I have a 50 Chevy coupe project that is missing the drivetrain. I was thinking I should go with a 350/350 setup, but then came across a guy locally who just pulled a running 235 engine and tranny from a 1957 Chevy Bel Air and he's selling it for $300. Would I be disappointed with a 235 over a 350? I want to drive the car daily in nice weather. I've never been around these old inline 6 cyl motors, so I just am wondering if they are real doggy? Would it be wiser just to stick with the original plan of 350/350? I already have a camaro 2.35 rear end for it, and a 350 tranny in the garage as well. I know the 350/350 setup would be hotter, but how much hotter? The six sure looks nostalgic.
go with the 350 you can make them look old school too. you will be much happier in the long run then if you put a 6 in it. cause you can enever just put one 6 in it it takes 3 or 4 till you find one half way decent here is a post i did about what it takes to install a sbc into a 50 chevy. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62088&highlight=late+tech
6's are cool but, if you go 6 I'd do a 250 or 302 gmc. The 235 is ok for getting from point a to b but to really hot rod it, your going to spend $$. The main problem with a 6 is if you break down parts can be much harder to find than going to your local autozone. SBC especially if you could get an old 283 is very cool still, and a bit easier to work on. The 6's aren't any cheaper to work on, infact probably more to build hp. And it takes more $$ to get the same hp as a sbc.
$300 for a decent 235 is not a bad deal anywhere. There's a hundred rear axles that'll work, and if your '50 was a 3 speed, you can hook up the stock shifter with a little work. If you have to V8 it, at least find a 283 or 327 so it'll have a personality. GMC swap is a bit more work, but worth it in many ways. 302
Definitley V-8 if you are driving it daily....The 235 is ok for a parade car- but has its own quirks and costs more to repair as well[also slow].
or put a 305 in it and make it look older. trust me know one is going to be able to tell if you have a 283,327,305 or 350 i have a 305 and people call it a 327 a 350 and a 283 i just nod and let them think its what ever they want it to be.
I put a 283 in my 52 and it was a peice of cake. You have to be carefull what 235 you use as some of them had some weird motor mounts, as fo the later 250's and such they are very long and harder to fit in. The only problem you have with the small block is you have to trim those body supports that run up the firewall, no big deal. Good luck.
Just slightly trim, or heat and bend, the two support ribs running up the firewall, but try to keep them in place as much as possible. They add needed strength and stability. I'm just heating and bending mine outwards at the bottoms so the SBC valve covers will clear them. I've seen that done sucessfully and its less work to boot. Definately go with the SBC, in any case. The 235s are pretty gutless!
Definately go with a Chevy V-8. You won't regret it. There's a great post around here somewhere that has a recipie for a hot, but cheap, 305 like DIRTYT has. I think FatHack or DIRTYT posted it last year.
What kind of car are you trying to build? Custom? Low and slow is where it's at, use the sixer with lots of chrome goodies. Hot rod? Use the 350 and make it look like a 265, 283 or 327. My dad had a buddy with a '52 business coupe and a full '57 Corvette drivetrain - now that's a cool sixties hot rod. Ideally you should use a Muncie 4-speed for this, but who am I to judge, maybe you haven't got a left leg.
go with the V8 the 6 will cost more if there is ever a problem and to dress it nice will cost just as much. think of it this way. Why did the guy ditch the 6 ???????
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