The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 Price Question

A friend of mine had a running 235 with all parts included. He’s offering to me for $200. I can’t imagine that’s a bad price but wanted to ask the experts. Thanks!

A little better description than "running" would be in order. Is the vehicle it's coming out of in current use, or will the engine just fire up and keep itself running after a long time in storage? Either way, the price doesn't sound out of bounds, but if you're planning on dropping it into another vehicle without doing some major surgery, you should consider it to be a "rebuildable core". For an engine without some documentation of a recent overhaul, I'd consider the asking price close to the top of what I'd be willing to pay. Read John's story of the "good-running" 261 he put into his big pickup!
Jerry

No expert here but I paid 10x that....lucky find. Good friend. Go for it

Considering an original used filter housing is roughly $100, I’m not sure how I could go wrong. The motor that’s in my truck is numbers matching and I don’t have any intent on replacing it. With the cost of original parts being as high as they are, all I’ll need to do is have to replace two or three things and the spare has payed for itself. It’s on an engine stand and runs with some fuel added to it. Compression is good......

Recently, on this site someone(s) were looking for inspection covers, flywheel, 848 head, throttle linkages. If those are included and if you do not desire to store as spares, there is a market.

Hey neighbor. A 235 was made from 1950 to 1962. Beginning 1954, the engine design change a lot for the better. 50 to 53 valve covers are held by 2 bolts in the middle. 54 to 62 are by two screws on each side. 54 to 62 are the years we like. I bought a "running" 1957 235 locally (Lake Norman) for $75. The guy got tired of having it in his basement. The engine had the typical rust build-up inside at the rear water jackets typical of old 216 and 235 engines. With water in the block, opened the rear petcock and nothing came out. Too much rust and probably radiator stop leak. With poor coolant flow the engine overheats causing head warpage. I cleaned out the rust/gunk and put on another head and head gasket. She's good to go. Like Forest Gump says, "life is like a box of chocolates.....". If the seller can't give you good information on the condition of the engine, bid low. If you buy it and the engine is in bad shape, at least you have parts. If the seller really knows his stuff, he will give you detail such as results of a WOT compression test.

A running 1954 and up engine that has solid lifters or hydraulic lifters is well worth $ 200.00 hear in The South, One caution, over the years I have never pulled a head off a 216 or 235 that didn't have cracks in the head. Magna flux the head and usually the crack's don't go far or into valve holes or piston to water jackets. Clean it up on a bench grinder. rinse completely and put it on. Doc.

I am no expert but I paid $250 for a 216 where the seller had a video of the compression test. As it turned out the 216 was a 235 with an 848 head, what luck!

I paid $450 for a 216 that had been rebuilt but had sat for 10 years.

If it's a good engine it's a great price.

John

A 235 Stovebolt-Six was made from 1941-1962.

Very true. 1941 to 1950 military trucks had 235.
In 1946 the Eisenhauer Freighter had two 235 engines.

‘41 and later GMC big trucks had 270 engines, also.

Ed