The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1951 216 to 1955 235 Engine Swap

Can anyone tell me the modifications that need to be made to a 1955 Chevy 235 to drop it in place of my tired 216. Links to any needed parts/suppiers would help also.
Presently running my 1951 1/2 ton 216 with stock 3 speed tranny.

What a coincidence, I'm about to do the exact same thing. Contact Patrick's and request a catalog. They have an excellent article on the swap in there along with a lot of other useful information and some excellent goodies you might want for your truck.

There are a lot of vendors out there selling parts but my two (other than Patrick's) favorite are:
Classic Parts formerly known as Chevy Duty
and
Bowtie Bits EXCELLENT prices and rapid shipment

Good luck!

This should be a direct bolt up if you use the 216 bell housing. The only outher problem is the fan will not set in the middle of the radiator as the 55 235 used a in the block type of water pump. This can be rectified by useing a water pump adapter sold by the venders. This will allow you to use a 216 type of pump and your fan will be in the proper place on the radiator. I have seen a lot of engines that did not use the adapter and they seem to run ok with out getting hot in the summer time. Another issue is the radiator will have to be moved forward in the housing to allow for the fan if the adapter is not used. I would not want to cut the support housing if I were doing the job, they are just to hard to come by. A 54 modle motor will use the old style pump and be a direct drop in without any mods to the radiator support if you can find one.
Tom

I have a 55 235 in my 52 3800. It already had one when I got it, and I left it the same when I installed a rebuilt engine.
The radiator is in stock location, and it has the shortened water pump, not sure the pulley, and the 216 fan. it's all very tight up front. Have no problems with heating until I get 3,000 or 4,000 lb on it on a hot day. Empty I had no problems being mostly empty on a trip through AZ and NM in the summer.

If I were to do it again I would use the water pump adapter, but they were not available, or I did not know about them at the time.

Grigg

I think the biggest modification (or not)would be the front plate. Your donor 235 possibly had side mounts and not have the 2 square holes in the front plate under the balancer to mount in your truck. The plate can be swapped with your 216 one but that involves huge work including pulling the cam. Just flipping it over and drilling the holes is the easiest way but be careful of thier position. I had mine off the engine for that modification but here's what you need to do if they're not there:

http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w186/curt160/mods/?action=view&current=frontplateholes.jpg

My 55 engine I pulled from a 55 PU, and the front plate was correct for the mounts in my 52. I did need to reuse the old bell housing to get the right mounts there.

Grigg

I exchanged a '52 216 with a '57 235. On the front mount everything was missing except the mount; meaning the retainer, plate and shield.

You need you keep your 216 139 tooth flywheel from the 216 in order to use your original starter.

I would definitely use the water pump adapter plate - I like it better than the short shaft. I had to locate another fan blade with the correct center bore.

You may very well run into some throttle linkage problems but they are solvable.

I'm still running the 9" clutch from the 216 although I'm experiencing some noise when it's fully depressed, which in turn depresses me. Clankity clankity, like a throwout bearing but pretty sure it's the fork rattling around due to the clutch fingers not being fully depressed. Will confirm that soon as the engine is coming back out.

Finally, do a search of the Engine & Driveline shop on this topic and you'll find all of the information you need.

Don