53-54 Chevy question**Hey Rockstars

This 54 Belair hardtop I got, but havnt been able to drive yet, has a 235 with a powerglide.

Anyone else have a inline and pg?

What can I expect for highway speeds?

Ive had plenty of 235 and 216 cars with 3spds, but never a pg.

And its weird, its a 54, but has a 235 with 2 center bolt valvecover like a 216.
According to PO, it was rebuilt last year. Maybe a 53 235 head was installed?

Thanks for the help

 

Mine's no rocket but it'll cruise at 60 quite happily. I tend to rattle along at 55/60 most of the time. I,ve had it up to 70/75 once or twice but its a bit like forcing your granny to sprint... she'll do it but may not last very long!

 

I never had trouble staying out of peoples way on the interstate. It had no problem doing 65. It would do more but eh, what's the rush?

 

my 53 with 235/pg seems happy at the 55/60 also,,,have run it at70 at times just seems to be pushing it too hard...don't forget a oil additive

 

Mine was just a 3 speed but the valve covers with 2 center bolts were like an aftermarket thing for cast covers, or is it just tin?

 

No, they all had a center bolt cover until '53 or '54, 216 and early 235.

Not sure why there's even a question how fast it will go, it will go fast enough to get you a speeding ticket and use up gas like you were just pumping it on the ground. Some states had no speed limit back then, and interstates were first being built then - the NYS Thruway was completed in 1954, from NYC to Buffalo anyhow. I drive down roads in a lot of other places that were reconfigured in that era, too. If it was a '38 Chevy, then I could see questioning, but a '54 powerglide car has a fairly decent gear in it, so much so that guys put the PG rears in their otherwise stock manual trans cars to get the RPMs down some at highway speeds.

 

My wifes 52 chevy with a 235 and powerglide will cruise 60/ 65 with no problems.

 

And its weird, its a 54, but has a 235 with 2 center bolt valvecover like a 216.
According to PO, it was rebuilt last year. Maybe a 53 235 head was installed?

Thanks for the help[/QUOTE]


I may be wrong (heaven forbid), but wasn't the 235 with that valve cover the first of the 235 (available only with PG) that still had splash feed oil?

Yep, been wrong before
Rod

 

My 54' (235 and PG) cruises between 65 and 70 mph with no problems. I do however have an aftermarket carburetor, intake and exhaust. It turns around 3000 rpm at those speeds. Never gets hot. I have ran it up to 85 mph and it felt like it could and would do more.

 

As far as the valve cover goes any stovebolt can use the two bolt covers if you use the 216/early 235 rocker arm studs

 

Melted my countershaft on my old 53 a few years ago doing 70 on the highway. Had to take the ****** out and pull it all apart. :^\

Ran great at backroad speeds.

 

Thanks all.

The highway speed question was just a "would it cruise 65-70" question.

I get tired of not being to run with my buddys on highway..

They can and do run hard down highway, but I'll deal with it.

It is for sure a 235, just threw me of having a 2 bolt valvecover. A friend who is much older than me said, its possible a 53 235 head was put on sometime in its life, or the complete 53 235 installed in the years past.

My old 54 2dr post car had a 235/3spd with adapter for a mustang or pinto? 2bbl carb, pertronix ignition, and fenton headers and duals.
That car ran fantastic and would run 75 all day..screaming alittle but wouldnt miss a beat at 75.

 

Grumpy, we have 53 with 235 howard cam ,dual carbs, split manifold and are running a 200R OVERDRIVE talk about a highway cruiser it is great!

 

Great info on here... thanks..

 

My 55 chevy had a 235 , It would run 65 70 on the interstate but it was pushing it to much ... If you got to stay with a 6 get a 292 then you can run with the V8s