The Hi-Torque 235 engines are seldom-seen these days. They were a fairly
short-lived variation on the "stovebolt", being produced from only 1941 to
1949 and were available only in larger Chevy trucks - I think 1 ton and
larger. It would not have been original in your 1/2 ton.
They have the same head bolt pattern as the 216, in fact they are a bored
and stroked version of the 216, with slightly thicker cylinder walls and a
higher block casting. The Hi-Torque evolved into the "Powerglide" 235 in
1950. The Hi-torque had babbit rod bearings, not sure about the main
bearings, which were also babbit on pre-48 216's.
The Hi-Torque block was, and is still, sought after as a basis for the Chevy
"Wayne" 12 port cylinder head converson because of the increased
displacement and thicker cylinder walls, and the 216 head bolt pattern (The
"Wayne" head was originally designed for the 216 as a powerplant for 225 cu
in hydroplane racing). The Hi-torque block could be bored up to 1/4", using
wet sleeves, for a total displacement of 270 cu in.
These conversions almost always included modified crankshafts, GMC oil
pumps, and reinforced main bearing caps for full pressure insert bearing
cranks. This was a fairly expensive procedure 50 years ago - my 1955 Wayne
catalog lists the converted crank, with bearings, rods, pistons and rings
for $185, $35 extra for balancing. This was a lot of money in those days.
Few machinists today can undertake this job.
There are also places that will rebuild a Hi-Torque engine to original
babbitt-bearing configuration, as has been mentioned, which should be
adequate for normal use. But this operation can also be very expensive these
days, as it's a specialized procedure usually reserved for purist
restorations.
So the good news is, you have a pretty uncommon 235. The bad news is, it's
gonna cost about two small-block V8 crate motors to rebuild it.
Jack / Winter Park FL
----- Original Message -----
From: chico woodhill <chico.woodhill@zensearch.net>
To: <trks@javanet.com>
Cc: <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, October 25, 1999 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] 216 or 235...sti?
> Grant - Thanks, that info makes sense, and it matches what
> Doug said about the sheet metal covering the spark plugs
> only on the early 235s.
>
> That said, do you have any historical background on this
> 235 version? Could it be the original engine in this 1949
> 3100, or would it have been added later? Anything I should
> be aware of when driving it? Any special RPM limits on the
> "high torque" version? etc.?
>
> Thanks....Chico
>
> On Mon, 25 Oct 1999 16:32:58 -0400 Grant Galbraith
> <trks@javanet.com> wrote:
> >The casting # is for a 42 to 49 235. This engine is not
> > a full pressure oiling 235, but the early
> >"high torque" 235 with dippers, used in big trucks.
> >
> >Grant 50 3100
> >
> >chico woodhill wrote:
> >
> >> Thanks, Doug. So can anybody shed light on my engine?
> >>
> >> Block Casting:
> >>
> >> GM 48
> >> 3693374
> >> 10
> >>
> >> Serial Number:
> >>
> >> N324874CAL
> >>
> >> ...Chico
> >>
> >> On Fri, 22 Oct 1999 15:13:20 -0500 Doug Pewterbaugh
> >> <dpewter@email.msn.com> wrote:
> >> >On all 216's the sheet metal pushrod cover goes up
> over
> >> the spark plugs
> >> >(extends above the top of the block onto the side of
> the
> >> head); only VERY
> >> >early 235's do the same. Later 235's (like after 41
> or
> >> so?) have a shorter
> >> >pushrod cover that ends at the top of the block.
> >> >
> >> >Also, look at the block casting (raised in cast on
> >> lower
> >> right side of
> >> >block) & serial (stamped on flat behind distributor)
> >> numbers; there are a
> >> >lot of us on the list with tables to decode.
> >> >
> >> >Regards,
> >> >Doug Pewterbaugh
> >> >dpewter@msn.com
> >> >Denton, TX
> >> >49 3104 216 5-Window
> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >From: chico woodhill <chico.woodhill@zensearch.net>
> >> >Subject: [oletrucks] 216 or 235?
> >> >
> >> >>Silly question, but I'm looking at a '49 half-ton.
> >> >>Everything in the engine compartment is sprayed
> >> >>black.
> >> >>How can I tell if the engine is a 2
>
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