VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc will it fit???

Guys,,,i have the chance of getting a 235 chevy engine,,,my 216 is dying,,,the question,,,would a 216 tranny fit on a 235 engine,,,any inquieries wiil be accepted,,happy "Chevying",,,,p.s.there's NO such thing as a junk Chevy! :confused:

My own opinion is, it is like putting a 350 in 62 that the 283 is tired. Why not just do the 216 over? it lasted all of these years
John

I concur with John,

As an organization who promotes preservation and restoration, the VCCA encourages you to keep the car as it came.

Keep the 216. It's a wonderful engine - the original - and will more likely help your car to retain its value than if you switch to the incorrect motor.

- James

In answer to your question, yes, the 235" will bolt right up to the 216 bell housing / trans. If you're not showing the car and like to tour, the extra horsepower is a welcome addition. To keep the change less noticable to critics, you can replace two of the rocker arm bolts with studs and re-use the 216" valve cover and paint the engine the correct gray ("Filling Station gray", of course!!). Due to the insert bearings, hi-pressure lubrication and cheaper rebuilding costs, the 235" engine is very desireable engine for long distance driving. The best thing about the change is that you're not doing anything to permanently alter the vehicle and it's relatively easy to convert back to the original 216" - make sure you hang onto it!! From a "purist" point of view, you'll probably be ostracized and burned at the stake, but what the heck, it's your car - just keep the hood down!!

-Bob

the 235 was rebuilt 10 years ago and has only 10,000 miles on it since rebuild,,it came out of a 54 chev car,it has all the parts(i'm pretty sure,,down to the bell housing)my mechanic friend said it would cost $800.00 to rebuild the 216,,,i'm only paying $400.00.(maybe)for the 235,,,And YES i will keep the old 216,,,,it's been an good old engine,but i want a little more power,,,you need it with traffic nowadays,,,that's my 2 cents worth,i guess,,And THANX MUCH guy's 4 all your advice,,,,it really help's,when you don't know where to turn for help!!!!( a true blessing!!)

WOW !! You can't do much engine rebuilding, especially with babbited bearings, for $800. The last 216 engine I rebuilt was around $2k for the machining and parts. I did the assembly and painting (correct "Filling Station grey", of course! ). What's included in an $800 rebuild?

Not to hi-jack the topic, but the above dialog reminds me of the time I was on a tour to Luray, VA. some years back. I lost the rear main & a rod babbit on a '37 Town Sedan. Our next day's visit was at White Post Restorations, so I had the car trailered there. I asked ol' Billy Thompson, the owner of White Post, what it would cost to have my engine rebuilt there. He replied, $1500... and I kind of interrupted and said, "Not bad - could I pick it up after Hershey"? He said, "That's $1500 PER CYLINDER." (emphasis mine). Imagine, $9000 to rebuild a 216" Chevy! No, I didn't go for it, but Billy graciously allowed me to store it there and I drove back down the following week to tow it home. You gotta have some DEEP pockets to be a "check book restorer!!

-Bob

WOW,,,$1500 per cylinder!!,,,,,what was he,,,frank sinatra's mechanic??

White Post must he one of those places where if you have to ask "how much will it cost?" You can't afford it, I checked on getting a wheel cylinder lined rather than have to buy new ones, WOW! good thing that I found that NAPA could get new ones for less than half of what it cost to get them relined, now I take better care of my stuff, it pays to do regular maintenance on the brakes.