Tim, I have worked on a lot of Chevs, and I have never seen Captains bars on any 54 235 engines.
I have seen that all 1953 Power Glide engines had them though.
I believe that in 53 the Captains bars were used at the factory to make a quick and easy distinguish between the splash 235, used in stick cars, from the full pressure engine, used with the Power Glide.
Then in 1954 the Captains bars were used on the 261 to make an quick and easy distinction between the 261 and the 235.
