The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop New to me 1954 235

Howdy, I just bought a 1954 235 motor that was pulled straight from a 1954 chev 1/2 ton. The casting numbers confirm its a 54. The truck was parked for a year maybe more before the current owner bought it. While it sat someone swiped the carb and manifolds. Supposedly it ran and drove fine before it was parked. I currently have a 1958 235 in my 41 and bought this motor to rebuild and eventually replace what I am running now.

This will be my first rebuild so I guess my question is where should I start? Should I tear it completely down first or should I clean it up, change the oil and try to start it before tearing it down?

If you are going to tear it down completely, there is no point in running it first. I would only be running the engine if you were hoping on being able to do less than a complete rebuild.

I have what I think may be a similar motor; mine has casting date November 10 1953. 235, pressure feed, "old" style water pump. A good motor!

I got mine "almost runnable", too. I pulled the head to inspect things. I lucked out! I measured the bore; it was .040" over, but virtually no ridge, so it had very few miles on its last overhaul. The bottom end looked good, but I did not pull the rods or mains - leave well enough alone.

The cam bearings had been replaced with .005" undersize; that it, smaller holes, and the cam had been reground to fit. So, new cam bearings for the new howard-pattern (M4F?) cam.

I have a fresh head for it - two, actually, as I have the head off the original 53 235 babbitt motor that died. So I plan to put it back together and run it as is, mostly. I am cleaning out decades of gunk as I go - lots of work with brushes and kerosene to dissolve it away, with two aluminum turkey pans to catch the solvent.

In your case, pull the head and inspect. At the least, you need to have the head stripped down to parts and inspected and magnafluxed. These things were prone to cracking, etc.

Then clean everything real good - 50 years is a lot of gunk build-up.

Good luck!
George
53 3600

thanks I think I will pull the head and start there. its just so tempting to try to fire it up untouched! LOL. I needed some voices of reason to set me on the right path.

I pulled the head and the oil pan on my 54 when I first got it. All it needed was a good cleaning. No ridge at all and it has what looked like a fresh head.

I did find bent, old pushrods that I replaced. A bit of cleaning and a bit of paint and voila. A great running engine.

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