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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 32 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 32 | My 37 1.5 ton project will finally be getting underway next month as I am moving back north. The truck has a 1956 chevy straight six. I am not sure if this is a 235 or the larger 261. I am equally torn between keeping what I have with fresh gaskets(which supposedly runs, but I have not fired it up) or hunting down an original. If I were to look for an original should I look for the 216? I read somewhere that some had olds motors in them. Did the 216 change over the years or could I find a much later 216 and have an identical motor? How hard are they to find? I would love to have the truck more original, but if it turns out to be more trouble then worth I can settle for what is there.
-Doug Frantz
37 Chevy 1.5 ton and various other scraps of iron still on the road
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,205 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,205 | The 235 is much better engine choice then the 216. Think of it as a new improved 216. Better bearings, bigger cubic inch, better cooling, more power, and still fits in the same place. I believe you can make your 235 look almost like a 216, 99% of people looking at will not know the difference.
Joe | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
Doug,
If I was changing from a 216, I'd go to a high-pressure 235 or a 261.
You do have option of going to a low-pressure 235 (41-53).
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 32 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 32 | So stick with later motor that is in there... Has anyone seen a write up on how to make it look like the older motor, or which accessories changed drastically over time? Old Chevy's are new area for me, I'm used to my Ramblers.
-Doug Frantz
37 Chevy 1.5 ton and various other scraps of iron still on the road
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 | The main thing that people change on a 235 to make the uninformed believe they are 216's is the 2 center bolt valve cover and yes there is a kit to do that. Basically it is a couple of studs off the rocker arm to hold the cover in place. However...there are other differences too like the side cover that is a lot shorter on a 235 and doesn't surround the apark plugs. Still other minor differences. Those are the 2 biggies.
The changes have been discussed here a few times. Have you checked our archives/search feature?
Try using diffenrent key words to help find the threads.
Last edited by 53moneypit; 03/21/2013 12:58 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | | | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 32 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 32 | Thanks, the link makes it easier!
-Doug Frantz
37 Chevy 1.5 ton and various other scraps of iron still on the road
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