The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Ready to rebuild my 235

Hi All:

Shop is pulling my motor today and will send it out to be rebuilt at a local reputable engine shop. I want a complete rebuild of the engine. I know this is going to cost me some dough, and to some of you it may not be worth it, but it is to me. I love this old truck and I intend to keep it forever.

Hence, I want to do a performance build, including full race cam, split headers, hi-perf ingnition, carburetion, etc. I realize that I could get more HP out of a V8, but I don't want to go that route. I don't mind sacrificing some stock appearance but I don't want a V8. It's just a personal thing.

I'm curious about carburetion (and everything else for that matter). Would a 4bbl work without modifications to the hood?

I don't intend to race this vehicle (street or track.) I want something that sounds keen, and I wouldn't mind surprising a few 4 bangers at stoplights -- you know the types.

When I raise the hood I want it to look all spiffy and sweeet.

Any suggestions are welcome.

I would hold off on the full race cam. Most of them are not suitable for a street, i.e. non-race vehicle. That's not to say you can't hot it up some, but don't go overboard and end up with something you can't drive.

Just my $0.02 worth.

[img]http://streetrod.50megs.com/images/235new1.jpg[/img] I to got tired of all the big blocks and smallblocks(i build them for other people) so i went the 235 deal and am glad i did. I would not go full race cam shaft or anything else that promotes RPM's. Build it for grunt. I did not even go with a 4 bl carb i adapted a 2bl and it gets great milage. Nothing like the roar of a set of cast iron fentons an smithys. One thing i will say is spend you r money and get it balanced.Best thing you can do. Make sure you shop has exp with the 235 cause its not a real easy motor and takes time to assembly(time is cash.) Let us now how you make out and good luck you will be happy you did it.

HUMMMMM, MR PHAT. I NOTICED YOUR ALTENATOR IS MOUNTED KINDA HIGH. (LIKE THE TURNBUCKLE ADJUSTER) WHATCHA GOT ASSEMBLED UNDER IT?

What's the deal with the intake manifold. Manufacturer?, Coating?. Tx K10

Looks like a " hot jet " coating on those Fentons. Hmmm Cool set-up, No need for a V8
When ya can hop-up a straight six & retain some era correctness. I bet that truck has flames painted on the dog house

I to went and had my 235 rebuilt, had a mild cam installed, dual Fenton headers and a dual Offenhauser intake manifold using 2 single barrel carbs. Bought all mine from Patricks.

Stuman I mounted the A/C unit were the generator mounted and made aplate to install the alt up top(a/c pump has double pulley).
K-10 stock intake ground it down on the belt sander and opened it up a bit,i powdercoated it.(total cost about 10 bucks,i am cheap)
Mother Jet hot naw to expensive,it the wax coating that the resto guys use on vette's and stuff.Stays pretty good too.I have no idea what it cost some one gave it to me.Used to use eastwood ex paint but it would look crummy after 2-3 years. This thing is all junk used up parts(now the engine is new ,but all the assy are hand me downs)Good old junk yard dog.

Phat;
I'd be interested in what carb you're using and if you had to change the jetting to get it to run right.
Smitty :p

Geoff;
I'm also in the process of rebuilding my 235.
Mine is costing $1338.76 for all parts including new cam and lifters, boring .060", turning crank and flywheel surfacing, hot tank cleaning, new intake valves, hardened exhaust valve seats, balancing. That's with me doing the assembly. In-line Stovebolts are expensive! The last SBC V-8 I did cost about half that!

DON'T use a re-ground cam ! you'll be sorry .
I'd use a 261 cam . just my .02 , worth much less than you paid for it .

Phat, can you find out the name of the coating on those Fentons ? I have the Eastwood paint on mine and it is wearing off. Thanks,,,,

Have Fenton headers, Clifford 6=8 intake with Holley 4 bbl on a 235. Didn't want to pay the $$ for a small 4 bbl or get a used one so bought a new 600 cfm for $179 at local parts place. (It's a common carb so figured I could always resell it if it didn't work out.) Had a heck of a time getting it not to fall on its face on initial acceleration but through jet and linkage cam changes we finally go it working just fine. Way over carbed but sure turns some heads when the hood is up.

Engine tear down coming this winter.

I agree with the other posts on the cam, balancing, etc. That's what I'll be doing.

56picup;
Do you intend to stay with the Holley? Does it run nice since you made the jet changes? I want to do something with carburetion on my 235, but don't really want the headaches of dual Rochester carbs. Has anyone here used a 500 CFM Edelbrock on a 235? :p

On my 261 I have run , Dual rochesters, dual Holley Webers, Edelbrock 500, Carter 500 and now a Holley 600 4bbl during the last 5 years. All the carb combinations worked very well for me after getting them jetted properly. The Edelbrock was rich on the primarys out of the box and required some minor tuning. It was the most reponsive at normal speeds but always had a transitional bog as the secondaries opened. The Carter 500 was lean and I think it functioned a little better than the Edelbrock.. The 600 Holley works well with no bog, but is actually a little big for my application. The original setup was dual Rochesters that were no problem at all during normal driving but leaked fuel out of the accelerator pump well during hard acceleration.The Dual Holley Webers had good potential but suffered from an erratic idle due to worn throttle shafts. These combos may or may not work well on a 235. [img]http://pstr-m04.ygpweb.aol.com/data/00B/22/D0/50/27/ajm8EILoz9w-3FfnUPcJLwFQRf1XOlf-0180.jpg[/img]
[img]http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data/00D/0C/0C/8B/08/woKv16GUjlEydtiR59Z7gxhIPoLnb63d0180.jpg[/img]


