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I am working on a 56 3200 that came with no engine, bellhousing, flywheel, clutch fork or throwout bearing (the truck originally had a 235 and 3 in-the-tree, and the basic tranny did come with it). I've been looking for a replacement 235, and the only ones that I have found have been removed from cars (from both automatics and 3 speed standards). I have had some conflicting advice about what will work and what won't. First off, is there any difference in an engine that came from a car that should concern me, and 2nd, which parts do I have to hunt down in order to match up the existing tranny to whichever engine I end up buying (assuming that the car engines are OK)?
I apologize if this is a dumb newbie question, and I did try using the search engine before asking!
Thanks!

A passenger engine will be fine to use, but you will need a truck bellhousing and front engine mounts, as they are truck specific. Not sure about the clutch fork. The throwout bearing won't be a big deal, as you'll want to use a new one anyway. You can get that from the parts house. As far as the transmissions are concerned, the 3 speed manual trans is the same between car and truck, so that won't be a problem. The only difference is a minor bolt hole difference in the mounting flange. On the trucks, the 2 bottom bolts are threaded, and the bolts go in from the inside of the bellhousing. Passenger is opposite. This isn't really a problem though, simply use bolts and nuts on the bottom holes.
You'll also need to get the truck throttle linkage as well, I beleive they are different.

Car engines with powerglides had hydraulic lifters while standard tranny ran solids.

Yakima's statement above is true for cars from '50 thru '55. All car engines from '56 thru '62 ran hydraulics.

....... my first recollection of hydralic lifters was 1953 powerglides/235's. You mean the earlier CARS (1950) with 216's, had hydralics? Maybe I just never got to work on those in my early years or my memory is failing me in my "later" years!

He was talking about powerglide cars (which first came out in 1950) and had low pressure, 235's with hydraulic lifters.

Early Corvettes with 235s had Powerglide transmissions and mechanical lifters.

Thanks for all the quick replies! It appears that I may be all set, as I can get my hands on a car engine, and it appears that I just need to get the truck bellhousing/flywheel/fork/bearing. These parts are relatively easy to come by. I am assuming that the bushing at the rear of the block is the same for both automatics and standards (I believe its called a pilot bushing). If this is the case, I'm good to go!

You are going to need an engine that side mounts at the front end of the block. There are two vertical mtg holes beneath the generator bracket on the left side, and two matching holes on the right side just in front of the fuel pump. I know 55-57 235 car engines have the correct mounting holes, I have not seen an earlier 235 that has them and am unsure about 58 and later car engines. 2nd series 55-59 pickup 235's will also have the correct front mount holes. I have a 60 car engine that has the bosses cast into the block but they are not drilled. I've not seen the mtg. holes on a 261 either. In the my 58 Chevy Truck reproduction shop manual it has very clear pictures of the right side mounting points on page 8-10, and a clear picture of the left mount on page 8-11. I have installed a 55 car engine into a 57 PU, and a 56 car engine into a 59 PU. You will need a truck bellhousing, clutchfork, and throttle linkage.

John

The automatics will not have the pilot bushing in the crank, so one will have to be installed.

The engines that I have looked at all have the side mounts near the front, as pointed out by John1 (thanks!). With regards to the automatic blocks needing to have a pilot bushing installed, is this simply a matter of pressing a bushing into an existing hole, or will I have to have the hole machined into place? The engines that I have access to are in other towns, so I can't look them over right now. Thanks for the heads-up on that issue, Longbox55.

A Powerglide motor will be drilled but have no bushing installed. You can do it yourself, just beg, borrow, or steal a bushing driver and put the bushing in the freezer first, should go in with no problem.

Guys, thanks for the great advice! Its a relief to know what exactly will work. I will post my results once I get an engine in place and running. Great forum!!!!!

Stephan