VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Just Checking

Are the 49-54 folks hibernating already? No posts for several days.
Well, I've decided to go with a rebuilt 235 instead of putting money in the 216 that has the coolant leak in the block, needs rings, etc. Met a local gent who loves 'em stock and has several blocks laying around so he can put together one for me.

Best regards to all..

You will be happy with the performance of the 235. I have one with the 3.55 rear gears. Good Luck!

It will be a lot easier of a job if you use a 53 powerglide or 54 235 engine. However the later model 235 engines will work with a few mods. The engine mounts will be different than your 50 model from the 52 up. I also reccomend that you use an adapter to adapt the pre 55 waterpump if you use a 55 to 62 engine. That way your old water pump and it's wider groove pully will work, I think that you can use your old crank pully and dampner. That will give you a stock appearing pre 53 wider fan belt. I think that after you have to jump thru a couple of hoops you won't be sorry, unless you need to show the car, if you do that I would try to find the correct 216 engine. Those old 216 engines are tougher than a boot. All the bad stuff about "babbit ponders" is way overrated just because some folks aren't aquainted with how good those old 216 engines have been for many years.

Thanks guys,
The '53PG or '54 are exactly what I'm going for. I have access to a '55 right now, but with a little hunting I'm pretty sure I can get the '53 or '54. Either way the parts are in place, just need a block. The original plan was to re-do the 216 but I am worried about the block leak. The 216 engine seems pretty happy at 60 MPH, but I figured with all the work why not get another 25-35 HP for free. I'll try and post before and after pics when done. I am going for the stock look but not going for show points. Just want a reliable, quiet, non-smoker.
In a car, I mean. Now this sounds like personal ad.

MrMack
Thanks for the good tip about the water pump adapter. We did not know about that one. I'll call Filling Station to follow up on theirs. If we can't find the '53-'54 soon, I'll be rolling with the '55 that's already in hand.

You might want to check over at the Stovebolt.com for the water pump adapter. A member over there sells them and if you do a search on water pump adapters you'll find a ton of information about what to do and what not to do.
Good Luck
Don

Thanks Don,
I looked over there but couldn't find the seller. I called The Filling Station and they said you only have to drill one hole in the adapter (not the block) depending on which pump is being used. The information I have is that I would re-use the 216 water pump, fan, pulley and harmonic balancer. This has the added benefit of keeping the more correct look with the wider belt(and free parts). The adapter sells for $45.00. Also saw one tip to use gaskets on both sides of the adapter. Hopefully we will find a '53PG or '54 block. I should know which way to go in a day or two. Thanks for any suggestions.

Mine has a 1955 235, all seems to have worked well in the installation, why the hunt for the '53' or '54' ?

The "advantage" is the 1953-54 water pump looks more like a 216 engine.
With either the 1953-54 or the 1955 and up engine the front mounting plate will reqire drilling for the motor mounts.
The 1955-62 can have the rubber rear main seal installed, an advantage.
If it were mine I would go for a 1959-1962 engine as they had the higher compression tatio, the improved oiling system for the lifters, and the low lift cam for better low and mid engine speed power. The 1954-1955 truck will have a lower lift cam as well as the 1955 sticks.....and solid lifters. The truck engines all had solids.

Hello Bob and Gene,
I really have no preference other than a full pressure 235. The gentleman I recently met is a mature guy (WWII Vet) with a garage full of very nice Old Chevys and Chevy parts and is always working on old cars. He offered to build an engine for me. He has a bunch of nice blocks (but 216s) and the '55 235 handy. He was in Kentucky last weekend and was going to check around for a '53PG or '54. If he didn't find anything I will gladly use the '55 at hand. It will be painted up stock and I will get new decals, etc. I just want to get started soon.
Gene, I will ask him if he has a 59-62 laying around.
Bob, I remember you posting somewhere about your water pump. I see the closeups in your photos. How did you deal with that ?
Thanks for all the interest.

