The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 vs 261 Push rod Length

Hello,

I have a friend here at work refreshing a 1954 Chevy Bel Air, He had heard form someone that I too was working on an old Chevy. Long Story short, he had a stuck valve or two, and has bent some push rods. I replaced my pushrods as I had a similar problem. He thinks he has a 235 in it, however I brought him one of my old push rods and he says his are different yet. Please note he has solid lifters in this car. So I am guessing he has a 261 I am having him get the numbers off the boss behind the dizzy. Can someone qualify my thought that a 235 pushrod, is about a 1/2" shorter than a 261 pushrod?

Thanks

In 1954, the 261 push rods were larger diameter than those used in the 235 engines, but the Engineering Features book does not mention differences in push-rod length. The Shop Manual does not give push-rod lengths.

It seems reasonable to assume that: Since the higher displacement of the 261 engine is due to larger diameter pistons, not a longer stroke, there would be no need for a longer push rod (even with the higher lift cam in the 261)? NOTE: this assumption applies to same year 235/261 truck engines (see link below).

A variety of lengths of push rods w...7-1957) for various 216/235/261 engines.

My mistake, the pushrod presented to me for this guys 1954 is 1/2" Shorter than the the 235 out of my truck. The spec Sheet shown has got some real odd ball measurements . I dont see where my engine a 1958-1962 235 6 cylinder (per the casting Numbers) is about 11-1/4" Long and .280 Diam.

This other is quite shorter, and thinner about .255 diameter.

Anywaho thanks anyway TCelderman
My buddy will be getting any casting numbers and the numbers bon the boss behind the dizzy for us to further disect.

Thanks

The early solid milkcan lifters (the lifter looks like a milkcan from the side) use shorter pushrods than hydraulics, but solid lifter 261's use the same pushrods as solid lifter 235's.

Well I dunno ,

He finally got arounfd to giving me the info off the boss behind the dist. Nubers are as follows

0461420 T54Z

I don;t know that I can or anyone else can do much with those without also haveing the casting numbers. I am going to see if he can get those for me as well.

Thanks

Those numbers indicate a 1954, 235 full pressure, 115 hp, solid lifter engine manufactured in the Tonawanda, NY plant.

Be careful using older lifters in 1958-62 235/261 engines. The design of the lifters changed in 1958, due to a new oiling path from both ends of the camshaft into/through the lifter journals. It is imperative that these new lifters (that have a annular ring) be used in the 1958-1962 blocks.

I just checked the post again and Waldo Thanks for decoding that for me, tcelderman I will make sure he does not use different lifters than what he has in it now.

One other strange thing, my fat fingers must be hitting keys I am unaware of I keep getting that crying smiley face thing, I never put that there. Anyway Thanks for the good info guys

Birge

I went the route of changing lifters from solid to hydraulic and the hydraulic lifters would bleed down and clack badly, tried notching the push rods, did not work, gave up and went back to a solid lifter cam and lifters and so much better and happier. Remember 261's in trucks were all solid lifter engines, unless changed out. And just for the people who do not know, you cannot mix solid lifters on hydraulic grinds and vice versa, the lobes and ramps are different.

Roger, the '53 235 Corvette engine originally used the same cam as the truck 261, and had solid lifters. The truck cam has a bit higher lift - which is why Chevy installed it in the Corvette engine, for a bit better breathing. As SS said, you can't use hydraulic lifters with the 261 truck (or Corvette 235) cam. Further, the '53 block (if that's what you have) may not have the oil gallery drilled to support hydraulic lifters, unless it was originally hooked to a Powerglide (and even then, I'm not sure about the Corvette blocks, which used solid lifters from the factory).

What's the number stamped on the machined pad just aft of the distributor? That can be decoded to verify the original service installation of the block.

Hope this helps!

Is it a real vette motor? A 53 would be a rare as a hen's tooth. One thing you will have to do no matter what is confirm whether you have a stick block or an automatic block. If it was s factor stick block it is not drilled for hydraulic lifters. Now I am pretty sure all of the 53 and 54 vettes came with powerglides. So what do you have there? Casting number, stamping on the distributor plate?

Thank you I can now make an informed decision.

Yeah, if it were a 53 vette motor, there were only 300 made and Dragsix is right- rare as hens teeth. Do you have the triple carbs?