Don’t discount a 235 as they are plentiful and very suitable replacement. My ‘52 has a ‘59 235 and it has 135 HP, about a 33% increase than the original 216. You would want to find a newer 235 as the older pre 54 truck engines still had babbited rod journals, and would leave you in the same boat that you are in today.
A perfect replacement engine would be a truck 54-55 235 as they would be a bolt in replacement. The water pump will be in the correct higher position.
Next in line would be 56-62 235 from either a truck or a car. This would require you to purchase and install a water pump relocation plate, available from a fellow bolter Pre’68 Dave, to raise the pump into the proper position for cooling. I did this with my ‘59 and it was not hard at all.
All manual transmission trucks have engines with solid lifters. All trucks with automatic transmissions and cars, have hydraulic lifters.
You can also install the 216 valve cover to disguise it from most spectators but the experts.
