The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 . . . Latest year?

Hey Guys & Gals,

I'm brand new to the forum, but have been looking at Stovebolt for years.
I recently bought a 55 first series and first thought I would put a small block in it. . . but after thinking about all the modifications, I thought a 235 would be better. Here's my question; what is the latest year for the 235? and what other 6 cylinder would fit nicely and easily?
Thanks,
Paul

A 261 ('58-'62 has full flow through the oil filter) would be an easy swap. I'm not sure when the last 235 was built.

welcome to the garage Paul .... last 235 was 62, and yes, 261 or 235 would be the painless choices

Bill

What about a 250? What years and would it fit?

Hey wally . . . got a picture of that 48 flatbed?
I'd love to see it.
Is 1962 the lastest year for both the 235 and 261?
For obvious reasons I want the newest engine I can get.
Paul

The 261 was still available in 4X4s and Suburbans(I think) in 1963. The blocks are the same from 59 - 63. I also read somewhere that 235s were available in Brazil and Mexico thru the 70s. But 1962 was the last year in the States.

Thanks Bigmacdaddy.

How about the bellhousings and how they match up with transmissions? I would love to put a later model 4 speed in it.
Is there a detailed book available for these swaps? I'm not new to any of this, having had many old trucks over the years, but it will be the first swap in a stovebolt. I could follow my instincts but it would be nice to avoid all the mistakes and have some good resources.
Paul

A 250 won't fit without moving the radiator.

The bellhousing matches up to most GM manual transmissions, as long as you can find a clutch disc that fits your application.

You can fit a 4 speed Saginaw or Muncie, or a T85N 3 speed overdrive directly, or a 5 speed T5 with slight modification.

Pauledm55,

Here's a picture. As you can see, it's a life-long project. I'll have a full web page real soon.

My \'48.

I thought the 235 and 261 was with us til 63?
The 250 and 292 have the same bell housing as the chevy V8s.

Okay Guys...
Let's get a real interesting and informative debate going.
Which engine do I use for my swap? ? ?
I've been hearing about the 235 . . the 250 . . . the 260, and now the 292.
Which one is the best choice (horsepower aside)?
Are there differences worth considering?

You guys work it out for me.
Paul

Okay Guys...
Let's get a real interesting and informative debate going.
Which engine do I use for my swap? ? ?
I've been hearing about the 235 . . the 250 . . . the 260, and now the 292.
Which one is the best choice (horsepower aside)?
Are there differences worth considering?

You guys work it out for me.
Paul

Best choice is the 235 for a drop in swap. Anything else you're going to have to do some modifications.

250 or 292s are a good choice for performance. The 7 main bearings give them a really strong bottom end. 250 for all out hp... 292 for all out torque. As mentioned before... 235 or 261 for a painless bolt in swap.

I just have to clarify that the best bolt in swap in my biased opinion is the 261. It is externally the same as a 235. I'm biased because I am swapping my 235 for a 261. As for trannys, you'll want a T-5 or one with an O.D. There are a few options here. I'm assuming you'll want a streetable inline 6 that will cruise on the highway with todays traffic? You also have to consider wheels/tires, brakes, suspension, steering, etc...

Bigmacdaddy, I'm kinda interested in the 261 swap myself, replacing a 1954 235 in a 1949 1/2 ton. Straight drop in swap including motor mounts, etc for me, or is there a difference between my 49 and your 62 fleetside?

Thanks
Dave

Bigmacdaddy, I should have added I'm already putting in a t-5 transmission using the stock bellhousing from the 1949 truck.

Dave

Bigmacdaddy, I should have done a search before I posted by question. There is a lot of information in the archives on this swap, thanks anyway.
Dave

DW, your frame will be completely different from mine and I don't have the answers. But as you have seen, there are many here that do and a ton of great info in the archives. I'm pretty sure that no matter what year, the 216, 235 and 261 are pretty much simple swaps. Your biggest issues will probably be linkages and steering. Where in Wyoming are you from? I'm an Evanston native myself. Not many of us.

I swapped the 216 to a 62 261 in my '50 pickup. The mount points are the same. The things you have to concern yourself with are the length of the water pump and the position of the bell crank for the throttle linkage. I shortened my stock water pump and used a pulley with less dish that I found in a wrecking yard to fit. I can't fit a mechanical fan behind my radiator because it would hit the lower radiator hose. If you get an adaptor plate you can mount the pump more like the 216 and use a mechanical fan.

For the throttle linkage I just bent the stock gas pedal rod and shortened it a bit. The pivot point is in a differant place on later blocks.

If you are swapping a 235 to a 261 all you have to do is take one out and put the other in. Just use the water pump setup from the 235 on the 261.

Oh, and I'm planning to rip it all out this summer and put a '55 GMC 302 in, in the pursuit of more power and uniqueness. The 261 is great but mine is starting to need a rebuild and if I am going to pay to rebuild a stovebolt six I want to do the best old six GM made.

hey 4onthefloor! how far do you have to move the radiator foward on the 250 swap? any pic's

bigmacdaddy, I've lived in Cheyenne since the 80's. I go out to Pinedale every year for hunting, if you haven't been back home for awhile that part of the country is really booming with methane gas drilling. If you own any land out there hold onto it, the way the development is going it will be worth something someday (I still kick myself for not buying that house lot in Jackson back in the 70's).

From what I can tell the main problem for me with a 235/261 swap is the flywheel. I currently have a 9 1/8" flywheel-clutch and want to keep my footstarter. Sound like with a 261 I might need a bigger clutch, which sets off a series of challenges.

Dave

DW, you already know more about this than I do. My truck came with a heavy duty clutch and flywheel so that won't be a problem for me. Have you found a 261? They are getting harder to find. Probably a few farm trucks nearby, you're in a good neighborhood to look.
I still get back a couple of times a year. My parents live there. Rock Springs and Green River are really booming, at least they were last year. Evanston is staying steady. We had our big boom in the late 70s - early 80s. As far as the Pinedale/Jackson area, I've heard the wealthy out -of-staters are buying up all the decent land making the prices unreasonable. Too bad, it's one of the latest pristine areas to get ruined.

Hey Guys,
I appreciate all the info. Sounds like the 235 or 261 is best for my 55 first series. What about availability? I haven't looked around yet but I wonder if one will be more plentiful than the other? And what about parts? Has anybody had any more trouble finding parts with one engine than the other.
Paul

235 are everywhere. If your patient, you could probably get one free just for picking it up. You would want a 60 - 62 with an 848 head. 261s are getting hard to find and will most likely cost between 500 and 1k. They were available in the 2 ton trucks and Canadian pontiacs for the most part. In 62 only, they were available as an option in smaller trucks. And in 63 they were available in 4X4s.