The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Different versions of 235?

I have been toying with the idea of replacing my 216 with a 235 and had found some in my area for around $500.

A couple of them are coming out of various coupes with a power glide transmission. Are they the same 235 that was put into the trucks?

I have a 1948 1-Ton. I just want to make sure I do not run into any major fit up issues.

the early splasher 235s have 2 studs going throught the valve cover, the later 235s have 4 bolts around the edge, no studs.

You'll want an 18 head-bolt 235 from 1954 upwards.

A 1953 Powerglide car 235 would have the later high-pressure lubrication system but it would have the earlier 2-bolt valve cover. There are other oddities in other 1953 car/truck 235s.

All truck 235s had mechanical lifters and metal camshaft timing gear.

All car 235s had a fiber/composite camshaft timing gear.
Powerglide-equipped 1954/55 car 235 had hydraulic lifters (other car 235s those years had mechanical lifters.
All 1956 and later car 235s had hydraulic lifters.

1956 and later 235s had a higher compression head.

There is a front motor mount adaptation (relatively easy) that must be made on the front plate on later 235s.

Is there anything that would prevent a car 235 from working in a truck? The one that caught by eye was a 1957 car 235.

Powerglide car engines had hydraulic lifters from 1950 on.

Redlegs, I have a car engine in my truck, not a 235 but a 261, which looks the same. The lifters are different, but I'm quite happy with it. No issues with anything bolting up to it.

The Canadian Pontiac 261 had hydraulic lifters. The Canadian truck 261 had mechanical lifters. The 58-63 USA 261 had the full-flow oil filter, but I think all Canadian car/truck 261s had by-pass oil filters (can anyone confirm/correct this?).

Mine is a by-pass filter.

The man's question is about a 235...not a 261.

Should I be looking for a 261 over a 235? I had just wanted something with a more modern oil system, and the 235 seemed easy to find.

(That and a second motor gives me the ability to learn more about the 216)

Both the 235 and the 261 are essentially the same engine and both are full pressure models, which is why so many of us havce switched to them. So many suffer from that old "bigger is better" mentality that the 235 will lose most arguments about whats best. It's all up to you. Both have an abundence of torque so both are fine.

Here's a hint as to reliability: remember that all the WWII Chevy trucks had 235's that were low pressure "splashers" like a 216. So how bad truly are they?

If you can find one the answer is absolutely. You need to throw multiple carbs, dual exhaust, and a high lift cam at a 235 to match the power output of the visually identical 261.

Thanks for the help. Guess I will see what I can find for a reasonable price, probably going to be a 235 because they look to be more common. I might get lucky with a 261 though.