Projects Going from a V8 to Inline 235 on a 47 Chevy Fleetline

Fellas, my 47 Chevy Fleetline originally came with a 216, 3speed, with 4.11s closed drive drive train.

In 2003, without knowing much about gear ratios, I decided to go with a 350/350, 2.73 gear posi. To date, brackets, 4link etc have been installed but nothing finalized since I am still in the frame off restoration stage.

Question is, I now want to go back to the Inline 6 as I picked up a full oil pressured '61 235 engine. But this time go with highway friendly drive train. I want to retain the original look, sound, feel of a rapping 6. Any advice on which transmission and rear end combo I can go with the 235? Thanks.

 

A T5 trans and rear gears around 3.73 or 4.11 would be good. You would have fairly quick acceleration and decent cruising.

 

Saw a Canadian 56 Pontiac (read Chevrolet) last week running a six, which they came with, warmer cam, split intake and exhaust giving real good performance (check Langdon stovebolt). He was running a T5 from a S10 that fit real well. Required a slight shortening of the collar and the pilot bearing a bit deeper to accommodate with the stock bell housing. The S10 gearing gave good performance from stop and the overdrive let the engine cruise at 2200 on the freeway. He was running 3:70 gears in the rear. I'm sure this car weighed about the same as yours.

wuga

 

Thanks a lot, this helps. If I ran a T5, could I make it work as a column shifter? I wamted to retain that original look. Thanks again

 

I don't know haw that would be done, but you are the engineer. If you figure it out, patent it.

wuga

 

First for the multiple T-5 combinations look at Tech Specs at www.inliner.org. Then if you are going the T-5 route as I did talk to www.hamiltonintakes.com and ask Brad for his variety of acccurate machined adapters. I am using variants of the T-5 behind 216's, 261's and a 292 inline. All have done very well.
Normbc9

 

Why a 235 if your going to put a 6 in it put 250 your listening to the homeboys too much

 

I think that would be more trouble than it's worth. You'd have to engineer something yourself, because going from a floor shifter to column is like going backwards in the Hot Rod world. I've got a 40 Ford column shift and I sure wish it was a 39 floor shift!

 

I have a 57 Chevy rear end in my 48 fleetline. It wrks great, was a no-brainer to put in. The 5-speed is a great idea for a 235. I have a 250/th350 in mine.

 

The more I investigate, the more I lean towards the 250/350 with 2:73 gears route....thanks for the replies

 

Glad you are going with the 6.. Still love my amber fulton by the way!!

 

Thanks and great to hear!

 

I'm not sure of my gears, but I really like my combo. Might go with a 700r4 soon. It has headers, a Clifford intake and an Edelbrock carb.

 

How about a 3 speed overdrive, A Saginaw would 1st choice

 

That would let you keep the 3 on the tree. If you keep the M/C under the floor, duals will be tight.

 

If you want the ultimate Inline 6, look at a 67/68 Pontiac OHC Sprint motor.Be sure it has the factory cast headers and the Quadrajet intake with it. I ran this combo in a '37 Chev
coupe I built in the early '70's. It had a GM 4 speed and a '56 Chev 3.5 rearend.
It did surprise a lot small block drivers, It was quick off the line and had long legs on the top end.

..........................Jack

 

I was of the impression you wanted to keep it relatively stock looking. Where does the 250/ 292 or the OHC fit in that picture? The 235 or if you can find one, a 261 is a bolt in and still retains the overall appearance. The later models with full presurized oiling system with the addition of a few performance goodies will give you a haulin' car. The S10 5 speed has a nice long shifter handle remenisent of floor shifters in the 40's. A mid 50's chev rearend with gears would complete the package and no one would know.

wuga

 

Yes. After doing a bit more homework, the 250 appears to have a shorter deck, making it look too low in the engine bay. I'm considering a 261 or 292 to mate with the 350TH. I think this will be OK with the 2.73 gear rear end

 

the 292 inline would have lots of grunt and you might be able to go stiffer on the rear gears as it was a truck engine and they used them in some school buses and 26' straight trucks , and if it could pull one of them beasts a light car shouldn't be a problem specially with a auto trans and torque converter .

 

216 and 235's were also found in school buses and 26 foot trucks.. and tractor trailers....They delivered the goods, very slowly....

 

Hi Jack, yep, just read about these after you posted. Nice looking mill!

 

Thanks Dan for the feedback!

 

Ive been seeing videos and images of 292's. They sure do look a lot taller than a 250, 235, 216!

 

Aeroman...Ive been following your build thread on CB.com as well !

I went with a nice early 283/T350 and 57 Chevy rear end with 3.5 gears in my 47 Fleetmaster coupe and am very happy with it all. I hooked the T350 to my original manual column shifter and it looks 100% stock. I also left my clutch pedal in the car for the same reason.

Before I fitted the 283, I spent a long time looking for a 292 as it will allow a T350/400/200R4 or 700R4 OD trans to bolt up to it no problem. Yes the 292 is taller and longer. But I could not find a decent 292 for anywhere and lucked out on a fresh 283 so jumped on it.

If you don't go 250/292 IMO put the SB in it - for me it was a no brainer as I drive my car a lot and like to use it on freeways which is what it sounds like you are looking for. It has more than enough HP/TQ to get the job done and fits beautifully in the car. My 283 is a 62 SB and is detailed to look like a late 50s SBC (the Weiand 4 carb intake has been replaced and early Cal Custom VCs added)

If you go with a 292 even the stock TQ stock is still very good with 3.5 gears with a 28.3" rear tire will work very well.

 

That engine/car is cleeeaaaannnnn.

Yes, that's me on CB. My friend and I created the site a few years back

Could I get away with a 292/350/2.73 combo on a MS2????

I REALLY love the look of the Inline 6 especially with speed equipment. However, your engine does a good job of casting doubt to that I6 plan. Lol. Thanks

 

go with the sbc

 

I'd like to keep the Inline 6 look.

 

Don't go with the 250/292 they're pretty much the same engine if the 292 is taller than the 250 it won't be by much also don't really care for the 2 piece side covers and the ugly hei if that's what you go with, also 2.73 gears sound pretty high to me I think it would have a lagging take off I'd go with something in the mid 3's. I'd go with a 261 and a 4 speed saginaw I think it could be modified to work with the column shifter.

 

Go for a 302 GMC most people can't tell a GMC from a 235.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I was told because I have a TCI mustang 2 front end, I'm limited to the 250cui