I've got a 52 Chevy Sports Coupe with a 235, T-5, F**D 9 inch rear end, AC, bucket seats and stock front suspension but with disk brake conversion. It runs a hydraulic clutch and has power brakes swung from the firewall.
This is my son's daily driver that we built in high school. He (junor in college now) just burned the engine up in a long 75 mph run across Texas after visiting girl friend.
I've owned the car since 83 and he hopes to drive it for many more years. The 235 was purchased as a long block in 87 and puked with about 45 thousand miles. It leaks oil so bad that we can't park it in a nice neighborhood. The AC belt, one to run all, was replaced twice on the 2004 Hot Rod Power Tour. We did get our long haul certificate and actually ended up in the Tour Spread in Oct. 2004. The carburator always weeps a little bit to let you know it's there. We get 14 to 15 mpg in town and 19 on the highway.
I'm leaning to replacing the 235 with a 4.3. More power, lighter, a little better milage and readily available from the bone yard in low mileage, late model pulls. We might go EFI or swap over to an Eldebrock and carb. WE could use our T-5 or buy engine as a package with trans.
He would love a 350, but a 4.3 would be easier to fit, adequate in power and cheaper with the bonus benefit of easier to keep cool with a stock radiator.
We've looked at the 5.3 which gets better mileage but not talked to anyone who has put it into a car with a stock front end. The Mustang II gives some extra room in front and that 5.3 puts the AC compressor down low to the passenger side.
Please don't flame me for replacing a 235. I've lived with two for 22 years and I'm tired of sniffing gas, piddling oil every where and Texas is hot as hell when the AC belt starts slipping, which is almost always.
We don't have unlimited cash to burn, but hey, after 22 years you can't give up on a car with such a sexy rear end and great headlights.
