The 235 is the same length as the 216 but the newer 235 have a newer casting with a different waterpump that makes the water pump longer. In my 54 gmc 9300 when I ordered a short block to replace the original the block came was newer and had the newer design water pump so I.to make the engine fit without the fan gouging the rad the rad had to be moved to the outside of the rad support about 2 inches ,this allowed about a half inch for the fan between the rad . This worked okay until I was in a line up of traffic in the middle of august we’re it was hot and the truck was close to overheating .The better fix is to use the adapter plate and use a older style waterpump as the newer pumps that are longer are also lower and not centered to the rad .Your 235 as I mentioned is the older style that had the same waterpump used on the 216 ,I think in 54 the pumps for the trucks had the 3/8 fan belt .
