I have not ported my truck. The Offy intakes have the same port as stock. Having a 235, you can get a repop Offy, or Fenton intake. Or, using ebay and patience, you can get an Edmunds, or something else. A book to get, that you'll enjoy is the reprint of California Bill's speed manual. Jim Carter's sells it. The book is generally about the 216, but the same info holds true for the 235. There is a section on the 235. He has all kinds of info on porting, and substituting valves, etc. As said, the greatest thing about the six is the low end torque. I'm in fourth before 20 mph when cruising, and can go straight to WOT from there. When you are ready to buy stuff, check around from all the vendors, Patricks, Jim Carters, Chevs of the Forties, Langdons and others. There are sometimes big shipping and price differences, though I imagine they get the stuff from the same place. Gotta shop around. There are some cool engine items on ebay from time to time. Some nos, which amazes me, that there are still unopened boxes out there. I wouldn't get hung up on a particular compression ratio. The 216 was 6.5 to 1 stock, and it seems to me if bored out .60 thousands, it goes up to something around 7.5 or 7.25. I would think that your 235 would be similar. If you stick a big cam in there, you'll loose some low end torque. And have to set your idle up to 650 or 700 rpm. If you leave the cam alone, you can still idle at 450. I like that, you can hear each push rod tick, and the fan belt goes so slow that you can read the label on the way by.
That's my two cents. You'll love California Bill.
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