Boyd,
Thanks for the tip, I will definately google the site. You stovebolters are creating an info junkie here. I am new to all this and just can't seem to get enough input! But i'd rather research all this before I spend the money on building up my drivetrain. I would like to keep my hydramatic original tranny so I need to find someone in the southwest who can go over and make sure all is well with this old classic transmission. So far I have acquired a rebuilt head, 56 235 rebuilt short block that came out of a powerglide equiped car so it is a block that has the lifter galaries drilled for hydraulic lifters should I desire to go that route. I have HEI distributor, split exhaust, and Offenhauser dual carb intake. I would like to hear about the best setup as far as carbs go for this intake and engine. I also have a 12 V starter and generator. I noticed that my stock 235 carb from my 54 truck does not fit on the Offy intake, the spacing on the mounting flange is narrower on the Offy intake. What are the correct carbs then? I would like to have the crank re-ground to stroke the engine and use the stronger yet lighter connecting rods from the Chevy 292 engine and maybe go with 60 over pistons to increase the CI displacement as much as possible. I understand that the compression can be bumped to about 9.5 using the right components to come up with 170-200 HP engine depending on component mix. Is that too optomistic? I am planning on switching to 3.55 or 3.28 rear end from the existing 3.90 ratio for better highway crusing performance. Here in SW it seems if you are not doing at least 70 MPH you are relegated to the right lane. The 3.55 conversion is quite expansive. What about switching to a late model Chevy Blazer rear axle? I read something to the effect that it is almost a straight bolt in with more modern brake setup? Is it cheaper to go that route? local junk yard quoted me $400 for complete rear axle from a late model low milage vehicle with rear brakes and standard chevy 6 lug pattern wheels! What is the ratio on those rear ends? what is the wise thing to do here? All suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance, I know that this is a quite an ambitious project in the way I am heading but I believe in doing things right the first time so I do not need to be redoing something for the second time. Life is to short for that. John
Last edited by LSV Bolter; 12/12/2008 1:08 AM. Reason: typo on year of 235 manufacture.
