The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Swapping a 216 for a 235

I have a 1950 that currently has a 216 that just won't turn over connected to a non functional transmission. First off, I want to pull this set up but can't figure out where to attach my engine lift? Could you please help me. Secondly, I've found a running 235 with functional transmission that I'm thinking about buying. Is there anything I need to do to prepare for the swap, and is it worth it, or should I rebuild my setup?

I've used a couple of large eye bolts in the first and last head bolt pattern with an engine leveler attached. Some have just used a quality lift strap around the engine. As for the 235. You don't say what year it is. May need a rebuild too. Be god if you could hear it run. It's generally a very easy swap. I currently am just finishing up with a '55 235 attached to my 216 bell housing and trans.

Thanks I'll give it a try. The 235 is also from a 1950... I'm going out to test it before I buy it to make sure it runs...I've been told it's fairly low miles and was very dependalble before the owner took it out to swap for a V8.

Here is the Shop Manual recommendation for pulling the engine. As DrewP says, there are other ways to do the job. I usually spread the attach points a little further, as Drew P suggests. In my old age, I've found that the use of a leveler makes removal or installation much easier.

A 55 or later 235 should use the water pump adapter plate from pre68Dave so that the original water pump can be used to put the fan in the correct location.

Hoyt

if it is a 1950 235 it will have a lot of the same parts as the 216, so might be worth keeping around for the time being. the Leveler that hoyt talks about is a great tool to have around, I picked one up at Harbor Freight pretty cheap. The Hi-Torque(Low pressure 235) is a nice engine, performance will be close to though. It should use the same water pump if it is a 1950.
I would run the engine serial number to make sure.

One thing I told a friend that was debating rather to rebuild his 216 or find a later 235(post 55) was that the cost to fix the 216 would be expensive, but to find buy and then rebuild a later 235 would be about the same, plus the cost of the new engine.

In your case if you have to find a trans, and the pre 55 235 is in decent running shape, then it might make since to drop it in as is and get some miles out of it before rebuild to save some money(especially since it has the working trans).

Both the 216 and the early 235 are tough engines that often get a bad wrap. Just think of the boys in WW2 driving chev and gmc army trucks across north africa in high heat with all the dust and sand(let alone combat) and those trucks made it, so as long as you have good oil pressure and and you keep the rpms within acceptable levels the engine will last quite awhile.

sorry to ramble, my $.02

"Just think of the boys in WW2 driving chev and gmc army trucks across north africa in high heat with all the dust and sand(let alone combat) and those trucks made it"...

Great point Yelotsn78!!!

Go ahead and make the swap if the 235 checks out. I did it and am very happy. As stated, keep the 216 around as many parts can be used. Use this board as a resource and take many, many digital pics as you disassemble and pull the 216 and components. They will be an invaluable resource when it comes time to 'put it back together'. Good luck and keep us posted!

Will do... thanks for all of the great advice!