Been driving my 54 chevy for a couple of years and havent touched the motor since i got it. Runs great so why screw with it if it aint broke. The only problem Im trying to address this year is after driving longer distances if you go to start it right after shutting off, motor turns over way too slow, and then sometimes catches and turns over normally. Ive got the origanl 115 6 cylinder in there. Any opions as to if its the timing, or maybe the selinoid?
is it still 6 volts?...need a bit more info...does it seem to "kick" against the starter (timing) when you say it turns over slowly or does it just sound like a low battery?....could be the starter armature dragging on the windings (worn bushings)
my 6 volt ford generator was worn down ,car would still start ,but cranked slow.check how much yours is chargeing should be 7+ volts.rock on
Draging starter would be the place I would look . That is a problem that shows up when things are hot first, later all the time.
When fuel went up to 27 cents a gallon Chevrolet went to a 3 cylinder 115 cubic inch to save fuel. It still had the same starter as the 235 though.
216 went away by 53, they either had a regular 235 or full oiler 235, by 54 they were all full oilers. http://www.1953chevrolet.com/images/Chev_B_3_Z.jpg
I'd go along with the armature dragging. You can pick up brushes and bushings at NAPA and or some other parts houses and rebuild/refresh the starter in about an hour or so including pulling it off and putting it back on. The brushes would either be these http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail.aspx?A=ECHR503_0314524905&An=599001+101954+50012+2012017 or these http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail.aspx?A=ECHR500_0059079073&An=599001+101954+50012+2012017 depending on the shape of the ones you have and the bushings would be these http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail.aspx?A=ECH4200_0059078621&An=599001+101954+50012+2012017 and http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail.aspx?A=ECH4200_0059078621&An=599001+101954+50012+2012017 Obviously you have to take the starter apart. The brushes are pretty self explanatory and it takes a small sharp chisel ( I use an old screwdriver that I have sharpened) to cut and crimp the old bushing in so that you can pull it out with needle nose plyers. Drive the new bushings in and put a little bit of lube on them and put it back together good for another few years.
My 1954 Chevy with the 235 did the same thing. I was told to check all the stuff you were told and then I was told to do this.............. After a long drive when the car got hot and the car would barely turn over I was told to pore some cold water over the starter. If it then starts right up it's time to rebuild the starter. Sounds silly, but mine was as simple as that.
My Dad had a 54 Chevy, he bought it new. It was his first new car. I remember going to the Dealer, Pape Chevrolet in the Bronx, NYC to pick it up. Pretty car it was a Two Ten 2 door sedan , white top over dark blue body. He kept it 9 years. Once it was about 6 years old it wouldn't start when hot. We never figured out why. From what everyone is saying it probably needed a new starter.