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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 | Today started up my 52 Chevy truck has a 235
Heard a knocking at first wasn’t sure if was in the head or the block opened the hood and sounded like coming from the head after a few minutes of engine warm up the sound went away.
So what should I be looking for as far possible repair if needed
Thanks
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| | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,504 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,504 | Start with a valve adjustment.
1951 3100
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,392 Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT | | Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,392 | It will help if you confirm which 235 you have and are working on please as the differences could help find your problem. You have asked for help a few times in the past to ID a few different 235's, from a 1952 out of a 5000/6000 Series Big Bolt to a couple of later 235's. One of those was a 1956 passenger car 235. Either way, you need to pull the valve cover and check your valve train for things out of adjustment/worn and even possibly a sticking valve. Once you check it out, get back with some pictures of what you may suspect or find from your inspection. 
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100Follow this story in the DITY Gallery"My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine"1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2014 Posts: 113 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2014 Posts: 113 | First thing to determine is whether the 235 has hydraulic or solid lifters?
It's a common characteristic of some hydraulic lifters to clatter when engine is started cold. Clatter goes away while engine is warming up and oil starts to flow.
1955 1st Series 3100 ol'55 | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 | It will help if you confirm which 235 you have and are working on please as the differences could help find your problem. You have asked for help a few times in the past to ID a few different 235's, from a 1952 out of a 5000/6000 Series Big Bolt to a couple of later 235's. One of those was a 1956 passenger car 235. Either way, you need to pull the valve cover and check your valve train for things out of adjustment/worn and even possibly a sticking valve. Once you check it out, get back with some pictures of what you may suspect or find from your inspection. engine is a 1957 car engine
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| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,392 Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT | | Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,392 | It's possible it has a hydraulic cam which could tie in with "ol 55" reply above. Can you share the stamped serial number so we can try and check what it may have come with originally?  Edit: Is it possible the engine is this one that you also asked for help ID'ing?
Last edited by Gdads51; 11/17/2024 5:02 PM. Reason: add edit note
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100Follow this story in the DITY Gallery"My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine"1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 466 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 466 | I have a rebuilt 62 235 with hyd. lifters, I have been dealing with the same problem for years. I have replaced all the lifters with Melling lifters, replaced the rocker assembly and push rods. I still have some noise on start up sometimes, but it's much better than it was. The Melling lifters (USA made) helped a lot. Also all that hammering cracked the top of two of the push rods which eventually broke, so I replaced all of them. Also I switched oil from 10-30 to Rotella 15-40
Last edited by Chris's 46 / 515; 11/17/2024 6:01 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2019 Posts: 4,100 AD Addict & Tinkerer | | AD Addict & Tinkerer Joined: Feb 2019 Posts: 4,100 | My 235 from a ‘59 passenger with hydraulic lifters has the same issue. The lifters that you buy lately all suffer from the same issue. Some are good, others make noise from day one. I have two lifters that make noise but once my truck warms up, the noise goes away. I’ve heard on this forum that the noise, as long as it goes away, is not an issue.
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc BrakesProject JournalsStovebolt Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 | My 235 from a ‘59 passenger with hydraulic lifters has the same issue. The lifters that you buy lately all suffer from the same issue. Some are good, others make noise from day one. I have two lifters that make noise but once my truck warms up, the noise goes away. I’ve heard on this forum that the noise, as long as it goes away, is not an issue. Thanks I will keep ears opened make sure it goes away when warmed up
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| | | | | Joined: Dec 2020 Posts: 1,730 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2020 Posts: 1,730 | My 235 out of a 57 bel Aire does the same unless it ran the day before.
Cold start after a couple days it takes about a minute and a half for the noise to go away. On
1/4 throttle out. But its just a slight tap noise that gradually gets better then gone.
Last edited by Guitplayer; 11/22/2024 11:56 PM.
~ BD.
You won't find me in an old folks home | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 295 | My 235 out of a 57 bel Aire does the same unless it ran the day before.
Cold start after a couple days it takes about a minute and a half for the noise to go away. On
1/4 throttle out. But it just a slight tap noise that gradually gets better then gone. Best described issue Thanks
This is no longer fun
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,059 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,059 | My clacking doesn't happen every time I start it. I believe that it all depends on if the valve where the sticky hydraulic lifter plunger resides is open when the engine comes to a halt at shutdown. All of the oil will have been pushed out and it doesn't want to pump back up until the engine reaches 180 degrees.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 5,684 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 5,684 | What weight oil are you using?
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,059 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,059 | I have been using 10W30 until recently changing to 15w40.
There has been no change in the clacking lifter.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
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