1947 chevy thriftmaster engine swap 235?

[owen1]

I am swapping out my 1947 Chevy Thriftmaster's 216 engine due to large non-repairable block split. I bought a (1955/1956)Chevy Truck 235 engine with a 4 speed transmssion attached. Will this 235 engine and transmission fit?

[mr48chev]

Yes it will. you have to make a couple of mods but it fits.

You will have to change rear ends and if you can get one out of one of the tri 5 trucks it fits pretty well.
The only real issue in getting the 235 to fit is that you will need to shorten the shaft on the water pump. And get a shorter water pump pulley. I think I used a small block V8 pulley but I just dug it out of my pulley box and decided that it would do what I needed it to do.
What you need to do there is get the shorter pulley and figure the difference in height (length) between the stock and the shorter pulley. then take the pump off the engine and with a press press the hub that the pulley and fan bolt to down the shaft until you get it to the right spot for the pulley to fit right and match the bottom pulley. Then you have to take a cut off wheel and cut the excess shaft off and then bolt the pump back on the engine.

I did one for a friend of mine 25 years ago when we put a complete 56 235, 3 speed and rear end in a 53 truck.

[duwem]

My 50 has a 235 in it. Must be the original 4speed floor shift tranny since it has the enclosed drive shaft yet.

Pictures here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=435302

[mr48chev]

You can see one more way to get fan clearance on Duwem's truck where they cut out the top piece of the core support and slid the radiator forward to the front side of the core support and possibly reversed the core support. That would get over two inches of room but might leave the core support a bit weak. A brace across the top but below the front panel would help with that though.

The one thing I have learned on these trucks in the past 38 years is where every squeak and rattle can come from an how to eliminate most of them. If it can squeak or rattle it has done it on my truck at one time or another.

[Dan Bowles]

You can order the right water pump setup for the swap from Patricks I believe. It saves hassle in the future and you don't have to move the radiator. You may have to drill 2 holes in the front of the timing cover to use the stock 216 front mount (which is fine).

Do you NEED a 4 speed? If it were a truck trans, it probably has a granny gear so I'd just stick with the 3 speed that's in it if it still works OK. You'll need to swap the flywheel if you want to keep the 216 starter with floor button start.

If you got the 12V generator with it you will need to switch over to 12V or you can stick with the 216s original 6V gen. Up to you. The wiring will be fine, just need to change the bulbs out, the coil, and put a resistor in the fuel gauge.

[mbgmike]

Just for future info. They make and we sell a swap radiator for this conversion. it has the correct brackets already installed to move it forward. However its only for 48 and up. I don't know what the diff is on the 47's. I am sure you guys do