Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 230 vs 235

I'm working on a 51 Chevy that had a '60 235 mated to a 3 speed manual with the original torque tube. The Engine had some problems and we don't have the time to rebuild it, but I have a friend with a good '64 230 with dual exhaust and intake, but no bellhousing and a questionable trans.

Will a 230 fit into a 51 Chevy car? If they're in the same family as the 292, I think it will, but it's a little longer, but I'll have to fab up some motor mounts. What about space to the radiator? Most importantly, will the 235 bellhousing bolt up to it? Will the 235 torque tube trans work with it?

Simple answer is the 230 family engines use the same bellhousing and flywheel items as the small block V8 Chevy including any trans that fits the V8. 235 parts don't fit on the back of the 230.
A complete open shaft driveline will be the easiest and best way to use a 230 in the 51 you have. You also lose around 125 - 150 lbs with that swap. Almost like a few more free horsepower.

would a 1960 235 3 speed bolt to a v8 bellhousing, or would I have to find a 230/250/292 or v8 manual? What abou the clutch, flywheel, etc.?

the transmission you have now will bolt to the 230 bellhousing. the way i would do it would be pull the 235 from the trans forward. then put the 230 in and bolt it up to the trans. in the car now. then make motormounts and other things to hook up.

Your original 51 chev trans/torque tube drive line will NOT bolt up to any other bellhousing than your stock one. I assume you are talking passenger car not truck. The bellhousing to trans pattern for passenger cars was a real odd ball from 40s to 54, 55 passenger bellhousing went to the 'modern' trans pattern. My old chevs range from stock, torque tube to resto/open drive and are 40/50s. I can say now that I've been at this for a while, switching over to open drive line and more modern trans should have been first on my list.

The 230/250/292 motors are a great swap for your car, even though you'll need to upgrade to the correct SIDE motor mount kit. I'd check with Tom Langdon at Langdon's Stovebolt(his ad running on the home page), his online catalog should show you the mounts you'll need.

Fan clearance is a concern but a minor one with several solutions, from moving the radiator to eliminating the stock fan for electic unit. With this modern six you'll get a bonus as ANY modern trans will bolt right up, no adaptors needed.

What is wrong with the 235 you have now?

As has been said, the later style engines are longer, need to have motor mounts made/bought, the bellhousing pattern is different than the 235 at both ends, so an open driveline would be necessary. If you don't have the time to fix the 235, then you won't have time to do all of this either...

If time is truly the issue and you are considering the 230 only due to the fact that you can have it, it may make sense to look for a good 235 or even a 261 instead. Maybe a wanted classified here and on Langdon's site or even ebay.

the 230 will work the way i said i have done more then one that conversion.

now as for the 194-250 they are the same from the face of the bell housing the the front of the block. but they are shorter if go to the front of the fan. look on page 2 of the chev.inline six-cylinder power manual. it has an over lay of the 2.