VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION New User Forum 1951 235i swap out

I have to sadly change the engine in my 1951 Styleline Deluxe because block is split and big ends need replacing. I currently have the 235ci inline 6 with a powerglide transmission. Due to having to replace the engine I'm considering putting a later engine in that a: has proper big end shells and b: links up properly to a 1953 powerglide transmission that I have.
So my question is can I use a 235i engine that has been coupled to a manual transmission? Can I use a 1953-1967 235i engine with my '53 powerglide or do I need certain year ie 1953?
Living in the UK restricts me hugely as to what engine I can get hold of so I'm hoping that my options aren't too limited.

thanks in abvance
Tony

If you use an engine from a standard transmission the pilot bearing in the rear of the crankshaft must be removed.
The standard transmission engine willl have noisey sold lifters making it noisey with the torque converter trasmission reving at different speeds.

So I'm better off looking for a powerglide transmission engine, thanks that's a positive start for me. Is there much differance between the post 1953-1967 engines or is it better to tray and marry my 1953 powerglide with an engine from the 1950's?

My first choice would be a 1953-54 PG engine. The 1955-1962 235 can be used with water pump modifications. All 1956 and later 235 car engines had hydraulic lifters.

Gene,

Isn't the 53 235 PG engine merely a 235 babbit engine with little of the 54 (or later) 235 updates? (The straivht drive 3-speed being a 216)

I think he would be better off getting a 54 or up 235 engine.

Why choose a 1953 235? I don't understand.

Charlie

The 53 PG engine is a full pressure 235. As are all 54 235 engines.

The 53 Powerglide engine (US) is an insert bearing engine. The standard shift was babbit. At least it was in the US but sometimes foreign production is different. The mounts on later engines are different but not a lot of concern to change.

Well, it seems I'm learning something here.

So what was difference between 1953 235 and the 1954 235?

Was the outside appearance the same?

Any noticable differences when looking at each engine?

Were valve covers the same?

I appreciate the education on this.

Charlie

The Canadian 1953 235 engines all had full pressure oiling, rod bearing inserts and aluminum pistons. The PG had Hyd. lifters and sticks solid lifters. 1953 235 US stick engines iron pistons and babbited rods.
The 1953 and 1954 blocks looked the same. The 1953 engines (heads) all had the old two stud mounted valve covers....all 1954 had the four side crews.
The 1953 235 stick and truck engines had the dippers and little tin plate on the side of the block held on by 3 screws for the oil distributor (behind the exhaust pipe).
The 1953-54 engines has the old looking water pump, 1955 had the new style water pump with the impeller set into the big opening in front of the block...had better cooling.
1953 stick passenger car and all truck engines were painted the "gray" color.
The new 1953 Blue Flame PG engine was painted blue and first year for the PG passenger car to have the Blue Flame decal on the valve cover.
The new for 1954 head had the valve cover retained by the four screws to reduce valve train noise on sold lifter engines. The casting was changed to allow a wider area for the screw hole, otherwise ALL 235 1953 and 1954 heads were the same and after 1954 the 1953 head was discontinued from replacement parts and the 1954 head sold for replacement.
The 1955 head was the same.
In 1956 the hole for the new eletric temp. gauge sender was enlarged and slight change in the castiing in that area and that casting stayed the same through 1962.....The compression ratio was increased twice (raised) during that time span and done by just shaving a little more off the existing casting.
The aluminum pistons could be installed in the 1953 stick block, replacing the heavy iron pistons. The pistons were a little higher and raised the compreion ratio from 7.1 to 7.5 and horse power from 108 to 115. I did this to my new 1953 stick and it made a noticeable power increase.

When the 1954s came ou I also installed a 1954 style valve cover. Drilled two screw holes on the right side in the narrow ridge on the head, (was made wider in the screw area in 1954), This worked OK. On the left side I struck water (coolant) wnen I drilled the first hole so then installed studs to solve that problem, sealing the threads with Permatex. No epoxy back then.

Thanks a heap, Gene. Well done and I appreciate it.

You went to a lot of trouble for me. I think I'm beginning to understand it. Finally.

I doubt I'm the only one who does not fully and completely understand the differences between the 53 216 stick, 53 235 PG, the 54 235 and the 55 235.

I'm sure your post has been a service to many whose knowledge lags well behind what they merely think on this subject.

Thanks again,

Charlie

You said 1953 216 stick above. The passenger cars had a 235 stick.. With the new 3,70 rear axle it proved to be a good 70 MPH car.
The 216 was still used in the sedan delivery (with 4.11), 1/2, 3/4, 1 and 1 1/2 ton trucks in1953..

The "old style" 235 engine used in 1953 cars with a standard transmission and 2 ton trucks did have some up-grades for 1953 over the 1950-1952 Power Glide 235 and 2 ton truck 1950-1952 235.

The 1941-1949 two ton truck 235 was more closely related to the 216.

No more 216 in 1954, all were 235's with full pressure oiling.

Gene,

That right there is appreciated also. Those engines ofer the few year period sure did have a plethora of different enginges and changes. Mercy!

Many thanks,

Charlie

Note: For "Plethors" go to You Tube: Three Amigos Plethora.

Hi again,

So after several months I have finally been offered a replacement 235 Six engine. Its a fully rebuilt 235 from a 1964 Pickup with manual transmission. Now living in the UK doesn't give me a whole lot of options, so my big question is WILL THIS FIT?
A) Will a '64 235 Six bolt onto my '54 CI Powerglide Transmission?
B) What other parts will I need to change to get this all to work. I've understand that possibly water pump can be an issue?

All help will be greatly received

thanks

Tony

A 1964 truck did not have a 235 engine. 1962 was the last year for a 235. The 1964 truck had a 230 engine. It was an all new 7 main bearing moderrn engine and is longer than a 235. I would doubt if a cast iron Power Glide woud bolt up to it but there may be adaptors advaiable. The added length of the engine would be the main problem

After thinking this over considering your remote location I would not attempt to install the engine.
The only engine that would be a trouble free installation would be a 1953 or 1954 Power Glide engine.

Many thanks for the info. I totally agree with you and need to ask a few more questions to the seller. I'm sure he said it was a '64 235, but maybe its actually a '62 235.

If you have a 1953 or 1954 a later 235 engine will not have the provision for attaching the side motor mount brackets.
If it is a truck or standard transmission car engine it will have soilid valve lifers which,, due to the valve noise, makes the indirect connection of Power Glide just sound crappy.

Many thanks for the info Chev Nut, I'll keep looking for a '53-'54 engine, but not sure how long that will take in this country, may have to ship one in from the States, but that can proove very costly, especially with all this Brexit rubbish going on over here.

Tony

I've got a possible lead on a '53 Bel Air 235 manual stick shift engine. This will need a total rebuild from what I can see and comes with it's original manual gearbox.

So, my big question is, can I use it with my existing Powerglide transmission and will it cause me all sorts of issues? If so, what issues I am faced with?

many thanks in advance

Tony

The 1953 US stick engine is a 235 but is of the old design with iron pistons and splash oiling along with solid lifters. I think it will cost too much to rebuild for what you end up with.
If it is from a Candian built car it will have full pressure oiling, Etc.
An engine with splash oiling will have a little plate attached with three screws on the left lower (center) side of the block