Avoid this one mistake with your Chevy 235!

The Stovebolt distributor setup was industry standard in their era. The distributor was like that on most engines then because the vacuum advance actually turned the entire distributor body. The distributor had to float in the block to allow that. Its an odd setup today, but not when they were new. I can see where running a modern distributor could lead to confusion in installation.

You can also just turn the engine and the distributer will drop into the oil pump drive.

Thanks for the video. I'm currently reassembling my 235 so I'm going to make sure my distributor is seated correctly. I loosened that clamp then dropped the distributor in, then lowered the clamp to tighten.

The straight six was a good engine.

At least one of the bolts in the head has an oil galley through it. The people who rebuilt my 235 failed to put the proper bolt in, so I did not have any oil going to the lifters or to the top of the head.

I typically bump the starter or jiggle the crank to get the oil pump drive tang to drop into place.

I can't thank you enough for this video and valuable information. I almost made the catastrophic mistake you mentioned on here.

Very nice video, on any engine that doesn't have a PCV dial valve I always put one in so it sucks all the ass and and junk out of the engine. I always eliminate road draft. Fresh air into the valve cover from the air cleaner if possible, and dirty smelly stuff out through the PC valve.

Next time you build one of these... drill out the oil passage on the side of the block to 3/8" or more ( depending on your confidence) thread the passage...on the outside of the block drill & tap 2 holes for installation of fittings for a full flow oil filter system...last , install a plug so it rests in between the 2 hole's you drilled on the outside of the block... now you have a full flow filtered oil system. I did this on our engines for figure 8 back in the day and we were the only ones with the same running engines at seasons end.. I also used 2 sets of main bearings, use uppers from both sets for 360' oiling...These weere great engines in their day... don't forget roller rockers , we didn't have them back then...

This. Video. Gives. Some. Very. Solid. Advice... with. Good. Logic. And. Reason... with. Visual. Examples.. of. How. It. Needs. To. Fot.... good. Job. have. A. Nice. Day....

Good info ,I'm currently doing the distributor in my rebuilt 235, thankyou 👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸

Great informative video, thank you for posting.

I hope you are able to make some more videos. Liked and shared. All my best.

I’m down with the straight six cylinder engine because of it’s sound and grace

That looks like the engine that was in my 62 Chevy truck that lasted many years, thanks for the reminder, l was only 16 at the time

hey bud i have a inline 6 250 what ya charge to make it look as good as this one and run for ever

I seated a DUI HEI dist with sliding clamp like that into 235 oil pump and tightened clamp before I tightened then bolt. The down force from tightening bolt pushed dist gear into bushing in engine block above oil pump and caused bushing to cut and wear where gear rests on bushing. Bushing wore a massive amount and sent filings through motor. Also engine oil pushed up the shaft and leaked into top of dist under rotor. Original distributor is designed to float and ride on the bushing above oil pump. When hold down bolt is tightened dist gear destroys bushing. Engine ran great and had good oil pressure, but eventually caused bearing failure. These DUI HEI distributors are designed wrong and will eventually cause engine failure. They also should have a seal under pickup coil to keep oil out of upper housing.

Hey Dan, I'm new to the straight 6 world, yet I have been working on installing them in 40s and 50s. I need help learning how to set timing on them when the have hei distributors and 350 or 700r4 transmission. Do you have any info or videos on that? Thanks

I bought a 50 fleeline 2 door sedan with original motor. how can I find out if its a 235 or a 216

Hi my hei distributor is too short. About 1/4 inch. It is a truck engine. Are car and truck distributors different sizes.