Not real happy with my 235

I have found new 4.10 gears but wanting to find a center section that already has them installed,a 283 is not quite big enough but a 324 or 371 Olds rocket is about right and a 425 nailhead would be over the top.

 

Why not just up the compression some and maybe a cam change, to something that's pretty torqey.

 

YEAH WELL IT'S NOT HAPPY WTH YOU. HEHEH. HIGHER GEARS ARE FASTER. less gas mileage though.

 

It is possible. The first few years of the S10 saw the 4.03 gear-set, exclusivly, as far as I know. After that, the 3.76 gear-set could be had, in-addition. You'd have to read your tag, or sticker (if it is there) for the code, and check it out. The higher gear-set could be found behind the 2.8L 60-degree V6 (but NOT ALWAYS).

The two S10 gear sets were:
1st – 4.03 2nd – 2.37 3rd – 1.49 4th – 1.00 5th – 0.86
1st – 3.76 2nd – 2.18 3rd – 1.41 4th – 1.00 5th – 0.72

I run the second one in my DD Falcon.

A 4.10:1 rear, and a 4.03 first, are not going to agree well.

As far as I know, there was no T5 behind the 4.3L 90-degree V6. That was the NV3500. It does NOT have a removable bellhousing, so no adapting that to the 235.

 

Deleted, to correct error. See below.

 

I think yiu have third gear wrong, 1.49, not 1.94

 

Aww, crap! Stupid dyslexia. I will fix it, for posterity.

 

<table frame="VOID" cols="11" rules="NONE" border="0" cellspacing="0"><colgroup><col width="100"><col width="86"><col width="119"><col width="119"><col width="86"><col width="86"><col width="86"><col width="86"><col width="86"><col width="86"><col width="86"> </colgroup><tbody><tr><td align="LEFT" height="17" width="100">
</td><td align="LEFT" width="86">RPM</td><td align="RIGHT" width="119">1000.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="119">1500.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">2000.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">2500.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">3000.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">3500.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">4000.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">4500.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">5000.00</td></tr><tr><td align="LEFT" height="17">Early S10 T5</td><td align="RIGHT">4.03</td><td align="RIGHT">5.20</td><td align="RIGHT">7.80</td><td align="RIGHT">10.40</td><td align="RIGHT">13.00</td><td align="RIGHT">15.60</td><td align="RIGHT">18.20</td><td align="RIGHT">20.80</td><td align="RIGHT">23.40</td><td align="RIGHT">26.00</td></tr><tr><td align="LEFT" height="17">4.10 Rear Gear</td><td align="RIGHT">2.37</td><td align="RIGHT">8.84</td><td align="RIGHT">13.26</td><td align="RIGHT">17.68</td><td align="RIGHT">22.11</td><td align="RIGHT">26.53</td><td align="RIGHT">30.95</td><td align="RIGHT">35.37</td><td align="RIGHT">39.79</td><td align="RIGHT">44.21</td></tr><tr><td align="LEFT" height="17">28.88” tire</td><td align="RIGHT">1.49</td><td align="RIGHT">14.06</td><td align="RIGHT">21.10</td><td align="RIGHT">28.13</td><td align="RIGHT">35.16</td><td align="RIGHT">42.19</td><td align="RIGHT">49.22</td><td align="RIGHT">56.26</td><td align="RIGHT">63.29</td><td align="RIGHT">70.32</td></tr><tr><td align="LEFT" height="17">
</td><td align="RIGHT">1.00</td><td align="RIGHT">20.96</td><td align="RIGHT">31.43</td><td align="RIGHT">41.91</td><td align="RIGHT">52.39</td><td align="RIGHT">62.87</td><td align="RIGHT">73.34</td><td align="RIGHT">83.82</td><td align="RIGHT">94.30</td><td align="RIGHT">104.78</td></tr><tr><td align="LEFT" height="17">
</td><td align="RIGHT">0.86</td><td align="RIGHT">24.37</td><td align="RIGHT">36.55</td><td align="RIGHT">48.73</td><td align="RIGHT">60.92</td><td align="RIGHT">73.10</td><td align="RIGHT">85.28</td><td align="RIGHT">97.47</td><td align="RIGHT">109.65</td><td align="RIGHT">121.83</td></tr></tbody> </table>

