The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Sources for 235’s

I’ve been reading about Chevy six cylinder engines and learned that the legendary 235 was discontinued by GM in 1963, but was licensed to be manufactured in Brazil until 1979. What were those engines put into? I also learned that Toyota built the 235 under license as the Toyota F engine from 1955 to 1974, and was mainly used in the Land Cruisers. I don’t ever remember reading on Stovebolt.com about anyone seeking out these Brazilian and Toyota motors to be transplanted into our old trucks. Wouldn’t these be good sources for more modern donor 235’s? Has anyone ever installed a Toyota 235 in their Chevy truck? I’m just curious why these motors aren’t more sought after? Thanks

The one to really seek out would be the Toyota "2F" engine- - - -258 cubic inches! It's got the same stroke as an "F" engine, but with a 3.700" bore- - - -almost a 261!
Jerry

You probably don't see many Toyota engines in Stovebolts because the Land Cruiser fanatics hoard them all. My son-in-law has three Land Cruisers and a spare engine.

A quick net search shows that the Toyota engines don't even closely resemble a Chevy from the outside. Bore and stroke and some internal features like 4 different size main bearings are close to the Chevy design, but the cylinder head and combustion chambers resemble a GMC,engine, not a Chevy.
Jerry

I helped my son-in-law changed the front engine mounts (among other things) on his FJ60 and WHAT A PAIN! The power steering pump, ac compressor bracket (which the power steering pump bracket mounted to,) had to be removed before you could even get to the right side nut on the rubber puck we were replacing, and then the ending mount bracket needed to be removed from the engine block to get enough room to install the puck. There were a few features that were familiar to me, but like Jerry said, the outside of the engine looks different.

Back in the early 80's I owned a real rusty '73 land cruiser that I bought super cheap. It had a straight six that ran rough. I took a one barrel carburetor I had laying around from a Chevy six (possibly a 292). I made an adapter and bolted it on. It actually ran pretty good. Couldn't say for sure if it was a Toyota six, but it sure wasn't a Chevy. At least it didn't look like one.

John

Cut and paste about the Opala and Comodoro and Diplomata and ultimately the Omega:

1995 model year, GM do Brasil brought back the 250, added a multiport fuel injection system, and had Lotus tune it.
The result was fuel injection and other modernization, and 168 net hp.

GM North America dropped the inline 6 in 1976. GM Brazil bought the rights and continued development until 1998.

Years ago my brother had a Land Cruiser. The engine died, later he sold it. Had we known back then that a 235 would have been essentially a drop in procedure he could have kept his beloved cruiser and pick up parts cheap!

And for what it's worth ... Way back when I was attending The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico (Camp Barrett), we had a former Soviet BTR-60 on hand to "play" with. It had been captured in Grenada a couple of years before. It ran great and was fun to have as part of our training. And as many of you may know, the BTR series, like some Soviet military trucks, used an *unlicensed* copy of the Stovebolt Six* -- the GAZ-40P 6-cylinder gasoline engine (90 hp). Two, actually. The motorpool mechanics told me it was such an exact copy that they could get everything they needed to keep it running great (even rebuild them) from NAPA. I didn't know much about Stovebolts back then (I was into Jeeps and the AMC straight six) but it was interesting to learn.

So if you have any former Soviet military vehicles laying around, some of them are possible sources for 235's.

Note: This needs an accuracy check as I am not entirely sure, now that I know slightly more than I did 35 years ago, that the GAZ-40P is a copy of the 235 or if it is a copy of the GMC 236 -- which they (the Soviets) would have gotten in large numbers via LendLease in WW2. That it is 90 hp should give us a big clue ...

Either way, probably a form/fit/function direct replacement for a 235.

Rusty Rod probably remembers this particular BTR as he was at TBS about the same time I was.

Wow, this was fun! I’ve learned a lot by just being curious. That’s one way you can learn I guess. Thanks for everyone’s replies and comments.

I imagine that the Toyota uses metric fasteners and that parts would not be interchangeable?

Yep, everything on the 'yota is metric. Not a bad thing, but you'd have to carry more tools if you stuck one in a Chevy. Or just carry your metric adjustable end wrench, and maybe one of those one fits all sizes sockets.

And don't forget your metric hammer, either.

One of my friends who retired from his welding instructor job a few years ahead of me said he was considering taking a job as a salesman- - - - -merchandising a line of specially manufactured metric hammers and screwdrivers, and selling them to vocational school administrators! He said the profit potential was unlimited!
Jerry

So it seems that when Toyota built the Chevy 235 under licence, they took a lot of licence in the manufacture.

In the late 1960s I helped a Brazilian gentleman get admission into a college here in Texas. During one conversation he told me the 235 was still being made in Brazil and was still being used in some GM vehicles there.