If it were me I would find a carb and get the 235 running. Tune it up and get it as good as you can. Nothing says that you can't drop another engine into it later. This will also give you a chance to see how your step son treats the truck. Does he treat it with respect and truely care for the truck or does he thrash it and abuse it?

That is what I would do


Brian Moore
1949 3100 5 window Deluxe
"Today is better than yesterday, but not as good as tomorrow"