Well guys,
I have seen several scenarios, here are a couple that came to mind on freezing and "freeze plugs"
One time on a 1939 Chevrolet 2 door sedan I bought, the back plug was leaking so bad I just knew it was out or cracked. Well as we all know this just isn't a 15 minute job especially on the rear ones Much to my surprise the casting wasn't cracked or any evidence of out due to a freeze, but rather that dang thing was rusted completely through the steel. Needless to say this was a huge relief.
One other time on a old Massey Harris tractor, we once had. The engine froze on in it and just about every single plug was out of the block and head. I just knew this block for headed to the junk heap. Well believe it or not, nothing else was cracked, with the exception of the radiator it was bulged and wasn't worth the effort and money to fix. This was my own stupid fault, that summer took the radiator out to have it cleaned and repaired and put it back on the tractor and just put in water, (that was the year antifreeze, skyrocketed in price) Just planing on running it a few days to make sure it wasn't going to leak or get hot again, WELL, never drained the water and completely forgot all about it and then remembered, after the fact.
I think it's odd on why one engine will blow out the plugs and not hurt anything, where others will go and ruin a block. I don't know if it's is because of the way it freezes. Meaning a slow temp drop compared to a faster drop in temp. Then end result is it still freezes no matter how it gets to that point.
What's even more hard to believe, is why we (I) don't think about checking the antifreeze. I BUT that was when I was much younger and stupid.
Best thing I can say is to hope for the best, but expect the worst. Sounds like at least you have the opportunity to see what the outcome will be, before your make the purchase and the advice Packrat and others have given to you is the best plan of attack.
I do know that these little 235's are tuff little engines. BUT as already said, there are a lot of these engines still out and can be purchased for the money. A few weeks ago I heard an ad locally on the radio where a gentleman had a prefect running 235 that he was yanking it out for a street rod he was building, for 100 bucks, when I called it was to late, he already sold it. (just my luck
)
Good luck and let us know what the outcome is.
John Niekamp
