The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 or 283 ?

I have a 58 apache with a 235 . I was surprised when I actually used it for work and commuted for two days and the truck did very well keeping up with Atlanta traffic. I was able to maintain 60 mph up hill and down with or without the overdrive.
It is time for an oil pan gasket and maybe a timing cover also and was wondering if the 283 would give me that much more horsepower. Would it be worth the trouble of the engine swap. What are the pros and cons? Which one is best?

Are you happy with the 235?? A 283, according to what it is from could be anywhere from 170 hp up to 220, maybe 250 hp.
235 in a 1958 car was 145 hp, a truck I'm not sure.

Me, I like 235...... John

your choice, the V8 would be 20-30hp more depending on year specs - the swap is pretty easy cuz the 283 was optional, and all that's really needed [aside from a good 283] is the repro front mounts available at most vendors, and a rad fan shroud [sits further back than the 6] .... the 283 will provide a bit more power but if you've got the OD, the 235 should do fine .... I personally think the 283 was the best engine GM ever made

Bill

I've had the 235 before in a 50 3100 with 55 car running gear and a 250 inline, a 327 and a 350 but I have never had a 283. So this small block I do not know about. I have had friends that ran them in the tri fives but I never owned a 283. I jus wondered how it would perform with the 3100 and the 3.90 rear.

mine does great, as strong as a 327 and more dependable, not as "high strung" as the 327's I've had .... and they thrive on high RPM, so the highway is no problem

Bill

Sounds like you are you trying to find an excuse to switch to a V8? There is really no reason to. The 235 with the OD is a great set-up. And you have seen it will run at highway speeds all day long.

I have to ask... what makes a 327 any more "high strung" than a 283? I've had both and was very pleased with both. Never did I find one took any more tweaking than the other to keep it running well.

Once properly tuned either engine should be a great power house for these old trucks.

I like the little 235 also. Keep it for now and run it.

maybe just me, but I see the 327 as a car engine, bigger bore, longer stroke = more gas and more frequent tuneups to maintain best mileage, it's an unnecessarily stressed 283 and most stock 327's don't have much more power than the later 283's - the 283 does fine totally ignored, power and mileage hardly varies

Bill

Had a 327 in my 67 Chevelle which I bought new. Sold it at 175,000 miles and never did anything to the engine except scheduled tune-ups.
As to a 283. A fine motor but I personally would keep the 235. SBC engines are like belly buttons. Everyone has one!

X2
Find a 261 (lots of threads on this forum), paint it gray and very few will ever know. Think long & hard before swaping out the 6, the number of unmolested factory sixes vehicles is going down and even if you get a period correct 283 it still isn't a factory V8 if you go to sell the rig, IMHO ofcourse.

The 235 is an eye catcher. All the younger generation ask tons of questions about it. I guess I will just replace the gaskets on the bottom and run it.

Good choice

You'll enjoy it.

In my experience, very few people are aware that there was more than one Chevy L6 engine. Frequent comment: "my Mom had one of those in her 1972 Chevelle", etc.

Don't build it so that someone else will like it.

I have 283 in mine and have driven one with a 235. I really enjoy mine but IMHO it isn't much better than the 235. I heard from a few old-timers that they had a 6 laying down some rubber. I have really considered going to a 235 to get the truck back to the way it was born. Unfortunately for me the previous owner scrapped the original 235 so mine will never be a numbers truck. I think what you have is better. If you do decide to do a swap hang on to that 6.

Wow. Brings back memories. My first truck, 57 Chevy, had a 235 and being young I replaced it with a 283. Man I had more fun with that old truck. My next 3 trucks had 283's because they stood up to my youth. Now I've a 58 GMC with a belly button, 350, because the 235 with 307 gears wasn't a good fit, plus the 235 just didn't fit. The engine was to long for the front cross member so I sold it to a fellow bolter who I hope is happy with it for a song. There's no doubt the 235's are a treat in these old trucks and the 283's are getting harder to come by, so use which other you want but don't get rid of the 235. Find a spot and hang on to it. Larry

could I sneak in here and ask a question?i have a 216 with a 3 speed.the 216 is junk,soi want a235(do,nt ask me why)my old panel is a 1955.will the 216 bell houshing fit a 235?.thank you.

Yes the 216 bell housing will fit the 235 engine...
John

I can tell you "why". 30-50 more horse power than the 216 depending on what vintage of block and head that you choose. More pep to to get the truck out of its own way without many modifications. (V8 swap requires addition of power steering and should include brake upgrade.)
Carl