Trying to get a 235 to turn over

[chopit]

You don't have a water pump or water in it yet right?

Just advice from experience. Before you spend to much on other stuff get a water pump on it, fill er up, crank her over and make sure you don't have a cracked block, head etc. and an oil pan full of water. That thing most likely sat thru some winters. Had this happen on an old 216 I bought that sat awhile. Ran great...then I added water and had an o **** moment.
Would be better to know before you start buying other parts to know for sure...

Truth be told, the 235's have a little bit more balls and I've seen them on craigslist, complete and running for $300-$400 from guys doing v8 conversions. A cracked block plus everything else you'll need for the 216 could be more costly.

Just sayin, horse before carriage


.

[73kay]

Good stuff chopit I didn't think of that. Thanks for the heads up.

[dsraven]

I have loosened siezed engines with atf down the plug holes, let it sit for a week or 2, then try the crank with a prybar on the flywheel teeth. the last one sat for 20+ years and it is running now with no internal dissassembly. cleaned the carb and unstuck the fuel pump valves and she a runner. after running for a bit to loosen things up and see if it burns oil or not I did all the gaskets and valve adjustments, tune up parts etc. atf is high detergent so it works pretty good without being too agressive. I have heard of guys using diesel fuel as well. gotta dump the oil after though. an oil change would be on the agenda anyway.

[73kay]

Ok long overdue update.

Got the truck idling just fine and used a hose to cool it. Found out I had both driver side freeze plugs with pinholes. Yanked them out and gonna buy some new ones. I took off the bel thousand to look at the rear. Are those two a special kind of freeze plug? I am changing the oil now that's warm and plan to stop by advance to get some freeze plugs. Anything else I should look for?

Thanks for your help!

[58GMCSB]

Originally Posted by 73kay

Here are a few pictures of the cab. Definitely gotta replace the corners.

Where was that serial number tag at?

[73kay]

This one?

[58GMCSB]

Originally Posted by 73kay

This one?

yes

[chopit]

73kay...been a long time since I messed with a 235 but seems the side freeze plugs are 1 5/8. The back ones maybe 2". Also seem to remember one of the rear plugs is not a freeze plug but a cam plug?

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by 58GMCSB

yes

thats the drivers door jamb, the picture is sideways

[73kay]

Originally Posted by chopit

73kay...been a long time since I messed with a 235 but seems the side freeze plugs are 1 5/8. The back ones maybe 2". Also seem to remember one of the rear plugs is not a freeze plug but a cam plug?

Haha, the 235 is still so fresh to me. I've been learning a bunch about i though. Just those driver side freeze plugs were leaking. So plan is to drop the motor in and drive it around for a bit and maybe take a peak under the pan at the bearing to get an idea of how long she will last. I plan on rebuilding her and converting to filtration if I like her power. (I have a ford 9in with posi or whatever so part of me wants to put something bigger and have some fun. We'll see....

[62 Barnfind]

73 Kay, Looks like your on it! I was reading you r tread about you 235 and thought I would jump in. I rebuilt my 235 and installed a oversized cam, hydro lifters, duel intake and two two barrel carbs. Doing these mods really woke the engine up plus made it look cool. Driving down the HWY i was doing good to get 60 now I can do 75 easy with a 3 speed manual. I'm glad you are deciding to keep the six instead of going with a V8. These engine really look great when they are done up and you will get a lot of complements on it. Glad you got it running!

[73kay]

Originally Posted by 62 Barnfind

73 Kay, Looks like your on it! I was reading you r tread about you 235 and thought I would jump in. I rebuilt my 235 and installed a oversized cam, hydro lifters, duel intake and two two barrel carbs. Doing these mods really woke the engine up plus made it look cool. Driving down the HWY i was doing good to get 60 now I can do 75 easy with a 3 speed manual. I'm glad you are deciding to keep the six instead of going with a V8. These engine really look great when they are done up and you will get a lot of complements on it. Glad you got it running!

