The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Where would you take your 235?

I recently purchased a '58 Chevy SWB Fleetside with the 235/3 spd.

I pulled the engine and tranny out of it today with great success. The engine turns over but it really needs to be "Freshened up" It seems to be all original, and who knows how many miles are on it. It didn't run when I got it, so I have no idea of it's internal condition. I did pull the valve cover off to find alot of burnt oil on the cam/valves, so I'm pretty sure it got overheated pretty badly at some point. The 3 speed has a leaking output shaft seal, but seems to shift smoothly. I can handle that.

Do you guys have any recomendations on a good shop I can send the engine to? Someone that you trust? Someone that specializes in these engines and not just some hack shop?

Thanks for all your help!

Matt.

Matt,

If you are willing to pay top $$$, JASPER Engines & Transmissions.

Tim

I agree with Tc on Jaspers if you want to completly rebuild it. What about a v-8. I change mine over to v-8's. It's a better engine if you want to get out & drive. They also handle & steer better as the v-8 weighs less & the weight is further back.

There is nothing wrong with running a 235 if that's what you want, it will take you anywhere a V8 will just perhaps not quite as fast.
I put about 8,000 miles on the 235 in a 52 1 ton pickup in under a month, never once did I wish it was a V8...

I've heard good things about Jasper rebuilds too.

Grigg

I replaced my original 235 with a 283 V-8. I liked the six better and it would take me down the road just as well as the 8 would, maybe not quite as fast, but would run comfortable at 55-60.

The 261 I now have in it also runs comfortably at 55-60, but sure doesn't do as well on gas. But if you can get traction, you can pull it.

Ok, So I tore it down yesterday. I found the head gasket blown between 4 and 5 cyls, found high wear and some scoring on the cylinder walls (nice raised notch at the top of the cyls) found the pushrods so packed with hard sludge that they would barely pull out of the head.
I also found that the coolant passages to the head were plugged off with slag, so she wasn't circulating much water.

The exhaust manifold on #6 seems to be warped and wasn't sealing bvery well to the block. The radiator is toast, the hoses literally fall apart in my hand. The old distributor and vac advance is frozen up, the carb linkages have seen better days. All this coupled with a leaking questionable 3 speed is starting to make me re-think my goal at keeping the truck original.

By the time I buy all the parts to make this engine original, and get a long block or hsve this one bored, I can buy a V8 that has newer technology at a conparable price....

I play with V8's in boats as my job everyday, so the V8 to me isn't that special. I kind of liked the idea of the 6 cyl, especially the 3 on the tree setup, but I wonder if it's worth the expense.....

What do you guys think?

Yes, it is worth it. As far as cost, shouldn't cost any more to build up that 235 than it would to build a V8. I did mine, under $500 in machine work, maybe another $800 in parts, labor-Free.
Nothing quite sounds like a 235/261 that's been hopped up, 'cept maybe for a Jimmy 6, and while they may not rev like one, they'll certainly out-torque a smallblock. I run mine at highway speeds on a regular basis. Proper gearing is the hey. Get an overdrive trans behind it, you'll be very happy.

hey long - if you haven't read it by now, i have a '61 235 with solid lifters, i'm about to do something close to a complete rebuild, and i want to go with hydraulics - what/whose cam would you suggest for street? maybe with a tad of hop? so far, i've looked at the edelbrock kit for $150ish, and some high-end $500+(ouch) kit

I'm not sure I believe that, going back original vs. fabricating and re engineering stuff...
Price may be similar, but for the amount of work staying reasonably original should be the simpler choice.
You can find all your original parts and perhaps even a good running 235 or 261 from someone who is actually taking the V8 leap, check out the Swap Meet section.

If you go with the V8 when does it stop, will you want faster gears, and OD transmission, power brakes, disc brakes, power steering, fancy wheels??? the list goes on and on.
I've rebuilt one 235 in a reasonably original 52, and am doing the complete new everything on a 48. The 52 was a project in high school, a couple months of work here and there assembling the new engine, and a week downtime switching engines. The 48 is about 5 years and counting..

In the end do what makes you happy, don't worry so much about the cost or work involved so long as you're having fun, will enjoy the truck, and don't second guess your decision.

Grigg