Deano,
Hi! Except for that ocean we're neighbors.
I'm just learning about the old six "stovebolt" myself - I have written one of those engine dyno programs so I always look for dyno data to compare. Here is the best I've found so far for sources - they're old but worth a read:
1. Bill Fisher's California Bill's Chevrolet, GMC & Buick Speed Manual [1954 but reprinted recently]
2. Roger Huntington's "Souping the Stock Engine", [1950 but reprinted recently]
3. May 1955 Hot Rod, pg 14, 9 dyno tests build up of a 261 truck to 200hp.
Having got my computer to assess all these dyno tests at once, it looks pretty challenging to make 200hp on pump gasoline anyway. But I think if you started with these old references & then see what is available now - new or old - you could make a good plan before buying stuff
I always enjoy seeing the stock straight 6's at the car shows, though I have v-8s too - I agree, everybody knows you can put a 500hp smallblock v8 into a 55, so what?
This way, if you build that 235 carefully you can get some great gas mileage and have a really rare antique too -
