Almost done wrapping up my engine swap. I have a 1948 Chevrolet coupe that I got from the original owners. It was built in Oakland, California. At some point after purchasing the car they had the dealership install a TRUCKSTELL “Tip-toe-matic” mechanical overdrive unit that still works!. All Original numbers matching engine and transmission- both of which were extremely tired considering the amount of driving that was done back in the day. I made the decision to pull the original 216 and 3 speed transmission with the intention of restoring both in the future and placing it back into the vehicle (all numbers matching)… I ended up finding a 3 speed transmission from a 47 Fleetline AND a 1953 235 (low oil pressure engine) at the same junkyard for 400$ and there began my journey. A lot of people ask why I didn’t keep looking around for a full oil pressure engine and the reason being is … I just used what I was able to get at the time
Yessir , same water pump as the 216!. I had to change the front timing plate and bell housing as well to accept the correct motor mounts on the 48 passenger car. I learned that from this website actually!
Looking good! I always thought that the 216 had the tall sideplates (at least all the ones they used here did). The only 235 I have heard of with the tall sideplates were fitted to trucks here. Nothing wrong with the 216, I ran a few for many years.
Finally dialed in the 1953-235! , I was having an issue with oil not getting up to the rocker arm assembly. After some trouble shooting I found that I installed the wrong head bolt. The correct head bolt needed has a small oil gallery that allows oil to flow into the head... So I removed the wrong head bolt, installed the correct one and VOILA! , we got oil to the rocker arm assembly… hopefully the link shows up below for a video I posted of it running on YouTube https://youtube.com/shorts/UZvwb6ZiI6s?si=zXqywE8NTA8SiMM9
The Jalopy Journal
