The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 207 bell housing and clutch on a 235

I have a 207 engine in a '34 master truck that I just got and am trying to make into a driver and am thinking of going to a 235--can I use the bell housing and clutch from the 207 and mate it up to a 235? --Normally I would just go with the 207 but it seems to have about 20 inches of cracks in the head. Thanks---dave, ps, yes I read about going from the 216 to 235 but there isn;t much info on the 207 to 235 conversion--that I could see--

I don't think that they'll interchange, you'll probably need a 216 bellhousing to amke it work. Don't quote me on this, as I'm not really certain about it myself.

Well that is one old truck. There is a possibility it will bolt up. Try it. Then we'll have to see if the flywheels are the same diameter or different. I suspect you will have to use a 37-46 bellhousing and fabricate your own mounts. Sometime after 47 the transmission mounting pattern changed, so if you are trying to use the original transmission it will have to be the earlier chevy 216, or gmc 228 bellhousing.

Davy,

First of all welcome to this site.

I was interseted in doing the same thing as you with my 36 and a fellow bolter shared this infor with me. Yours may be the same as mine.

The 235 is 1-1/2" shorter then the 207 so a plate is needed to move the front mount back.

The 235 has different rear bolt pattern. A bell from 37 to 47 truck which fits the 235 and the 36 transmission. This will accept all the 36 mounts, but I believe the 34 is the same.

Flywheel from 42-54 passenger car or truck for use with 6 volt starter. 55 to 62 for use with 12 volt starter. Use clutch parts matched flywheel, including the fork from 38 or later.

Exhaust is center dump on the 235 and rear on the 207, slight mods in the exhaust are needed.

Starter from 38 to 54 for use with 6 volts.
Starter from 55 to 59 for use with 12 volts and foot pedal.

Need front bearing retainer from 38 to 47 Truck with 4 speed to accept the later throwout bearing.

As I said eariler, a fellow bolter shared this information with me on a swap such as yours to my 36 which I believe are the same. Good luck and if you do this please keep me posted with the results. Again , good luck and welcome to the stovebolter's site.

Dave

Thanks alot for that info--probably take awhile for it to sink in fully. I might end up doing both---. Maybe in the short term slap another head on the 207 to get it running and also work on getting a 235 to mate up. I actually have two of these trucks --one is just a shell but I think I can put an engine and transmison in it and make it work. I have learned alot in the short time of reading this site info! really interesting----dave

I have a 34 that I would like to do this same swap. I would be very interested in what you find out when you actually try this. I'm a few months out from that point in my build but would like to start collecting parts with the up coming swap meet season.

I have got a nice 235 now and am going to see what happens as far as matching this and that. I would like to not disturb the 235 as far as any internall components. I will let you know--dave

I have a 41-6 bellhousing,fork and clutch pedal I wont be using since I went to a T-5 and used a modified 48 to 53 bellhousing. Jeff

If you want to replace the 207, use a GMC engine, they are almost exactly the same length. The bell housing bolt pattern is the same as the 216/235, the flywheel is the same as the 4 bolt flywheel on 216's. I have a complete GMC 248 engine if you're interested. E-mail me at [email protected]

I am going to pull my engine soon and see what matches or doesn't. I have the regular 235 already. Did you want to sell that bell housing? Ps kind of hard to pull these engines with the cross piece under and just forward of the bell housing--seems like I have to pull bell and tranny all at once--no way to get to bell housing bolts--or am i missing something?

drop the transmission first. there is a trick to the torque tube, but I'm not familiar with it.

You will have to pull the motor with the bellhousing if its like the 37 and up since there are bolts under it which requires removal of the flywheel,if you are wanting to make it a driver I would get rid of the original rear end as they are not geared for speeds above 50. A 235 and a T-5 should work fine as thats what I have in my 37 (not done yet) and I will sell my bellhousing as I will never need it again since the original trans and rear end have been sold. You have two ways to go in mounting a T-5,use a 38 to 46 bellhousing with a adapter or a 48 to 53 truck bellhousing. Does the brake and clutch pedals bolt to the bellhousing like on the 37 to 46?,if so them you can buy the adapter and use my bellhousing or get a modified 48 to 53 bellhousing which has the mounting welded on and both the bellhousing and adapter can be purchased from Buffalo enterprises in Washington state. If you buy my bellhousing I will include a 37 to 46 pedal mount that I slightly cut up a little as I was practicing to make a adapter to mount a modern master cylinder to. What ever you do do not use a 37 bellhousing as it has the same type of clutch they used back in the early 30s that is totally different the the modern style that they started to use in 38,you can not use a modern fork in a 37 bellhousing due to the hole for the ball it rides on being in a different location then the 38 on up. Jeff

A friend swapped in a 38 bellhousing and floor shift trans and a 216 into his '30 roadster, looked factory. If you are going for the original look this is the route to take. If not, the T-5 would be great behind a 235/261 or GMC.