<table frame="VOID" cols="11" rules="NONE" border="0" cellspacing="0"><colgroup><col width="100"><col width="86"><col width="119"><col width="119"><col width="86"><col width="86"><col width="86"><col width="86"><col width="86"><col width="86"><col width="86"> </colgroup><tbody><tr><td align="LEFT" height="17" width="100">
</td><td align="LEFT" width="86">RPM</td><td align="RIGHT" width="119">1000.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="119">1500.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">2000.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">2500.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">3000.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">3500.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">4000.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">4500.00</td><td align="RIGHT" width="86">5000.00</td></tr><tr><td align="LEFT" height="17">Early S10 T5</td><td align="RIGHT">4.03</td><td align="RIGHT">6.01</td><td align="RIGHT">9.01</td><td align="RIGHT">12.01</td><td align="RIGHT">15.01</td><td align="RIGHT">18.02</td><td align="RIGHT">21.02</td><td align="RIGHT">24.02</td><td align="RIGHT">27.02</td><td align="RIGHT">30.03</td></tr><tr><td align="LEFT" height="17">3.55 Rear Gear</td><td align="RIGHT">2.37</td><td align="RIGHT">10.21</td><td align="RIGHT">15.32</td><td align="RIGHT">20.42</td><td align="RIGHT">25.53</td><td align="RIGHT">30.64</td><td align="RIGHT">35.74</td><td align="RIGHT">40.85</td><td align="RIGHT">45.95</td><td align="RIGHT">51.06</td></tr><tr><td align="LEFT" height="17">28.88” tire</td><td align="RIGHT">1.49</td><td align="RIGHT">16.24</td><td align="RIGHT">24.36</td><td align="RIGHT">32.49</td><td align="RIGHT">40.61</td><td align="RIGHT">48.73</td><td align="RIGHT">56.85</td><td align="RIGHT">64.97</td><td align="RIGHT">73.09</td><td align="RIGHT">81.22</td></tr><tr><td align="LEFT" height="17">
</td><td align="RIGHT">1.00</td><td align="RIGHT">24.20</td><td align="RIGHT">36.30</td><td align="RIGHT">48.40</td><td align="RIGHT">60.51</td><td align="RIGHT">72.61</td><td align="RIGHT">84.71</td><td align="RIGHT">96.81</td><td align="RIGHT">108.91</td><td align="RIGHT">121.01</td></tr><tr><td align="LEFT" height="17">
</td><td align="RIGHT">0.86</td><td align="RIGHT">28.14</td><td align="RIGHT">42.21</td><td align="RIGHT">56.28</td><td align="RIGHT">70.36</td><td align="RIGHT">84.43</td><td align="RIGHT">98.50</td><td align="RIGHT">112.57</td><td align="RIGHT">126.64</td><td align="RIGHT">140.71</td></tr></tbody> </table>

 

I think most of the 4.3s had an NV3550 instead of a T5.

 

I think it is going to get a gear change and then just not use first gear until I find the other T-5,my T-5 came out of a 85 or 86 that had that wimpy 2.8 V6 and I hear that trans is the same one used with the 2.5 too. I guess this is the problem of adapting modern trans designed for the wimpy motors of the 80s to the older motors.

 

If it is out of an '86, and it was a V6, it should have been the 3.76 gear-set, when it left the factory.

 

The next time I get the truck to the house I will look for a tag,its at my garage I rent right now. I think I might have spun the trans to determine the ratios when I first got it and I came up with a little over 4 to one in first but that was over 5 years ago,if its supposed to have the 3.76 first gear and I do have one with 4.03 then the trans was changed before the donor truck was parted out and not quite sure of the year of the s10.

 

Also, GM had a habit of putting in whatever they had, in the case of a shortage, or overage, and the customer, or dealer just had to cope. It could very well have the "incorrect" unit for the specification, if a delivery of the correct unit was late, or any other reason, valid to ridiculous. I have seen a 2.8L V6 Camaro with a factory installed 4.03 T5.

 

Well if you are tired of the 37 and are open to trades . I got something that would make a good snow plow truck

 

The 37 is not going anywhere as its been in the family for a long time,it figures that it ran good around town before the swap but could not even think about hitting the highway and now its kind of sluggish around town but rolls down the road above 55 real good. I would like to have the best of both worlds if possible but probably do not have enough motor with the 235,the 53 Olds I built years ago that had a 59 371 with a Jetaway and 3.23 gears had great out of the hole performance for a big car with a great top end with decent gas mileage and nothing has came close since so it spoiled me.

