Hey Bald Eagle . . .

'Better' is subjective and depends on what you want from the power plant. If you are after a stock look to run under normal street conditions then a '53 or '54 is a definite option if you can find one. Heck swapping out a 206 for a '40s High Torque dipper engine would be a significant step up for that matter.

That said, the later 235's are somewhat more plentiful and offer more horse power at stock specs (135-140 versus 108-115 for the early full pressure engines). And if you're looking to hop-up and really rev then the later design is a more economical starting point.

It comes down to what you want to invest your rebuild dollars into . . .

regards,
stock49

[Linked Image from 49fastback.com]