Hey Guys, I just got my new 54 235 w/ PG trans & rear-end (Thanks George!!!!), and I have a couple of questions. 1. Can I use the flywheel off of my 216 so that I can use 3 speed trans 2. Are the splines on a PG torque tube the same as a manual trans 3. If I need a new flywheel for the 235 where can I buy one 4. Anybody know of a GOOD machine shop in N. Illinois I know that these are simple questions for most of you, but this is the first motor swap I have done in about 20 years. I have all Winter to gather parts, and I am planning a full re-build on the 235 in the Spring, but I need to know what pitfalls I might run into. This package is going into my 50 Chevy, it is a 216 car with a rod-knock, 3 on the tree, and 4:11 rear. I am planning on full re-build of the 235 plus balancing the motor, 3/4 cam, dual carbs & header. I am going to keep the 3 speed, and am planning to swap out the rear for the PG (3:55) rear-end. As always thanks for the help, and by the way the new 235 is a full pressure 54-235 that supposedly ran fairly well, but I am going to re-build it in the Spring so that I won't be in the same boat again!!!!
1: yes 2: I'd say so 3: try www.inliners.org Please Note:- 12 volt flywheels have more teeth than 6 volt ones. 4: dunno
Ft Wayne clutch put together a nice clutch for my wife's hopped up 235. Very affordable. Look them up on the web and give them a call. Very nice to work with. I bet they could come up with a flywheel if you needed one. You might also try Surge Clutch and Driveline in Blue Island. They've been around since the early 50s. Both places have websites.
everything behind the engine can be reused on the '54 235 if you want to. PG and stick rearends are interchangeable. You will need to drill a couple holes in the front motor plate in order to use it in the '50. Some early '54 engines still had the smaller journal camshaft, so check out what you have before ordering parts. If by 3/4 cam you mean something with 264-268 degrees gross duration, you may find that a bit much for a 3spd and 3:55 rear gear. Not that it won't work, just that you may need to feather the clutch a bit when starting off, and the drop in rpm from 2nd into 3rd will take a little fun out of it, but at least it will sound really good. You can always upgrade to a T5 and open driveline with a 3:70ish gear later on.
Not sure what the duration is on the cam, but I have been working with Patrick's about the parts I "should" need for this overhaul. I understand that the 235 will never be a race engine-but if I wanted a race car I wouldn't be building a 6 to go into a heavy assed car like mine. It is just a nice cruiser, someday to be a nice showcar. Any and all help is always greatly appreciated. But does anybody know if a good, cheap & reliable machine shop in the greater Chicgoland area, I would hate to go through all this effort only to have a badly machined motor go BOOM after the rebuild!!!
I got the same situation actually. I have a 50 sedan that I will be putting a '55 235 with a 3 speed floor shift tranny. Any suggestions on what rear end I should look for or any idea about motor mounts? Looks like we are almost in the same situation dimebag! Except my motor is already done just need to put the manifold with the trip carbs on it!
Hate to jump in your thread with another question, but I want to buy an early chevy and run a 235/3 speed....can you run functional lake pipes with an inline 6? Fenton header? Or would I be better off with a 283 or a 327? I really like the look of the 6 with some speed parts on it!
i would trade ya if u were local im not gonna use my 3 spd ...lookin for a power glide for my 235.............daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam
I don't know why you wouldn't be able to...I would love to run lake pipes but I am afraid the kids would burn themselves on them....
I run lake pipes on my car, and even with the shitty old 216 it sounds awesome!!!!!!! I will be running them again, maybe with a small bullet muffler just befoe the pipe, they can get a little much after 1/2 an hour or so. And the PG trans is supposedly spoken for, another member wants it for some help with the swap!!! I will be sure to post pics and progress as I get moving on this daunting task.
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