (104 kW) at 4,400 rpm and 220 lb⋅ft (298 N⋅m) at 1,600 rpm. North American production of this variant ceased in 1970. It was also built in Latin America and was in production in South Africa until at least 1982, where it powered a multitude of different cars. A four-cylinder version of this engine was also built, the Super-Thrift 153.
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This engine was used on the following vehicles:

• 1963–1965 Chevrolet Biscayne/Bel Air[10][11][12]
• 1963–1965 Chevrolet & GMC pickup trucks[13][14][15]
• 1963–1968 Chevrolet P-10 Step-Van[16][17]
• 1963–1965 Pontiac Strato-Chief/Laurentian/Parisienne (Canada)
• 1964–1965, 1968–1970 Acadian (Canada)
• 1964–1974 Chevrolet 400 (Argentina)
• 1964–1969 Chevrolet Chevelle
• 1964–1970 Chevrolet Chevy II / Nova
• 1964–1970 Chevrolet El Camino
• 1965–1968 Checker Marathon
• 1965–1969 Chevy Van (G-10, G-20)[16][17]
• 1966–1969 Beaumont (Canada)
• 1966 Studebaker Commander, Wagonaire, Daytona and Cruiser
• (Circa 1966–67) Holden HR (South Africa) [9]
• 1967–1969 Chevrolet Camaro
• 1968–1971 Chevrolet Opala (Brazil)
• 1973-1979 Chevrolet 3800 (South Africa)
• 1978-1982 Chevrolet Commodore (South Africa)[18]

he Chevrolet Turbo-Thrift engine is a straight-six produced from 1962 to 2001 by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors. The entire series of engines was commonly called Turbo-Thrift, although the name was first used on the 230 cubic inch version that debuted in 1963.[1] The new engine featured seven main bearings in lieu of the four bearing design of its predecessor, the "Stovebolt" engine, and was considerably smaller and approximately 100 lbs lighter.[2]

There were other major differences between the Turbo-Thrift engine and the Stovebolt:

• Bore spacing matches the Chevrolet small-block V8's 4.4 inches,
• Stroke of the 194 and 230 engines is the same 3+1⁄4 in (82.6 mm) as the 327 small-block and 348 big-block V8s
• Wedge-type "closed chamber" cylinder heads with a "squish" area surrounding the combustion chamber cavity,
• Stamped ball-pivot stud-mounted rocker arms were introduced, similar to the V8, with a 1.75:1 ratio, rather than the earlier shaft-mounted 1.477:1 rockers.

This was all I could find at this time. I hope you find this useful.

 

Yes! Very helpful. I was able to determine that the "N" in the stamped number on the block next to the distributor identified it as a 230. Great info and thanks for confirming!
And it's not a stovebolt!