For what it's worth, I was given a 235 that had been sitting in a guy's backyard for several years unprotected. It did have the manifolds on it, but no cover over the carb opening. I had low expectations, but a friend who had just rebuilt another 235 volunteered to take it apart and rebuild it if it was good. He's nearly finished with it and says that it appears to be a very good and solid engine. So I'd go for that 235 if I were you. What've you got to lose? Oh, I also found that you can move those engines around quite easy with one of those Harbor Freight hand trucks.
