Good morning Finster.
I looked briefly at the HRM article and it does seem to make specific reference to the 235 engine. Being a gray head I remember reading articles in HRM about performance improvements on the inline Chevy engines and seeing aftermarket parts. I think there is an inline performance forum that might have just the information you are looking for. You're a professional machinist and I'm just an amateur, but either way it's fun to make "eye candy" for our antique vehicles. If you have tig welding skills you could make your own stainless headers. If you get quality stainless tubing you'll know it wont rust and stainless tubing welds beautifully. It does get slightly yellowed from exhaust heat but that just calls attention to the fact that the viewer is looking at a stainless steel work of art.
I have 17" artillery wheels on my restored '36 Chevy PU and one drawback is that 17" narrow tires are not common items. There were also 15" artillery wheels even back in the day and tires might be a lot easier to find in that size.
Because of what I've seen at El Mirage dry lake on the California Mojave desert and on the Bonneville salt flats it seems that your 235 has the potential to do just what you want and also be an interesting project for you.
