The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 look like 216

Just trying to confirm. I have a '56 235 in my otherwise original '46 1 Ton Panel; real smoky, whole engine needs rebuilding. Can I instead find a full pressure 235 that had a high side cover so that I can put on an old 216 side cover and valve cover to make a 216-looking high pressure 235? Or were all high side cover 235s babbitt? Did anyone ever modify a high 216 side cover to fit on a low side cover 235. Would I be the only one fooled here? Maybe the best I can do is the 216 valve cover only. Any ideas?

The block and head on a low side 235 interferes with the 216 side cover, so if you wanted one you would probably have to modify the block or risk sealing issues.

The 235's from '53 and before had a tall side cover, look just like the 216's. Only problem is they are all low pressure oil systems, but you can convert them to high pressure with the right stuff.

OR, modify the OLD and first 235 that came with a tall side cover, for full pressure oiling. Then it will look just like the original motor.
You'll need a really good machinest friend to make the 55-62 drilled crank fit the old block and some plumbing mods. But, it's a lot of work and not cheap, plus compression will be much lower than a later 235. I'd keep that 56 235 and make it look stock, very few people will know the differance.

Chevyman, I have a 51, 235. It does not have a tall side cover. Personally I have never seen a 235 with a tall side cover.

My 49 has a 235 out of a 53 Belaire with a automatic tranny. It's a full pressure engine but looks like a 216 with the 2 bolts in the center of the valve cover. The water pump is already in the correct position for a pickup. No need for the adapter plate or the short water pump. Patrick's 2007 catalog has some good info.

Fortyniner wins the prize, '53 auto w/automatic, first full pressure 235 but still had the old head and side cover.
Denny G

So, then is the '53 w/automatic the only full pressure non-babbit 235 with a high side cover? Hard to imagine it is just that one small group. And are there casting numbers, oil pan stamped 235, etc. to verify that's what you've got sitting there in the junkyard pile of engines?

The casting numbers are avilable on the Inliner Site. It shows the '53-235 to be 3835846
Finding one would probably be like the needle in the hay stack.

I have a high pressure 235 out of a 53 auto in my 52 Belair, it has the short side cover and the 2 bolts in the valve cover.
I know that you can convert the later 4 screw valve cover heads ( 54 up ) to the 2 bolt
but see no way to use the high side cover.
Gary

Chevrolet started using 235s with tall side covers in 1941 in there big trucks. In 1950 the same 235 introduced in the Powerglide passenger car was also the engine used in the big trucks, these engines had short side covers and were all low pressure engines.

There were no tall side cover, full pressure engines made.

To echo 46CPU and GEC52, All 1950 and up 235's
used the short side cover that did not cover the head.

That might work if you spliced together the top half of an old 216 side cover with the lower half of a later one. It would still have the bulge on it for the oil line but might give the look you're after.

Curt B.