[img]http://pstr-m01.ygpweb.aol.com/data/00A/31/F9/B0/0F/YtcNKtzdp4J6RpPSYTXGHRkc0WvFqKC90180.jpg[/img]

[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: Tony ]

235 with a stock intake. Ground it off a little to pretty it up.2 bl holley(4412) DIRT CHEAP no SILLY heated intake. driven allmost year round.Took about and hour to jet correctly .Total cost 10 bucks for the intake 25 bucks for the carb(swap meet junk)Stock throttle linkage with slight mods.Total time about 2 days of playin around. gets from 18-24mpg(have seen 26 but thats rare as hell). Trick stuff aint allways the answer experiment you will be surprized.The 4bl stuff just never has worked for me on the 6 banger or those pinto carbs sold by one of the so called experts. My friend swears that its a big 261 cause it will just walk away and leave his nice new 261 with 2 carbs and all the latest mini HEI crap. Cheeeeze Tony you have spent more on induction than i have on a whole truck LOL Looks good though,but i like driven it not lookin at it in my barn.


[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: Phat ]

A LOT of good info here. In the interest of economy (fixed income) and the fact that I like to experiment, I'd like to try your setup first, Phat. Can you give me a clue as to what cars may have come equipped with a 4412 Holley?
Smitty

All those induction changes cost about 50 bucks over 2 years.Bought and sold it all of them on Ebay.Boy your friend must have one slow 261 lol.With 6 licensed trucks and two cycles,there is always a few sitting in our barn, but thats ok, they are ready to go at any time. Carburation is sometimes an individual taste.I may say the carb bogs slightly when the secondarys opens.Another guy may like the surge in power after the engine recovers after a 1 second hesitation.

[ 11-18-2001: Message edited by: Tony ]

Tony iam just jealous cause i have to go around renting garages to store my stuff. With all my customer work i have no room for my own stuff(the shop pix is the only time the 54 has been in the shop other than the primer job)I dont know but i really have had no trouble dustin a few of them high buck 261's(how many cubes is a 235 .080 over,i never even figured it out)
Smitty they were on some IH and FQRD trucks but the circle track guys had to use them to restrict there motor(we were allways changin them cause we found diff ways to cheat with them till we got caught and had to go another way).I think new from speedway they were about 199 bucks. Swap meet ones were 25-40 bucks(some are very expencive cheaters that cant be used in racin anymore).I can rejet on the truck in about 5-8 min so its a easy deal. Just a little trick for those guys rejetting ,always put chap stick on the carb gaskets that way you can reuse them a few times(one year in racin we never replaced the bowl gaskets,and we would rejet sometimes 2 times a nite)Hey Tony that air cleaner cost more than my motor did.

Bruce, that air cleaner is a 10 buck swap meet item including The K&N filter element.You got one inexpensive engine lol. Other than seeing trucks or cars at the few meets I attend in the summer, have never seen another modified old Chevy or GMC 6 on the road.I had the pleasure recently of showing my trucks tail light to a 48 Ferd coupe with a built flathead V-8.He claimed It was unfair because my engine has overhead valves.Before the "race" he was saying how easily his car could beat my truck with his Merc flattie equiped with all sorts of speed equipment. He had a sour look on his face when he realized his pretty engine made less than the maybe 180 HP my engine has.

Hey Tony, what cam are you running?

The 261 in my 37 has a Howard M4F, .430 lift, 206 degrees duration at .050 lift, Its mild a solid lifter job, just a little hotter than the stock 261 cam. The original 261 cams are the same as the one used in the first 6 cylinder Vettes.The idle has just the slightest lope,smooth power from idle to around 4500 rpm.I had a 235, cammed with a Clifford #260 mechanical cam,.430 lift,212 degrees at .050,In my opinion the Clifford cam wasted too much low end for a small gain on top the way my engine was tuned.Maybe more cubes would have made better use of it.I tow a travel trailer with the old trucks, so I don't need a hotter cam.Besides , reving 40 year old steel up high to get at the power scares me a little.My wife's 51 pick up uses a fresh stock 261 engine.Its got good power, but when reved ,the 261 in the 37 is way more responsive.This 6 cylinder hot rodding is fun, I don't take it too seriously.

[ 11-18-2001: Message edited by: Tony ]

Thanks guys for all of the feedback.

The engine is out and it is at the shop, but they won't start on it 'til next week.

I am confused about the cam thing though. Some past threads I've read say go with a full race cam, some of you say it's not a good idea. Can some of you clarify this for me? I really don't know squat about cams and I hate to admit it but I don't want to end up with something that isn't a pleasure to drive.

Thanks again.