The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 216 to a 235 - choose '53, '55 or '57 engine

1953 Chevy 3100 - currently has a '48 216 in it

I am looking for a 235 to rebuild. Here are my choices

1953 - FREE
1955
1957

From my understanding the 1953 would only be full pressurized oil if it came from a car w/powerglide and it still has babbitted bearings. So although it is free I could only be getting a bit more HP. If I rebuilt it would make sense to have the rods with inserts?

Correct?
Thoughts?

What is the engine serial number on the 1953?

1955 car or truck engine? If truck, first series is the easiest swap?

What are you looking to "improve": lubrication system and performance?

The 1957 would have a high compression head and best performance, unless the head has been replaced with a pre-1956 head. Water pump (and maybe front motor mount) would need adaptations.

seeing this is not a daily driver - just lubrication.

they are all from cars.

I was thinking the 57 was the best option. I see they have a plate that could be used to allow me to use a 216 water pump.

so I looked at my current engine a bit closer this am - seems the block is from a 1948 car and the head is from the original 53 truck it is in. Man what a puzzle- would love to know the whole story behind this truck. I know it came to Massachusetts from a Tobacco Farm in Virginia.

Get the free one anyway especially if it's a pressure motor and keep in mind that some of these motors may not be rebuildable.
High water pump in any case is the way to go, solves so many problems.

I dug out an old "Motor's Service Manual" and this is what I found. The 56-57 heads were 8.00:1 compression whereas the 58-62 were 8.25:1. The earlier 235's were 7.5:1. The 56-57 engines are listed with a BHP of 140 and 210 Ft.Lbs of Torque. The 58-62 are 135 BHP and 217 ft.Lbs. and the 55 and earlier are 112 BHP and 200ft.Lbs.

Basically, any engine from 56 on up has substatially more horsepower (20- 30%) than the earier engines. As far as the Babbitt bearing 235 goes, I would lump it in with the 216, basically a boat anchor. If it turns over and has good compression, leave it alone and run it. As far as rebuilding goes, well dump it.

1953 Power Glide 235's are full pressure engines and use the same crank and rods as 1954-62 235's. It is only the stick cars and truck's that were the "Babbitt" engines.
They also have the high mount water pump so no adapter plate is needed.

Dave, I thought that if a person was putting a '54 and up 235 in place of a 216 and staying with original generator that the adapter plate was needed so the 216 water pump can be used?

Thanks Don

All 1955 pass and 1955 second series truck were the first to use the low mount pump.
The 1953 PG engine or any 54 engine makes a great candidate for 216 replacement as it uses the high mount 216 style pump originally.
I came up with my water pump adapter plate design because I could not find enough 53-54 engines for my needs.

I'll let Dave answer that. oops, he answered as I typed

Dave,

In your reply, please indicate if all 1955 car 235 engines have the same water pump location (earlier high, or later low); or, if there was changeover during 1955 (from high to low), as there was in truck 235s/261s?

Thanks,

Done