1963 235 V6 1500, short bed

[Hantke]

I was talking to the guy down the street for me, and it turns out he has a 1963 GMC Short Step Side pickup with a 235 V6 in it that he may be willing to sell to me, does anybody have any suggestions? it's missing both doors so I will have to find those as well. But it runs and drive (woohoo!!!). Very interested in saving money and buying this. any suggestions? things to look for?

it's been tarped for a long time and has surprisingly little rust as well. Thank you in advanced!

Has anybody used this website before?
http://www.lmctruck.com/features/cbe/CBESSP.htm

Debating on ordering parts from here if i get the truck!

[bigblockv6]

There is no such engine as a 235 V6 (Chevrolet made a 235 inline six prior to 1963), the standard engine in a 63 pickup was the 305E V6. 1500 shortbed is also questionable as it should be a 1000 series 1/2 ton. The designations changed for 1967 1/2 tons were 1500 series,3/4 ton were 2500 series and 1 tons were 3500 series.

[Hantke]

I made the assumption of 1500, that error was on my part entirely, thank you for the info! He didn't say V6, just 235 6 cylinder (so another mistake on my part). I completely didn't think this through before posting, I was really excited about finding the truck and jumped the gun on posting this. