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#31552 06/13/2002 12:06 AM | Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 40 Member | | Member Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 40 | Hello All
I was just given a '48 Chevy 3/4 5-window Deluxe as a birthday present from my new wife... little does she know what she started... Anyway, I have lurked around these pages for the last couple of weeks, reading past posts and now am ready to jump in...
Beaulah May (the truck... not the wife) I am told has a '54 235 in her that was recently rebuilt. I have ordered the shop manuals and such, and they're on their way, but I was hoping to do her first tune-up this weekend.
Can anyone give me the basic specs I need for a simple tune-up? Quanity of oil, spark gap, that sort of thing...
Thanks
Boswell
'48 Chevy 3/4ton 5 Window Deluxe
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#31553 06/13/2002 12:29 AM | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 167 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 167 | Congrats on the new (old) truck!
Here is some specs of the 54' 235 6 cylinder engine.
Breaker points:
.015 gap
Ignition timing:
2 degrees ATDC
Spark Plug:
#44-5 type, .035 gap
235 Firing order:
153624
Engine holds 5 quarts of oil.
When doing the timing, make sure the points are set first. And the vacum line needs to disconnected from the dist., when you time the engine. When timing the engine point the timing gun at the hole above the starter on the bellhousing on the pssenger side.
I hope this helps.
Chevyboy62
My truck don't leak oil, it just marks its teritory.
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#31554 06/13/2002 3:40 AM | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Boswell48,
The 1954 Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual and the 1954 Truck Operators Manual have almost the same specs for tune ups.
Distributor point gap: 0.019" new points; 0.016" old points (the cam follower on the points will wear down on a new set of points). Lubricate the point cam with vaseline.
Carburetor idle speed: 450-500 rpm by adjusting the throttle stop screw.
Carburetor mixture: turn idling screw (mixture screw) to give highest reading on a vacuum gauge (17-21 inches). Reset idle speed and recheck the mixture.
Ignition Timing: match the pointer on the flywheel housing to the ball on the flywheel (neither manual says to disconnect the vacuum advance line but if you do disconnect the vacuum advance line be sure to plug/seal the carburetor side, to seal the vacuum leak).
Plug gap: 0.035"
Valve tappet adjustment (Operators Manual): 0.010" intake; 0.020" exhaust (however, the Shop Manual says 0.006" intake and 0.016" exhaust - I use this setting on a hot engine). Check out the procedure here: http://www.thevirtualgarage.com/bboard/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=002575
The radiator cap should be a 4 lb pressure cap.
Tim | | |
#31555 06/13/2002 7:15 PM | Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 40 Member | | Member Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 40 | Thanks Guys... that should get me started. Then we'll start into all the troubleshooting and restoring questions.
'48 Chevy 3/4ton 5 Window Deluxe
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2020 Posts: 449 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2020 Posts: 449 | If you have a dwell meter 38-45, confirms the points gap......
welcome aboard
chuck
Hank: 46 Chev 1/2ton shortbed
2023 Miata RF Club
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 | Nineteen year old thread?
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2019 Posts: 4,476 AD Addict & Tinkerer | | AD Addict & Tinkerer Joined: Feb 2019 Posts: 4,476 | Better add another 10 years on to that! LOL. What’s funny is I read the entire thread and didn’t pick up on that!
Last edited by Phak1; 01/23/2021 1:43 AM.
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: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,289 Moderator for Tons o' Fun , Co-Moderator Driveline Forum | | Moderator for Tons o' Fun , Co-Moderator Driveline Forum Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,289 | Nope, nineteen year old thread! I'm as surprised as you are!
Ron - - Dusty53 1954 Chevy 3604In the Gallery Forum "You can't dance with the Devil and then wonder why you're still in Hell."
"They will forget what you've said, and they will forget what you have done but they will never forget the way you made them feel." | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 | Brain quit working. 
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,778 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,778 | I didn't pick up on the date of the thread- - - -but I was a little amused that people were giving out tuneup specs for a 1948 216- - - - -for a '54 235! Back when I was teaching school they had a program known as "RIF"- - - - -Reading Is Fundamental! Looks like some folks needed to go back to school!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
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