The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop buying a rebuilt 235

I am thinking to replace my original 207 in my 36 with a more reliable 235 full pressure. JIM CARTER offeres a complete rebuilt unit in his catalog. Question: Has anyone ever bought one of these rebuilt units and how is the quality. Also, are there other places that offer these rebuilt units ready to install. I have been told (on here )that I can still retain my original trans and torque tube and the only thing I need to change is the bell housing as the 37 to 46 will bolt to my tranny making the swap less painful and still retaining most of the original driveline. Any suggestions, complaints and concerns? Thanks...

1. The 235 is about a 1 1/2" shorter than the 206 so you will need to make a plate to move the front mount back.
2. The rear of the 235 has a different bolt pattern so you will need a bell housing from a 37 to 47 truck which will fit the 235 engine and the 36 trans. and will also accept the 36 mounts.
3. You will need a flywheel from a 42 to 54 pass. or truck if you use a 6 volt starter, or 55 to 62 if you use a 12 volt starter(55 to 59 truck use foot start). Use clutch parts including clutch fork from a 1938 or later( they will need to match flywheel clutch size).
4. The exhaust is center dump on a 235 and rear dump on a 206 but that should be an easy fix.
5. You will need a starter from a 38 to 54 if you use a 6 volt flywheel or 55 to 59 truck if you want 12 volts and foot start.
6.You will also need the front bearing retainer from a 38-47 truck 4 speed to accept the later throw out bearing.

Another source for rebuilt 235's is Jasper Engines, www.jasperengines.com. They say they sometimes have rebuilt engines in stock, but you will probably have to provide a core; I did. I know a guy who has 6 or 7 235's sitting in the grass outside his barn. Jasper gives a 3 yr/75,000 mi. warranty on their rebuilt engines.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I called Jim Carter about 2 weeks ago to ask about the 235 blocks and the lady there told me they do not rebuild them anymore.I guess you should try Jasper.

Thanks to all for the information.

There seems to be a good deal of talk about buying "rebuilt" 216/235/261 engines from the commercial engine rebuilders. However, I've yet to hear of anyone who actually ordered a rebuilt and received one. In my quest to find a 235 supplier, I was run around the block a number of times and the final consensus was that I would send (freight) my core to them, they would evaluate it and do the rebuild and freight it back at my expense. My question focused on "what would happen if for instance, my crank was not up to being turned, a head was cracked or the block was beyond rebuilding." Their answers were....no answers..across the board! I interpreted this non-answer, to mean that I would receive a call telling me that my engine wasn't rebuildable and I was out a whole long block. No one offered to put it on a pallet and ship it back even at my expense.

Unless someone can specifically identify a source of a commercial supplier of rebuilt engines I think it's high time to label this "factory rebuilt" possibility at a low price for a 216/236/261, as a "myth" and take a more realistic approach. This would be that you'd better be ready to seek out a willing, qualified local source and work with that person to get your 216/235/261 rebuilt. If you are fortunate enough to have the time, equipment and expertise to evaluate your block, install the necessary replacement components with a reasonable expectation of having a good end result, that would be an option. However, in most cases the average hobbyist will be hard pressed to do an OJT rebuild without some serious issues.

So all of you folks who have purchased a "factory rebuilt 216/235/261" (Jasper, Recon, etc.) with a builders warranty" share your good (or not) fortune with all those folks who are planning to drop in a rebuilt 216/235/261 crate engine! If it's not a "myth" I'll be ready to eat my words!!!!

Dave

Yes, search "SWEET". He's got a Jasper long block 261. He's added a dual intake and Fentons. Nice running truck, he's had that engine for a year at least.

I don't know Jaspers exact procedures on that engine but I do know they are great to work with. In the K.C. area they pick up engine & send it to Jasper Indiana, reman it & ship it back & deliver it. No charge for delivery. Some say that they probably don't do Babbitt pouring but they are probably the largest in the industry. If they don't pour them themselves I'm sure they have a place that does. I would call & talk to them.

Fla54Chevy3100 - hope your hungry and like the taste of iron. Jasper is an excellent outfit and is certainly no myth, 235's included.

http://www.jasperengines.com/

"JASPER remanufactured engines are built to meet or exceed OEM specifications, and have a 3 year/100,000 mile nationwide, transferable warranty. Remember, this is a completely remanufactured engine with all new wear parts, tight tolerances and run-tested reliability.

