Chuck,
As you saw from searching, I did this to a 261 flywheel, which is exactly the same as a 235 flywheel. It allows you to use a 216 starter. If you don't care about using the 216 starter and use the 12V 235 starter then you can just bolt the 235 up to the 216 bellhousing with the 235 flywheel and it all fits just fine.
I used your typical run-of-the-mill automotive machine shop, the ones that do brake machining, flywheel surfacing, and head work. I had pulled the 216 ring gear off myself and took it to the machine shop with me. The shop measured the OD of the 216 flywheel and turned the 235 flywheel to match. Its a pretty simple shoulder that has a small chamfer on it, any machinist with a brake lathe could do it. The worst that can happen is that the od of the 235 flywheel gets too small and the ring gear doesn't fit tightly enough, but I found that mine fits just fine and its held up for 6 years. The engine cranks up really nicely with the 216 starter but I have the extra holding power of an 11" HD clutch rather than the 9.25" clutch that was on my 216.
I paid the machinist $50. If yours messes up, you can always have the 216 flywheel machined and use your other clutch parts. These flywheels aren't too rare so it should be a piece of cake.
I'd never heard of anyone else who did it before I did, but the flywheels are so similar and common that there isn't much risk to it. Other than the engine mounts there isn't a whole lot of difference between a '50 and a '58 bellhousing.
Last edited by 4ontheFloor; 05/01/2009 4:23 AM.
