One strange thing I will add. About 4 or 5 years ago when I removed the crank from a 235 (1957 or 1958 year) I noticed something odd. Somebody had drilled holes and set what looked like little nails which had been pounded flat at the tip in the bottom of the seal channels. You can see three of them in the cap in this image (compared to a normal cap above it). There were as I recall 6 in each channel and they stood above the surface about 1/16 inch or so. You can see they're staggered as if somebody did this with a drill press but "freehand" in style. I assume these were added to keep the rope seal from moving, but what a bunch of work and I've never seen this on another one. I remember thinking it would have made removing the seal with a Sneaky Pete more difficult. This engine had been rebuilt before I got it. As I recall the pistons were 20 over and the crank was 10 over.

http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p535/JonGoodman/closerinspection.jpg
http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p535/JonGoodman/continuesacross.jpg

Jon

~ Jon
1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end