55.2-59 Six cylinder questions

[MJN]

Working on my 56 3600 and the previous owner had made a 235 from a 1954 truck work in it. Now I have been looking for a correct vintage engine for it and came across one from a 57 Chevy car. Any differences between truck or car? Mounts, linkage, pulleys, fan, etc? Seller says it will drop right in but Im not super familiar with these engines to know what all may be different.

[mr48chev]

I'm honestly not sure that there is enough difference between a 54 235 and a 56 235 to get your undies in a wad over. Probably the reason I modify rather than restore. There is just too much nonsense connected with restoring to "correct"

Casting number look up here to see if the block casting number matches the year you have. http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=356268

That takes some scrolling.

I can see swapping if the engine in it is shot and needs a lot of work it might be better to start with a correct year and dated block. The only reason is if you are going to show in big all Chevy shows where the judges do nitpick stock vehicles down to the correct date code.

You can check GM Heritage archives for the actual differences between the engines. Click Archives, then information kit Then truck and when the page opens up click on the year of truck. https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/

[MJN]

Couple of big differences on the 54 engine are the water pump is lower than on a 56 and the engine mounts are different. The 54 uses center mounts up front and the later engines used side mounts, the 54 block also doesnt have the threaded bosses for the correct engine mounts. So I already know that I want to put in the correct engine, just need to know if a car engine is a direct swap basically.
I have casting and siffix code books and use the heritage center site a lot. I'd rather deal with nonsense and restore it I guess, not worried about judges handing me trophies either, thats not what all restorations are about. Im trying to preserve and do it correctly.

[73kay]

My 54 block (truck and corvette casting) has side mount bosses and I used the standard front mounts. Besides the water pump which can be overcome, you may have hydraulic lifters, pulley difference regarding the water pump, etc. be sure to carryover head rocker assembly to the block. There were different periods of how they were plumbed and lubricated, so you should be safe just keeping the rocker assembly matched with the block, but there is lots to read about regarding that topic.

[PDW HOTRODS]

Late 50's 235 still uses front engine mount and bell housing side mounts. It will bolt in. GMC engine and Chevy engines were not the same. Later 50's have much better oil system than early 50's.

[62 Barnfind]

From what I read the only difference is the head and oil system. They all had front mounts And bell housing mounts for manual trans and side for autos up to 62 the last year. Even the stock V8s were done the same way. Here is a pic of my 235 in my 62 with the front mount. The later engines have the better head on them.

[MJN]

So maybe it wasn't clear what I was after in my OP. My 56 truck had a 1954 235 put in it by the previous owner- that engine is out and I will not be using it. It does not have the correct mounts for my '56 truck for one thing, among others. Yes, it has the front center mount under the balancer but the '56 truck used side mounts and the 1954 blocks did not even have the bosses for these side mounts. The trans mounts off the bell housing- its a manual. Again, not concerned about this engine as I will not be using it.
I have located a 235 from a 1957 car and just need to know if it truly is a drop in or if there are differences between a car and truck that would keep me from using it. I'm not using parts of one engine or another, it will be a complete engine.
The top picture is the '54 engine I pulled out, no side mount. The bottom picture is the correct mount on a '56 engine.

[mr48chev]

Back when they were just daily driver trucks car engines got swapped into them all the time. That is the trouble with trying to read between the lines when someone writes a question like this, You don't know if they are an anal it has to be exact or else restorer type or if it is just a guy wanting to know if a car engine will bolt into a truck without issues. Front mounts for a 57 car with a 235 are the same as a truck, they didn't go the side mounts that bolted to the sides of the block part way back until 58 on cars and 60 on trucks. You should be good.

Rock auto link to the mounts but you can get them though any parts house. https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...tor+mount,5552