More highway friendly gears might be available for your 34 but you will have over 600 dollars in it if you get the bearing kit too,I put a 8 inch in my 37 which I had in stock left over from a granada I stripped and found a T-5 for 75 dollars and shortened a drive shaft that was also in stock. Jeff

Alot of ins and outs on this. I have to pull and look to see what is what first I guess. For some reason both engines seem pretty close to the same length--the new-er '56 chevy 235 seems to be only 1/2" longer than the 207. I live on a curvy coastal road and 45 or 50 is perfect for cruising in to town--only four miles away. I am day dreaming of selling fresh caught salmon out of the 34 in town. The other place I would drive to my boat is only ten miles away. So that original tranny should be good enough. As far as that bell housing --let me have some time to see exactly what transmission I have also clutch and flywheel. That is some good info you guys gave me--may take time to digest it----dave

Since you have a 56 235 a shortened warter pump might be needed,there are two different versions out there. One is sold by Jim Carter that has the 216 sized pulley and the other sold by Patricks has the later 235 sixes pulley,on the 55 to 62 sixes the water pump is longer and sits lower in the block then the 54 on back motors and sometimes a stock fan can not be useed with the shortened pump as it will hit the balancer. There is a third option that is a water pump adapter that allows a 54 on back water pump to be mounted on a 55 to 62 motor which I have on the 57 235 in my 37,I hope I am not confusing you with all this info but sometimes a motor swap is not as easy as it seems. I dont think there is any issue with water pumps on the GMC motors and the 54 235 seems to be the best motor to use as its very similar to the 216,I know nothing about a 207 motor as I never owned one or even looked at one very closely but I wish I would of used the 54 235 in my 37 and would of been nice to have a computer when I was putting it togather for the first time. Jeff

Your 37 looks great, Must be fun to have. Yes these swaps on the early thirties trucks seem a bit complicated. I do have the bell housing with brake and clutch attatched. Looks-as expected, that i will definitly need a different bell as the bolt holes are almost an inch and a half wider on the newer 235. Yes I thought I might need that shortened pump but hopefully , since the engines are close to the same length that there is enough room between the radiator and fan on the '56 235 since it is only about a half inch longer --or so it appears. meanwhile I am wire brushing the chassis now that I got the old engine out last night.---

How much do you want for the bell? I may not be able to get it right now (tax time) but would be able to get it eventually probably----dave

ps on that bell ( 216engine)--would it match up to my 3 speed or would I have to change trannies too? Are you saying that I would definitly need to change transmissions or just that it would be nice to have the four speed?--Thanks--dave

I will take 60.00 plus shipping for the bellhousing,fork and pedal. The bellhousing and pedal are not show quality as they are severly pitted from being in a truck that sat without windows for over 40 years but work fine as I had them on my truck for 7 years,I changed bellhousings to install the T-5 or they would still be on. Jeff

I have been working moslty on getting the chaasis back in running condition--painting--shackles and brakes not to mention king pins but i am starting to bend toward the 235 install. I am thinking I won't be able to use my 207 clutch. So, Does anyone know if a more modern clutch for the '56 235 eng will fit in the bell, which is out of '41 ( i believe) from another stovebolter.??

I think I am the one that sold you the bellhousing and it is off a 41 and I had it on a 57 235 along with the 57 flywheel and cluch,if you have the cluch and flywheel from the 56 it will work. You will have to use a 56 starter with the 56 flywheel,if you want to retain the foot starter the flywheel and clutch from a 38 to 53 216 will work. Jeff

I'm also looking to upgrade from a 207 to a 325 in my 36 1/2 ton,will need a lot of info on this

Okay thanks jeff. Only trouble is I got the '56 with an automatic on it so i need to get the clutch and flywheel from a newer one. I think I know if one, just have to check on the bolt pattern. Uf not i will get the regular newer clutch and flywheeel from somewhere--dave

The 235/261 was made up to 62 so you should be able to find one,there are plenty in the yards around here but shipping will get costly. It all depends on if you want to keep the foot starter or go with one that has a solenoid and use a the ignition switch. Jeff

I'm getting my 235 in now--. I had to modify the cross member since the oil pan is in the way on the newer engine. I am going to use the forward mount for now and raise the front up an inch higher than original and may be use the forward side mounts as well after I get things lined up better. So far the overall lengths seem to be the same-- so I hope I don't have to modify my radiator mounting or pulleys later. I will be glad when its fully lined up and bolted in. I would love to get any advice or two cents worth anyone has on this topic,