VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION VCCA Judging Questions 235 Correct 1953 Engine for Both Transmissions?

I know that conventional wisdom says that the 235 was only available on the Powerglide in 1953, but I've found a number of sources that say you could get it with a manual that year also. Look in the the 1st paragraph of Section 6 of the Shop Manual, 1953 engine specs on oldcarmanualproject.com, 53classicchevy.com, enginefacts.com, and p.225 of A Pictorial History of Chevrolet 1940-1954. The Wikipedia article for Chevrolet 210 says that in 1953 you could get the 235 with both transmissions, but that the PG developed 115 HP and the manual 108. Since I have a 235 in my 53 (manual), this is kind of a critical question for judging purposes. What do you think?

A 235 engine was installed for manual transmission cars and another 235 engine was supplied for powerglide transmission cars. The 53 powerglide was the first full oil pressure engine and had inserted rods and hydraulic lifters. The 235 for manual transmission cars did not have inserted rods, and was low pressure oil. Powerglide cars came with a 0-60 PSI oil pressure gauge and standard shift cars came with a 0-30 PSI oil pressure gauge.
Often a 235 powerglide engine was installed as a replacement engine for the 235 standard shift car. The flywheel and clutch from the standard and a pilot bearing had to be mounted on the powerglide engine. It was a easy change. However changeing from a powerglide transmission to a standard transmission was more complicated, most of the oil pressure gauges were not changed, and the old standard gauge would usually read higher, lots higher.
Gene and I must have been typing at the same time, he has all the pertinent figures, of course......

By the way , Wikipedia article for Chevrolet 210 Wikipedia is a very poor place for factual reference material for vintage Chevrolets. Check how that they get the information on their website, not very factual or scientific.

Both the stick shift and Power Glide passenger car came with a 235 engine in 1953.
The Power Glide had full pressure oiling, aluminum pistons, hydraulic lifters and 115 horse power.
The stick engine had iron pistons,dippers on the rods and solid lifters.
The PG had 115 HP and the stick had 108 HP. The stick had a 7.1 compression ratio and the PG 7.5. This is because the aluminum pistons came up higher (even with the top of the block) and the stick pistons were a little lower.
In 1953 I bought a new stick 210 2 door. Before I drove it out of the dealership I had two of our best mechanics pull out the iron pistons and install the PG aluminums. They did it in about 2 hours time. I bought them supper and a few beers for their effort. That made it a 115 HP engine same as a 1954 stick although it still had the dippers. In the year and 1/2 I owned the car I put on 40,000 miles and made two exended trips out west. I drove it hard as the next guy who bought it did also and stood up great.
The only main part that was the same for the two engines was the cylinder head.
In 1953 the 1/2, 3/4, 1 and 1 and half ton trucks PLUS the passenger car based sedan delivery still had a 216 engine.
The 2 ton truck had the 108 HP engine, same as a car.
The main visable difference between the stick and PG engine is the stick engine has the little tin plate fastened to the left side of the block (with 3 screws). ---bshind the exhaust pipe.

The stick 235 engine was a 1952 235 PG and 2 ton truck engine with several improvements in the head and block and stronger connecting rods.
Buy a copy of the 1953 Engineering Manual from the Filling Station and get all the details.

Certainly this forum is a better source than Wikipedia, that's why I'm here! Thanks for all the information. Final question - should the manual 235 be painted gray or blue?

Gray.

Thanks Gene and Mr Mack. I can't tell you how much trouble Dad had over the years with the 53 convertible which is a 235 Gray engine and Stick.