The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop To keep or not to keep my 235?

I have a 235 in my 56 Bel Air 4 door post. The car is way from original and has some body damage on the rear and driver's side that has ben bondoed and painted. My question, since I am not doing a restoration, but more of a 60's style hot rod. Should I use my 235 or my '66 327 w/60K miles? What about for a tranny? I like my column shift, except no syncro first, revs are high (I think) and really not a quick shift. Which also would be more economical, since I plan to drive on long trips every now and then.

It's up to you, but if it were me, I'd put the 327 in it. Why? Because that's what a lot of us did when we were young and got ahold of one of those. The mid-fifties through the late sixties were the "muscle car" era, and it just seems "right" to have a V-8 with plenty of power in one of those great old cars.

For a good retro use the 327. Stick a 4 speed behind it and go.

Good info on doing a vintage hop-up on the 327 in the March Rod & Custom, might check it out. If you're going to do some road trips you might look into a 5 spd with o/d. Very nice on the road and allows you to run a lower rear/smaller tires for better off the line or looks.

CLSSY56: I am with these other guys, stick that 327 in. And do yourself a favor, and put headers on that beast. If you have that 327 apart now, also stick a factory cam 300 or 325 HP. they are still available at your Chevy dealer NOS and is an off the shelf item. If you have factory square bore intake, you will have to stay with Holley. Or you can pop for another manifold and go with later FI.

And I agree with Fred, put a 4 speed in that baby.
And forget the Saginaw, it's not dependable. Go out and round up a Muncie M-20. It'll take all the torque that SB can muster! If your car came factory 3 speed, I think it should have 3.70 rear which would be just right for the highway driving, but still low enough to light'em up. The stock rear would be the weak link of this set-up.
Repost, and let us know what you come up with.
Good Luck.

Think Chevy! :rolleyes:

How boring! Join www.inliners.org and build that 235 up to 200hp and have something special .... javascript:void(0)
Razz

I'm with JimFred!

Chuddy,
I'm interested in the overdrive three speed. Is it the same size/side shifter linkage as the non-overdrive model (I have a 73 van and believe that it currently has a Saginaw three speed)? Also, how is overdrive engaged. I'm looking for a cheap solution to get the revs down on the highway without sacrificing my ability to get rolling with a load.

I, too am with JimFred. Hopping up an inline is great fun, respects the vintage of the vehicle, and should give you plenty of pep.

I encourage you to keep your 235.

I saw you posted this over at inliners, too and everyone over there has encouraged you to do the six (obviously) and some even think you can do it cheaper. Think about where you are posting this stuff, an inline site and a stovebolt site, you must want to be talked into the 235 .

First, if I had your car, and the 235 ran okay, I would just go out and find a good overdrive 3 speed for $200, slap it in and leave it alone. Now...

I have been battling this myself with my 52 coupe. A lot of it depends on how much money you have and where you live. In my case, stovebolts are like machine shop rosetta stones around here. Which is strange cause I live in a rural area, where tractors rule the roads. I can't get anyone to touch my 261 block. Had to beg to get a valve job and unleaded conversion on my 848 done and was refused milling to increase compression other than necessary milling.

I have searched in a 60 mile radius. I believe in doing an engine close to home. No luck. I haven't even found a guy old enough to know what a 261 is, they keep telling me I don't know what I am talking about, my 59 261 is a 235 or a 292. Scary!

I had a head crack on my 235 splash oiler, so that was a good reason to get rid of it and go full pressure, I bought a used 235 from a friend that he had just yanked to put in a small block. It now has a strange gonging noise that I think is a piston. I'm going to a 283 and a 4 speed. If I'm gonna butcher the car at least she'll be a period correct car from the early 60s.

I hate to be the naysayer in the group and agree with baldeagle, but Phat must be out to lunch. For the money it costs to hop up a 235, you should get a 350 crate motor. If you have a good 327, use it if you really want some power.

I think a V8 is cheaper. The motor mounts you will need will be $50 for your car, if you hop up your six, you are gonna need dual exhaust, a new manifold, a vavle job, a new manifold, new carbs, lots of tuning, a new ignition, etc. The same stuff you'll need for a V8, but more expensive. If you've got the money and want to be different have at it. For my money, I'll put the 283 in the car and to be different, I'll leave it an orange 283. Just like it was 1965 all over again.

I keep hearing about this street 200 hp 235, but I have yet to see it. Tony, how about you, seen one of those lately?

Before the rest of you jump on me... My 49 pickup parts hauler is keeping the 235 and I vow to get the 261 rebuilt for it at some later date. And the 54 150 handyman wagon with stock powerglide (Oooooh, super rare) is gonna stay inline forever.

Chris

Sorry for rattling some chains here. The 56 may eventually get a 350 RamAir, but for now I only have these choices to play with. If the body was straight, I would of gone for the 235. Since it isn't and they don't make fenders or quarters, I'm stuck with body work. I want something I can take on route 66 without haveing any repairs and also to SC. I still don't know what to do. I do like the idea of hopping up the 235, but I would like it to be faster then my Jeep with a 2.5 4banger, which can keep up with a 99 stang upto 45 and used to pop a small wheelie. Anyway the 327 is a '66 with 60K miles and has the double hump heads. It may need rebuilt, but so does my 235. I like both ideas. Just looking for some advice. I do want to keep the column shift, if that helps any. Where can you find a late model saginaw column shift w/OD?

I donno. If all you want is a cheap older style ride, I'd sell the 56 and get a 66 Impala. (Or maybe a 86 Honda.) To me its like Star Wars, once you start pouring nonstock items into a classic, you're on a slippery slope to the dark, er, rod side. :p

The 235 is a very reliable engine. It carried lots of people, very long distances, long before the modern V8. (Chevy only made 6 cylinder engines for about 25 years - 31 - 54.) But it sure won't pull a wheelie (especially not in an all steel and chrome antique). :rolleyes:

I guess its all about why you have a classic car. To me the charm is in how different the ride is from a Hertz rental, and the challenge of keeping machinery going without paying everyone else to fix it. But, I suppose there's room in the world for people who just want the illusion of owning an old auto. I mean, isn't that why PT Cruisers were born? :confused:

Bottom line, don't take the easy way out. Join the VCCA. (www.vcca.org) Fix those fenders and either rebuild or locate another 235. (I see one every week on eBayMotors.) Learn to live without spin on oil filters and to ignore impatient v8 wusses in your rear view mirror. Don't be boring.