*poof*
OK, I guess this is when I make my appearance....
Between 1953-55, chevy did a lot of changes to the 235. Before 53, all chevy engines were "babbit pounders" with splash oiling to the rod bearings, similar to a lawnmower engine. In 53 Chevy started to produce a redesigned 235 that had full presssure oiling to the rod, main and cam bearings. It was a much more durable engine, and is a good candidate to use instead of a babbit pounder. In '55 chevy redesigned the engine again, with a better water pump, better oil pump, better main bearings, and improving oiling passages. They produced this 235 through model year 1962.
Sedans had FP 235s in '53 with powerglide. The stick cars got the babbit beater. Not sure how they did the trucks in '53.
It is fairly easy to install a 53-55 1st series or a 55-62 2nd series 235 in place of a 53 or earlier babbit pounder 216 or 235. More about the swap in another thread if yer interested...
First, decipher which engine you have. Run the casting numbers on the passanger side of the block, in front of road draft vent. If you want a numbers-matching truck, stick with the babbit pounder if thats what you got. If you want a driver, swap in a full-pressure motor, or rebuild yours if it happens to be a FP 235.
There is a evil gremlin in the bottom end of the 53-55 1st series FP 235s, in the form of main bearing shims. Fairly difficult to set main bearing clearance consistantly W/O burning up a main bearing. Ask me how I know....
If you live in a large city, there is at least one machine shop that knows 235s. Find them. The other shops will butcher your motor, cuz they don't know the year to year differences.
Got any more questions, or wanna hear horror stories, just ask....
best regards,
chip
*poof*