Thanks 62barnfind,

My first truck was a 76 250 3ott. Loved it. Upgraded to crate bc I needed the muscle but always regretted giving the 6 away. It was a lot of fun just looking at a 60 year old motor turn over haha and I always wanted to rebuild a motor so it will work out i think with a t5 for a good combo on the Texas highway. I just got to be patient and drive it as is for now. I'm looking to transition from active army to civilian so you could imagine my wives face if I was looking to spend some serious dough right now. Hahaha thanks for all the replies. I will try and get a video on here after I get a radiator on it. Too messy with a hose!

[Second Series]

Have you checked the Heat Riser? Make sure it's not stuck! I have a 1954 235 in my '47 and I just discovered the heat riser won't budge. I don't know if '54 was an oddball year for this engine but my freeze plugs are not typical bottle cap type, just flat disks. The shop that installed them had to add JB weld to seal them.

[dsraven]

that type of frost plug is a slightly concave disc correct? it goes in with the dish facing out, so it is like a convex mirror. put some aviation form a gasket round the edge of the previously cleaned hole where the seal will be made, the push the disc into the hole and give it a rap in the centre of the disc with the ball end of a ball pein hammer. that makes the convex distort enough to make the disc enlarge and seal the hole.

[55dude]

toss some 50/50 atf acetone in the cylinders and let it soak for a week and check compression after you turn it over by hand.throwing 12v to starter wont hurt anything plus points don't care. i have a rebuilt one barrel and modified hei just for 216-235 startups and unless they have stuck ring they start!

[62 Barnfind]

Originally Posted by 73kay

Thanks 62barnfind,

My first truck was a 76 250 3ott. Loved it. Upgraded to crate bc I needed the muscle but always regretted giving the 6 away. It was a lot of fun just looking at a 60 year old motor turn over haha and I always wanted to rebuild a motor so it will work out i think with a t5 for a good combo on the Texas highway. I just got to be patient and drive it as is for now. I'm looking to transition from active army to civilian so you could imagine my wives face if I was looking to spend some serious dough right now. Hahaha thanks for all the replies. I will try and get a video on here after I get a radiator on it. Too messy with a hose!

We need to get together and I would love to see your truck. I live in Killeen and just retired this summer after 24 years of service. The transition has been a little tough coming from the Army to civilian world. After six months I finally start at the VA next month which is good because I want to do some things to my 62. I had the same problem during transition. I spun a bearing and had to have my engine rebuilt right when I retired. PM me if you want to get together sometime.

[73kay]

Originally Posted by Second Series

Have you checked the Heat Riser? Make sure it's not stuck! I have a 1954 235 in my '47 and I just discovered the heat riser won't budge. I don't know if '54 was an oddball year for this engine but my freeze plugs are not typical bottle cap type, just flat disks. The shop that installed them had to add JB weld to seal them.

Heat riser? Sorry not sure what your talking about. I think for now I'm gonna just replace the two driver side plugs as the other ones don't leak yet lol.

[dsraven]

the heat riser is that thing in your exhaust manifold right near the exit to the pipe. it is made to redirect some heat to the intake manifold so it doesn't ice up the carb on cool days. it is basically a butterfly valve and has a spring on one side of the shaft and a weight on the other side of the shaft. you can see it in the pic of the engine when you were showing the frost plugs after you took them out. anyway, the shaft gets siezed up and sticks so the exhaust can't get out. it would be easy to see if it is stuck since your pipe is off.

[franken]

Well, turn over is undefined, crank is the same. From looking at posts arguing seems important.
get a good battery some b12 soot the b12 in the carb while cranking. no start means no spark.
duh
you could also put a timing light on #1 and crank.

[73kay]

OK just a quick update, the motor runs. I identified some pinholes In the driver freeze plugs. All other plugs are good for now. Replaced the plugs and waiting for a radiator to come in. Oil has been changed.

Plan is to install the motor and 3 speed together in the truck, get some gauges setup and hook up some exhaust. I'll start a new thread as I see this starting to morph into one as she runs now.

[franken]

A 6 should run well. Give up all. the BS and bw.