They've been around for 65 years. I've wound-out Sweet's Jasper-rebuilt 261 and it is indeed Sweet.

Unless you have found a local rebuilder who has recently rebuilt a 235/261, do not take a chance on a local rebuild.

My observations with Jasper in particular, went from engine sales down to the production plant floor supervisor and resulted in my conclusion that they "talk the talk" but didn't have any completed 216/235/261 engines, rebuildable cores and weren't that interested in my 235 business even if I were to ship it to them.

Most all of the commercial builders offer the same schmile....warranty, will give you a turn-around time, which from the retailer (NAPA, AutoZone, Advanced) sounds viable. The problem pops up when you try to get past the retail counter and verify that the remanufacturer can and will deliver.

Alright Dave, George, Cosmo, and Tim....I hope you don't think that one measily 261 is going to have me chomping too much......with 16,000 Stovebolters, there should be at least a couple folks that have ordered a rebuilt engine, paid their money and taken delivery of a "real" rebuilt Stovebolt. Believe it or not, this isn't an ego trip.....I just think the new guys who believe that they can buy a rebuilt engine, should be getting the straight skinny and some very specific information. Either way, it will be a win-win situation!

I await further input with my bottle of hot sauce in hand!!!!

Dave

Thanks Dave for checking with Jaspers. I've bought engines from them for many years but they have always been regular production exchange. I talk to the reps. every year at the trade show. I will bring it up next year. Seems to me it would be good business. There are a lot of Stovebolts & Flathead Fords out there yet.

I guess what wrinkles my shorts about so many companies, is that they have a listing of products and services available and then when you slap your money on the counter, they offer up some weak excuse and wave as you walk empty-handed out the door.

Such is the case with several large engine rebuilding Co. right here in Florida. They list a variety of 235's and a 261 for a reasonable $1799. with new parts, but waffle when you lay your money on the table. I think that's one of the reasons so many guys are ditching their 235/261's and dropping in a SBC crate engine. Aside from the compact size of the SB and that you can pick up all the brackets for your accessories at most any j-yard. I've met numerous AD owners who complained about not being able to keep their "6". I can attest, that public interest lies with the plain-Jane truck with the tweaked "bolt" engine, over the higher quality project truck with the bent 8. I've garnered quite a collection of "People's Choice" awards because of the "real stovebolt engine" and the majority of the SBC truck owners admit they went that way because of the lack of availability of fresh 6 cylinder engines and the additional cost and time factor of having them redone in a local machine shop.

It would be great if someone could identify a specific company who would deliver on their product so that more of the 6's could be retained. I get a "world Class thrill" out of cruising my old truck to the various events and meeting the folks who marvel that they can revisit a time when all you needed was a Chevy truck, a bottle of Tru-aide soda, and the open road to feel the true joy of life!

Dave

It's words like these that make me want to skip dinner and keep working on mine.

MAN I LOVE THIS SITE!!!

Dave,

Jasper is by far hands down one of the best ways to get a great rebuild on a Chevy 235 and a Chevy 261 engine.

You have to have a good core to begin with.

I was involved with Sweet's rebuild and the service was top notch. The engine was picked up from our shop, shipped out to the plant, rebuilt, and then shipped back. And in three weeks time. Prices then were around $2500, which is very fare for a complete rebuild with a nationwide warranty.

Another old truck owner, Steve, he is on the board, also had a complete rebuild completed by them. Again, great service, and a great rebuild.

We learned about Jasper from a old car/truck restorer out in Maryland who has had at least 4 engines, all Chevy, rebuilt this way.

Sounds to me like you have not called Jasper yet, or your engine would already be rebuilt and on an engine stand ready to be painted......

Thanks Phillip,

I don't have a core but I did contact them about an engine via e-mail as I no longer live in the States. I retired and now live in sunny South America with my Wife who has worked for the US Embassy here for 15 years. lots of Chevy's here from the 50s' so a core should be no problem...Probably finding a rebuilder here, as nothing is wasted, is also the way to go. The shipping of parts is killin me. Thanks, Dave.

I have always gone to a local machinist for my work. I like to know the man & see his equipment. With the wide variety of agricultural & industrial powerplants & hi-perf. work being done a basic old motor should not present any particular problems for the experienced machinist today, poured bearings excepted.


A Blessed Christmas To All


Doug

Thanks Dave for sharing this valueable information. I jotted it all down. If and when I decideto do this conversion, I will share the information with you.