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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 | Looking at my newly acquired 1959 Chevy 3200 Apache Stepside with a poorly painted 235 in it. (I also have a 53 3100 as well and that truck has an original 216 which looks closer to this engine) I thought the later 235s had no top bolts (studs) in the middle of the rocker cover. Is this just a case of an older engine being installed in a later truck? Anyone see anything else suspicious or out of line with these photos? Anything else to check? See anything in the video? Thoughts??? Thanks!!! Engine Pic 1 Engine Pic 2 Engine Video --- Please watch.
Last edited by Saint; 12/02/2016 4:11 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,441 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,441 | It is possible someone replaced the 4 bolt valve cover with a 2 bolt. Easy conversion. If you pull the cover the 4 bolt holes will still be there. Just my 2 cents.
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 99 | | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | It is clearly a 1955 or later engine.
The 1953 head will fit that engine but it is not drilled for the four bolt valve cover(may have been all they had).
You would need to pull the valve cover to confirm that a earlier cover was not installed as mentioned above.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,096 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,096 | I have just rescued a '54 235 , it looks like yours , but under the 2 stud valve cover is a 4 hole head and valve cover gasket .
The only real way to tell is if you give us the casting numbers , either off the block or the head. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,441 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,441 | Saint, some folks just think the 2 bolt is way cooler than the 4 bolt. It was done a lot and you could/can buy kits to do it.
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | It is possible someone replaced the 4 bolt valve cover with a 2 bolt. Easy conversion. If you pull the cover the 4 bolt holes will still be there. Just my 2 cents. Saint, some folks just think the 2 bolt is way cooler than the 4 bolt. It was done a lot and you could/can buy kits to do it. Saint, Be aware that most 216 and most pre-1955-2nd series 235 valve covers had slots/vents in them. They had non-breathing oil filler caps on the valve cover. There is nothing bad/wrong about that - but, it is possible for water to get into rocker-arm/top of the head (and, maybe into the oil-sump under the block). | | | | | Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,379 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,379 | It looks like you have a correct era motor,its very easy to put the earlier valve cover on the later motors as I done it to a 57 235 that I have in my 37. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | Post the casting codes and date codes and Engine Serial Number and we should be able to help ID what engine block/head your have (size and year). | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,301 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,301 | Saint, some folks just think the 2 bolt is way cooler than the 4 bolt. It was done a lot and you could/can buy kits to do it. So cool in fact, I shortened 2 of them and put them over the top of the stock valve covers on my 350 heads in my'49! Carl
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
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