A dreaded Chevy question

[brngarage]

I DO have 2 Studebakers, but I also have a '49 Chevy Fleetline 4 door. I am getting ready to replace the torque tube driveline with some more modern components and I have a question. I have a Saginaw full synchro 3 speed and a matching bell housing that both came from a late 60's Chevy with a 230 or 250 six cylinder. My question is, will the bell housing that fits a 230/250 also fit an earlier design 235? I have a very good 235 in the car now and would like to keep it. THANKS!

[toymobile]

No, The 235 was used until late 60s then the same bell housing fit ALL CHEVY engines V8 or 6, The trans will probably bolt to the 235 bell housing, If I remember right.

S 10 is the best chose for rear end, be advised the the rear spring CENTER PIN in not center you will need to drill a hole in the spring mount pad to center the rear end (front to rear) seems like 1 1/2" back.

Check it out, Good luck.

Johnny

[brngarage]

Johnny, if I remember correctly, the 235 was last used in 1962 (at least in passenger cars) and was superseded starting in 1963 with the 194, 230, 250, 292 series which used 7 main bearings. Are you certain that the 194, etc. bell housing will not bolt to the 235? Thanks.

[Packard53]

Howard: Try langdonsstovebolt.com for any questions and parts about Chevy inline 6 cylinder engines. Good people to deal with and ask questions. I have purchased parts from him in the past for my 1966 Chevelle with a 230 inline 6 cylinder good people to deal with.

John S.

[brngarage]

Thanks John. I just emailed Tom Langdon with my questions.

[Robert Crandall]

I made that swap to a 1950 GMC in 1979. It worked well, and I still drive it. For that case: I kept the original bell housing. The 3 spd Saginaw bolted in, and the shaft was correct. I needed only minor fabrication to bolt the transmission to the original cross member and to connect the shift linkages to the original column shifter. I used a differential (3.08:1) from a 1972 Suburban. It has the same 6 bolt pattern. I had to make brackets for it. I had a new drive shaft made.

If your transmission will bolt into your existing bell housing, your project may be not to hard to accomplish.

[brngarage]

Robert, that sounds like the solution. I'll have to take a close look at the existing bell housing and see if it has the correct bolt pattern for the Saginaw. Thank You!

[wittsend]

As per post #2 and this link below it seems the 235 engine cannot use the bellhousing from the 194/230/250/292 engines.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/chevy-i6-bellhousing-bolt-pattern.558318/

[brngarage]

Right wittsend. Looks like I need a '55 to '62 235 bell housing. Anyone got one?

[sweetolbob]

Right wittsend. Looks like I need a '55 to '62 235 bell housing. Anyone got one?

Ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-62-CHEV...FYKj-B&vxp=mtr

A couple listed

Bob

[brngarage]

Thanks Bob.