If the motor tends to stop dead when you are trying to start it, the timing is off. I would suggest setting the distributor so the points just open when the pointer is at the steel ball, then retard the timing by about another few degees and that should be good to start. I would definitely stay away from the starter fluid,
Sorry I forgot to mention it has electronic ignition so no points. It's a petronix kit.
I went to the library and found a motor manual for autos 55-64 and copied the page for timing etc.. for 235 engines. I noticed the 58 and up had a timing set not to the BB but 5 degrees BTDC and I noticed my replacement engine had a hose going from the valve cover to the oil bath air cleaner so I'm thinking it's from a later model truck not a 56 like mine (I didn't have any breather hose in my valve cover or air cleaner) Okay so I double checked the engine wires and dist. and it's set up correctly and should fire but it didn't and it was backfiring etc. I turned the dist. a little counterclockwise and it got better so I keep moving a little and retrying and it finally started and run halfway decent. It still would only run if I had the idle up high so I though maybe the carb. was an issue still. I decided to feel around the intakes with my finger and the rear intake runner where it bolts to the head has a leak. I used the metal sleeves but still it's leaking a little. I'm going to try replacing the gaskets and see if it stops running bad. I think I have it licked.
