Ok, been a while since I've been on here, but I've got a question. I have an original 1948 3100 1/2 ton, that I'm restoring, but will be using a 61 or 62 passenger car 235. I know about the water pump swap deal, but my question now is can this motor mount on the front crossmember instead of building perches for the later model side mount motor mounts? We are trying to keep it as original as possible and really prefer not to weld in side mounts. Can anyone help me with the process and what parts I will need to convert it to the front mount setup? Thanks in advance!
A photo of the underside of the front steel plate between the timing cover and the engine block would be helpful. Some of those plates are already drilled for attaching the flat rubber mount that sits on the front crossmember. If not, you can use the front plate from your 216 as a template to locate the bolt holes properly. Swapping the 216 block plate to the 235 is also possible, but that involves removing the timing cover and the camshaft. The square holes in the plate for carriage bolt type heads aren't really necessary. That large diameter harmonic balancer weight might cause some difficulties with fan clearance when the water pump adapter is installed, but the 216 balancer can be installed on the 235 engine. The press fit is the same, or you can drill and tap the crankshaft snout for a balancer installer and/or a center bolt. Using the 216 balancer will also allow you to run the original wide fan belt, generator, water pump pulley. etc. Jerry
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Drill the two holes would be the easiest since your engine is hanging on the stand .Check in the tech tips up top look under the engine category there will be a tech tip. Also good point by Jerry about the harmonic balancer belt size and also you may want to read the tips for harmonic balancer bolt and the tip about changing the bolts that are under the oil pan ,so you don’t have to drop the pan if you ever need to change the timing cover gasket.
A photo of the underside of the front steel plate between the timing cover and the engine block would be helpful. Some of those plates are already drilled for attaching the flat rubber mount that sits on the front crossmember. If not, you can use the front plate from your 216 as a template to locate the bolt holes properly. Swapping the 216 block plate to the 235 is also possible, but that involves removing the timing cover and the camshaft. The square holes in the plate for carriage bolt type heads aren't really necessary. That large diameter harmonic balancer weight might cause some difficulties with fan clearance when the water pump adapter is installed, but the 216 balancer can be installed on the 235 engine. The press fit is the same, or you can drill and tap the crankshaft snout for a balancer installer and/or a center bolt. Using the 216 balancer will also allow you to run the original wide fan belt, generator, water pump pulley. etc. Jerry
Thanks, I am attaching a picture from the bottom. I wasn't sure if I could just use that plate and drill holes for the mount or not. I was definitely hoping not to have to swap plates. I do have a balancer to swap over onto it.
Drill the two holes would be the easiest since your engine is hanging on the stand .Check in the tech tips up top look under the engine category there will be a tech tip. Also good point by Jerry about the harmonic balancer belt size and also you may want to read the tips for harmonic balancer bolt and the tip about changing the bolts that are under the oil pan ,so you don’t have to drop the pan if you ever need to change the timing cover gasket.
If your engine front plate is not already drilled on your passenger car engine, here's a Legacy Tech Tip Drill the front plate for a motor mount! that will get you set to use the original style mount on that front plate.
There are several existing threads on converting the front mounts on 1960-62 235's as the truck engines used a different style front mount than the original AD design. I can't recall exactly where they are, but I think the most recent conversation involved 'Bolter "Utah York" and his late 235 installation in his '46 Chevy 1/2ton. Perhaps John will chime in and share his info?
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