The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Swapping a 235 wha??? For your 216!

I see a lot of discussions that talk about the all to popular 235 swap. I’ve been scrounging round some of the remaining junk yards around the area and am having a little trouble recognizing what I’m looking at. From what I have gathered the earlier 235 and 216 had a lot in common with each other. When did they start production of these and other than displacement what were the differences?
Looks like the next iteration of the 235 was the 1950, the main difference being the head design recognized by the short push rod cover and some carburetor changes, not visible on the outside.
Next was in 1954 with the full pressure system recognized by the side screw VC hold down and elimination of the center hold down studs. Somewhere in here the side motor mounts came into play, changes in the distributor and throttle linkage mounting pads.
When was the last 235 of this design used.
Do I have any of this right? And is there anywhere I can find a good chronological rundown or evolution of the inline 6 in all of its different dress??
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Hi Denny; Looks like you did your homework. The full pressure 235 actually became available in '53 on powerglide equipped cars and another important difference on these "later" 235's was the use of insert rod bearings instead of babbit bearings (the '50 - '53 235's still used babbits).
This new design, with some minor refinements was used through '62. Patrick has some pretty good info on identifying the late 235's (I think it's on his website, if you have one of his catalogs it's in there too). I'd like to see a detailed chronological list of the changes on these engines too.

This is a good link and read....

http://www.vintagechevrolet.org/articles/VCA_20011124_straightsixtips_pg1.htm

Here is a compilation of characteristics of stovebolt engines (1929-1962 216/235/261 Chevrolet passenger and truck engines)

The color coding gives an indication of years that were mostly compatible.

The list is pretty much wrong from 1933 to 1936, but that has no bearing on Denny's question. The last 194 was in 1932, all trucks and Master cars had the 207 (206.8) engine 1933 to 1936 and only the Standards had the 181 in 1933 and 1934. 1935 and 1936 Standards had the 207.

Denny - there are two articles right here on the Stovebolt Page in the Tech Tips Engine section. Engine Swap, and Engine Swap II. I imagine you've already looked there but just in case...

Don

Patricks catalog was one of the first that I got when I bought the truck last year. I never even concidered ever using a 235 so I kind of thumbed thru it an buryed it in the pile, I'll dig it out.

Joined VCCA around Christmas time but there again, I haven't had time to go through all the information, I was reading through all the back postings for a while but just ran out of time with all that's going on. Thanks for the link, looks like it answers a lot of my questions.

Bad link Tim, "page canot be displayed" or the site is down for some reason.

I'll take a look Don, don't remember seeing that but, there is so much to see here I keep forgeting where I have already been.

Tks to all the rest of ya to.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

So what prompted me to start this was that when I hear people tossing out the term, "swapin the 216 for a 235" then they gotta mean a 54 or later no doubt. cuz the earlier ones were no better than the 216 that they are replacing.

And it seems to me that in almost all cases that the powerglide 235's put out more HP because of the cam's that the had, so the ideal engine swap is a '60 235 powerglide, give or take a couple of years either way, that sound right?

Now just one more question; in 1963 I was working as the night parts manager at a Chevy dealer and a three year old ‘60 Biscayne, 2dr., six stick was traded in. I bought it and kept the car till ’67 when I was shipped over to the Fareast. I had the lifters out of it while doing a valve job at one time and remember that they were hydraulics which I spent a weekend disassembling and soaking the varnish off the plungers, so much for the bulk oil the dealership was using. From what I've been reading here the powerglide 235's were the only ones with hydraulics, and the stick shifters were solid lifters. Anyone know what was going on here? Now I know your gonna say that they were probably changed by the PO, but I know it came from the factory like that because it was a one owner. The owners were a little old couple that we all knew cus they were so meticulous about servicing it. They bought, serviced and traded it at the dealership that I worked at.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

According to Patrick http://www.chevrolet.com.au/articles/engine_swap.htm
hydraulics on powerglide only cars was the rule up through '57. ALL the '58 - '62 blocks were drilled for hydraulics although some were equiped with solids. So, hydraulics on a '60 stick shift car is very possible.

Denny - From my humble research you are correct in that the hydraulics were in the powerglides and the solids in the shifters. My 1957 235 "swap made in heaven" was a pos with the powerglide attached. The only problems encountered other than the obvious flywheel and water pump was something that came up yesterday; that's the pilot bushing from the tranny to the flywheel. Apparently there is a slight difference in the O.D. Phillip, at Patrick's, told me that I could find a 235 bushing at my local FLAPS. The one provided was the same as my original so it was out to the machine shop for a schochi turning and installation of the harmonic balancer.

Hope this helps in some way. I'm out to Lue\'s Blues for some liquid refreshments and good music.

The link I posted above is now working (my main web server went down, so I had to move the website to my other web server).


All 1958-1962 235 and 261 blocks were set up to use either hydraulic or mechanical lifters. Note that the hydraulic and mechanical lifters for these years have to be used in these blocks (earlier lifers will not allow oil to get to the head/rocker-arm).

Tim

Its funny how there is a thread going about this right now...I just bought a 1957 235 out of a car. My 216 was burning oil really bad so Patrick's told me to find a 235....I found one on Tuesday not far from my house...Phillip, Patrick's son sent me the short water pump, pulley kit for the motor...I also bought some hearders, dual manifold, alt. bracket. You have to reuse the bellhousing, clutch, flywheel, starter...the motor should be going in on Monday...after I change all the gaskets on the 235....

Tks Waldo, sounds like that explained it, I'll read that. I thought I had seen the other info on the VCCA archive site, must have miss read it.

Thanks Tim, I'll take a look before I hit the sack.

I wish I wasn't such a purest, I'd be goin the 235 route about now, after all the problems I'm havin with this 216.

OK, I think I've got enough info to be considered an expert on the subject now.
Thanks guys.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL