Projects 216 to 235 engine

Hey fellows I have a 235 engine I pulled from my 53 Bel Air that was married with powerglide. I would like to put in a 39 Chevy sedan with a 3 speed manual on the floor. My question, would the 235 merry to the 3 speed give or take with some minor adjustments. Any feedback is highly appreciated thanks guys.

 

I’m sure your 39 bellhousing will be fine. Not positive in the flywheel. I believe the 39 was a 4 bolt and a trip to the internet shows that; the 1940 up is a 6 bolt. The 53 PG was a full pressure so your gauge will be pegged at idle for sure. Since both are rope seal the 53 shouldn’t lead when used with a clutch which is a problem for lip seals. 53 used a solenoid starter, I can’t remember the 39. Check your front mount when both are out. I need more info on the mount to comment correctly. Good luck.

 

Thanks a million I will follow when I get to that point.

 

The flywheel will work if you use the 39 starter.

 

But it won’t bolt up to a 53 crank flange. 37-39 216 shows a 4 bolt crank flange. I believe the early flywheels had a 139 teeth. Later went to 168.

 

Might need a later 216 flywheel to use the original starter,tooth count changed in 55 when they went to 12 volt.

 

It's been a few years, but I put a 235 in a 1937 Chevy. I'll try to remember which earlier and later parts I used.

I know for sure that I used the '37 bell housing. Oh yeah... now I'm starting to remember. There was a difference in length and I think also the pivot design between my '37 and the later clutch fork. So using the '37 bellhousing, I needed to also use the '37 fork. But the design of the forked end was different between the two. I took the 37 Fork to a local welding shop and had them braze a 1/2"? dia. rod to the fork in order to be able to engage correctly with the later 235 style throw out bearing. And of course, using the 235 flywheel, pressure plate and starter. I used the '37 clutch disc to engage the input shaft splines on the trans correctly. It worked like ****er. I hope I got all that right for you. Once you take it apart you'll see exactly what you need to do.

 

I put one in my 37 coupe years ago and if I remember right it was pretty much a bolt in deal...Had to drill the front cover on the 235 where the 37 engine mounts bolted...Used the 37 trans and bellhousing....Trans wasn't very strong..Broke a lot of them and axles too...