Yea, Dean, the posting was vigorous on the water pump issue, I was trying to get a replacement pump for my 1955 235 engine, as a backup. I did not install this engine, it was installed by the previous owner. I was trying to determine what pump he used, thus the photos of the pump and tape measure. After all the posting, it was the general opinion that a "shortened" pump was used. The radiator was NOT moved from its' stock location.

Bob

Just note that the 1950 emgine had no decals.

I'm thinking the decals began with the 1953 "Blue Flame" engine ...is that correct?

This catelogue (and several others) indicate this "fits" 49-52.

But maybe it doesn't belong/isn't correct????

http://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detail/9868/Chevrolet%20DECAL_ENGINE_VALVE_COVER_BLUE_FLAME.html

Bob: Years ago when I replaced the engine in my 51 truck with a 55(235)truck engine,I replaced the water pump with a short pump so I would not have to tear up the radiator. I purchased one from patrick's at Patrick's antique car and truck. He has all the information that you'll need,plus parts.He can be found at ph#520-836-1117 or e-mail at patstrks@aol.com or www.patricksantiquecars.com Good luck on your journey

Bill,

I'm guessing "fits" and "belongs" are two different subjects on the matter of decals.

Bob

P.K.

Thanks for the info in your reply. It was my hope an " off the shelf" pump was available that would readily fit, but it appears the Patricks pump may be the way I need to go, if I want to have a spare.

Bob

Bob,

I completely agree. This appears to me to be just one of the many pit-falls a guy can fall into when detailing or restoring or whatever his old Chevy.

A few posts before, Gene clearly says. "...note that the 1950 emgine had no decals."

And yet this well regarded vendor, and several others (no doubt selling the same reproduced decal from the same source), indicates it "fits" 49-52. Sort of a 'tricky' word. "Fits."

Sure, I thought to myself. It fits --- the problem is it isn't correct to have it 'fit' there.

Dang, how are "we" supposed to know a jillion little details like that???!!??? I guess "we" need to check here on Chat to be sure.....

Another thought, all this makes it easier to understand how a judge can make a "mistake."

Bill.

The first passenger car to have a valve cover decal was the 1953 Power Glide engine and it was the first engine to be painted blue.
The 1953 stick had no decal and a gray engine.
All 1954 passenger car engines had a decal and were painted blue.
Don't belive the vendors applications....for many things they are very "general".

Oh Gene, you have such a nice way of saying things. So appropriately PC.

Others might say gdsobetcetc

Just want to preserve my relationship with the vendors

Are you running for political office soon??? HA!

Kidding aside, it sure is easy to make "mistakes" with these old cars. So many don't really know what they're talking about. Even if they aren't trying to sell ya something....

You need to learn more about the adaptation of the later model 235 to your car. There are a couple of different ways to kill the waterpump gremlin. You can do the "redneck mod" and pound on the pully and fan adapter, sometimes it works ok, other times it don't and the fan may hit the harmonic balancer.you can buy a Shortened pump from Patrick, then when that Patrick wapump goes out you will need to order another one from him. Or you can buy or build an adapter plate and use a pre-55 waterpump, If you do the "redneck mod" don't mess up the radiator when you saw off the shaft that protrudes out too far. If you use the shortened pump use the late model crank narmonic balancer and pully, also a generator pully and fan pully and fan blade since the geometry is different and the fan and water pump will need to need to be matched to get the pump speed and generator speed correct, often they don't tell you all that. The use of the waterpump adapter will let you use the original water pump, fan pully and generator pully you probably will also need to use the original harmonic balancer from a pre 53 engine. But You will learn that when you get everything together. Most of us need to learn that lesson, unless we pay a mechanic to do a turnkey job. Then he and you both will learn a couple of lessons.

All this is great information. My 216 is incorrect black and the oilbath has a partial red decal. When finished the new engine will be plain Chevy Grey and in a spruced up environment.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o125/Dmack50/103_1172.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o125/Dmack50/103_1170.jpg

Hi, If I am reading your picture correctly you have a rubber hose carrying fuel above the engine. That is a very bad situation. I would remove the rubber hose and run nothing but metal lines, especially above the engine.