The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Which 235 do I want??

When looking for a 235 engine to purchase please tell me which year or year range is the best one to buy. There's one for sale locally that I'm interested in but don't want to buy it if it's the wrong year.

Thanks much!!

Post the year and people will post info about that year.

Basically:
- pre-1954 were low-pressure engines with babbitted-bearing rods.
- 1954 and later were higher pressure engines with insert rod bearings
- 1955-2nd series and later had a water pump located poorly for use in 47-55 trucks
- 1956 and later had a higher compression heads

The ad says it's out of a 1956. Does not say if it's a truck or a car engine.

Thank you for the info you provided!

If you are looking for a drop in that resembles a 216 you want a 1954 engine, if you want the best 235, I would suggest the later years 1959-1962.

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b542/RdLessTaken/IMG_9186.2sm_zpse3t6bmj9.jpg

The easiest swap would be a 53 with Powerglide out of a car, or any 54/early 55 (car or truck), due to water pump located in the right place.
The late 54/early 55 will have the large journal camshaft if you have a notion to add a high lift cam.
All of the engines I have mentioned are insert rod bearing, full oil pressure engines. The 53 Powerglide engine came with aluminum pistons and hydraulic lifters.
You could learn more about this in my blog, except that I don't have one.
Carl

Because of the higher compression head, 1956 thru 1962 are great engines. The very best for less maintenance if you are not into doing valve adjustments, etc is to go with Hydraulic Lifters. If it's not Hydraulic it shouldn't be a show stopper. These engines usually come in cars of the era. The water pump location can be adapted using one of our Bolters special Adapter plates.

There is no way to tell what the one you are looking at is for sure until you do some research. Write down the 7 digit number starting with 37 or 38 just to the left of the road draft tube and under the Distributor. Also write down the numbers on the flat area to the left of the Distributor. Then, write down the exposed number on the Head again a 7 digit number. Once you have them, tell us here and we can help you with the exact information you seek.

Lastly, you want to make sure it hasn't been bored out so many times it cannot be rebuilt. Get as much information out of the owner as possible.

Here's a link to motor mounts you can use for the 55, 56 and 57 motors in your truck..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10046-235-2...75864454?hash=item339ce94186&vxp=mtr

Davis Speed Equipment note- "If you have a C-channel style frame, like on a 1947-54 truck for example, you will need to add a plate to the inner part of the frame."

If it's going in to your 1950 or 51 you wont be using the side mounts. The front plate is still the old style clear thru 1962. If you choose a 1958-1962 motor, you will have to drill the two holes in the front mounting plate. We have instructions for that.

Tim, Deve, Idaho, 52Carl, and RdsLessTaken......thank you all for your help with this. I really appreciate it! Great Bolters all!! I'll request the seller provide the engine numbers and I'll post when I hear back from him.

Basically, I'm looking for the most ideal year 235 engine to replace my 216 with and which will require the least amount of modifications.

Thanks again!

Update........ The first motor I was interested in got sold before I could go look at it. I found another one, a 1955 235 with a powerglide transmission attached, still in the truck and the owner says it's currently running and driving and does not smoke at all. Said he had two guys coming to look at it tomorrow, & could not meet me today due to his work and plans after 5 PM. I pulled the trigger and went ahead and bought it from him. Went by his office just now, met him, and paid for the motor. Got a receipt at the same time. Said he would pull the motor and tranny anytime I tell him I'm ready for it.

Sweet!!

Bad news.......got a call from the PO telling me that he had changed his mind and would not sell me the motor. I reminded him that he had already done so when I gave him the money for it last Friday. He argued that the receipt only says that money had changed hands and that "possession is 9/10ths ownership". He wants to give me the money back. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I told him that if he really wanted it that badly that I would sell him the motor back for $250 more than I paid for it. He said no. He is a young man about 24 years old and inexperienced. I plan to sue him in small claims court.

Beware of buying from people on Craigslist. I will update everyone on the outcome of this.

I negotiated with this same guy over the phone. I'm now so glad I didn't commit and take the four hour trip. I hope you get this resolved, but I'm not sure what you'd get out of taking him to court except your money back, which is what he has already offered.

If you do manage to make him hold up his end of the deal, don't let him pull the engine- - - -do it yourself. It might get sabotaged in the process. It would be better to get your money back and then give him a million dollars' worth of bad publicity on every social media source you can think of!
Jerry

Jerry, you're advice is well taken, and I've already thought of that. No telling what he would do to the engine if he were forced to hand it over to me. It's made me rethink this entire ordeal and so now I may just ask for my money back. Pushing the issue just because I'm right probably isn't the way to go. I thought I wanted to make this young kid learn a lesson but I'm now thinking I'll let someone else do the job at their expense.....not mine.

Thanks!

This is a rotten deal for you, but moving on is probably the best idea. Craigslist requires caution.

I have been looking for a 216 or 235 all summer, and could get by with just a good head. Through a connection I got in touch with a local guy who said he had both a 235 and a 216. Just had to dig them out, and he did. He brought them over one night and I said great I will take them now, get them magged, and we can settle up. I was looking at them in the back of his truck. He wouldn't sell them. My connection said he does this all the time, same behavior. He is apparently a hoarder of machinery, engines and who knows what else. Lots of crazy out there.

I plan to sue him in small claims court

You won't win. You have to prove how you lost anything by him not selling it to you.
A good (fair) contract is one which can be reversed with no damage.

I found a guy in Minnesota that deals in these engines. He was on Ebay. Ultimately, I found a newly rebuild full oil pressure 235 in Denver why I live. The seller was a young guy who needed the money. Runs great.

When I bought my 59 3800 flatbed several years ago, the engine was in the process of being installed after a "rebuild". I paid a little extra because the young man selling it seemed to know what he was doing. Fast forward about 2 months- - - -slippy clutch! I found one of the flywheel bolt holes cross-threaded, and the bolt missing, which allowed motor oil to soak the clutch. Fortunately, I was able to straighten up the thread with a tap and install a new bolt in the process of changing the clutch, and got several years of good service out of the truck. I finally traded the rolling chassis off for a 261 engine after the cab got so rusty the doors were threatening to fall off!
Jerry

Hi Jerry. This is very good information. Your suggestions are probably the best way to go in this unfortunate situation. This post caught my eye as I am interested in finding one of these motors.

Wow, what a nice looking truck. You did good. Question? On the green truck he had a set of wheels I would like to try. Do you know what they came off. Thanks and again, great looking truck. This is to whom ever put the pictures of the beautiful blue truck on the post. Had a green one on there also. Thanks, Steven

Well, last Saturday night I had the boy bring me my money. I was at a nice restaurant with two of my buddies smokin' a good cigar, shippin' on a cold beer & watchin' the World Series. He sent his uncle to meet me & return the money while the little coward waited in his truck in the parking lot. Followed uncle to the truck & proceeded to give the boy a piece of my mind through the rolled up window then went back to enjoy the rest of the game.

I learned a lesson....... Next time I buy something off Craigslist I'll leave right then & there with whatever I pay my money for.