The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop problems with 235

Hello all,
I'm a newbie here so a little intro is in order. I'm a 24 years old and from Calgary, Alberta. I've had my truck for 7 years now and am hoping to get it on the road next summer. My truck is a 59 chevy pickup with a 63 235 6 and a 3 speed.

I came here hoping to find some help with my engine. The engine came out of a 63 chevy that we bought because the engine had been rebuilt and shortly after the rebuild the tranny died so they parked it. We put the motor in and it ran like a top. I've since had the carb totally rebuilt as well as replaced the cap, plugs and wires.

I used to start my truck up a couple times a week to listen to to it run. One night I started it it up and everything ran fine, the next morning when I went to start it, the starter sounded different, like it was under more of a load, and it wouln't start up, it just kinda chugged. It also made a snapping sound like a spring loading up and releasing. I've removed the tranny and clutch, the starting still sounds wierd but not as bad. So I figure it's just the starter that had gone bad. Fine. But the engine won't run well either. It runs really rough. I pulled the pan, valve cover and side cover. Everything looked fine. I grabbed the flywheel and turned the motor over by hand. Everything looked good. Valvetrain looked good. The fuel pump is pumping fuel. I noticed the fuel filter was dirty, on both sides of it, so even though I just got the carb rebuilt I'm going to go through it to see if there is any crap in there. There shouldn't be anything wrong with the electronics because I just replaced all that, and it was running well with it. I'm so frustrated. I want to be done with the drivetrain so I can concentrate on other things to get it on the road.

I appologise for such a lengthy first post. Any help/advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Clint

Gee, it sounded like a dead battery until you mentioned it also runs rough. How did you start it?

I primed it to get it started, seems like the carb isn't set quite right yet. I'm going to try draining the tank to get all that old gas out of there and put some new stuff in. The thing that I don't understand is it was running fine before hand. The battery is brand new so the battery shouldn't come into question. Any chance that maybe my ignition switch is going and the coil isn't getting enough juice? What about a faulty balast resistor? What would be a good way to check for this? a voltmeter?

sounds like you're on the right track with electrical. sometimes something shorting out big time sounds like a "spring snapping". this being a 59, does this truck start with a foot pedal like my 58 used to? if so, start with the starter and work from there

You could have dirty or otherwise messed up points, which cause the engine to missfire and can make the starter act wierd if the timing is far enough out.

I converted to a key type start when I switched to the later engine.

It still made the "snapping" sound even with the coil disconnected. I'm pretty sure that part of the problem is the starter. But that shouldn't affect anything once it's running.

I'll take a look at the points. They looked pretty good when I put the new cap, wires and plugs on. Is there any way it could be the coil?

I've got the coil wired to recieve a full 12 volts at start and run through the balast resistor otherwise. I hear this won't wear the points out as quick.

Just as a double check- I thought '62 was the last model year for the 235?

welcome to the board

chip

I'll have to double check the casting numbers. Maybe I have a 261 that doesn't run.