Regarding your question about a better or best 235,
if you are looking for horse power differences this chart might help. The information on the four pages in that stovebolt engine information is for USA stovebolt engines.
This information is found at the bottom of the
Casting Numbers page:
- All truck 235s and 261s had mechanical lifters.
- From 1956 onwards, all car 235s had hydraulic lifters.
- From 1950-1955 all car 235s in cars equipped with the Powerglide transmission had hydraulic lifters (except for the 53-55 Corvette's 235, which had a Powerglide transmission and mechanical lifters - it also used the 261 cam, which had a slightly modified lift).
From 1956 onwards, 235s had a higher compression head (casting code 3836848), which improved performance. Also, I think that the 261 cam was also used in later 235s (1956 and later truck 235s, maybe) but I am not sure about this.