 

Beef-up the 235. There is potential in there.

 

Get this:http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Book-How-to-Hop-Up-Chevrolet-and-GMC-6-Cylinder-Engines,2746.html Consider having Delta Cams do a regrind for you,Patricks has the cast iron headers for them you can get an adapter to change your one barrel to a Weber two barrel like used in the 2000 Pinto.Maybe some good ideas hanging out here:http://www.stovebolt.com/

 

........ and the truth will set you free.

Coming up on 16 years, daily driver only vehicle '49 1/2 ton with a '56 235, Fentons, 2x2 Edelbrock intake with 2-2bbl Carter-Webers, '57 3.90 truck rear, .70 overdrive, 215 85R 16 on stock rims no tubes, 2100 rpm @ 70-72 mph.

Good luck with your decisions.

Cosmo with the '49

 

I have 3:73's and am very happy with it. The T-5 has many variations. I'd recommend you look at www.inliner.org and go to their Tech section. In there is a wealth of T-5 information. There are many gear ratios for each of the 5 speeds in that transmission. You may have one with the long winded first gear.
Normbc9

 

Compression gives more power, better mpg, easier starting. As long as you tune around 10:1 is about the limit on iron heads, that and a cam. add headers and carb and do everything right I'd say 200hp is absolutely possible and will pull those gears easy. I'm sure would do a whole lot good.

 

I will have to build another motor as this one has a rattle in the #2 cylinder that I do not know if is caused if that is the cylinder that was sleeved or the crank was polished and not turned,I have another 235 but need to build a stand to test fire it to see how good it is. For now I am going to change the gears and just not use first gear,sometimes I still think it has the 3 speed and want to start out in second until I find another T-5 with the taller first gear. Changing the gears will be the cheapest and easiest thing to do to get the motor closer to its happy spot,there is a 60/61 C50 sitting in a fenced in lot that if I can get a hold of the owner to check it out and see if it has a 261.

 

Bingo!

 

I am trying to resist the voices telling me its V8 time but they are getting louder and louder,its going to get a gear change for now and will keep the 3.55 gears in case a V8 finds its way in a couple years down the road..

 

Hey junkyardjeff, I know the voices in your head are getting louder. You must resist! Well, at least think about it for a little longer. The 37 is made for that six. There is still a lot you can do to make it keep up with traffic and look very cool at the same time. I know where your coming from and can understand getting weak for the V8. My wife and I took our 51 vert out for a nice couple hour ride today. Yes it has the V8 and overdrive auto tranny. It's more a 60s ride than our 52 Hard Top. Now the Bel Air is a shit load of fun to drive. Even though it takes a little more time to get up to speed. The 235, T-5 dual Carters and Fentons are the only way I'll ever run this car. It' belongs this way! It has to sound this way! It's what you expect to see when the hood is opened! Look, if you want to go fast, you can still use another ride no? If you want cool, slow and low if you want to get that thumbs up from the older guys and those who appreciate a traditional ride, then you know what you should do! Before spending a bunch of cash doing the V8 thing, you should spend it making the six more fun instead.

 

A gear change will buy some time and allow some time to do some thinking on what needs done to a motor,I hate to give up on my motor due to it having less then 10 thousand miles on the rebuild but I am afraid if I open it up it will have to be thrown away so I am going to run it until it breaks. If I could only find a 261 that I can hear run and not too expensive and do some tweeking to it before dropping it in the 37.

 

The gear change will put you in a much better place.




That engine is probably making 80 -100 HP these days.

Rebuild it with an 884 head, cleaned up. 9-1 compression and a mild cam.

2 1 bbls or a 2bbl with split exhaust. it will make about 160 HP which should be a thrill after 90.

Hoop

 

Yup, do that.

 

Now if I can only find a center section with 4.10 gears in it,the 3.55 gears are staying in its case to use on future projects.

 

Ok I modeled the stock 235 until I had an exact match for the 235-115 dyno chart.

I added 1.94 intake and raised the intake cfm from 130 to 145, exh 105 to 115, 9-1, split manifold, 248/248 212-212 @.050 with .420 lift, 300 CFM carburetion.

The light colored traces are the new ones.

 

I know you've said that you don't want to run dual carbs, but you're really limiting yourself with that move. Two carburetors on a 235 is the single most worthwhile modification you can make.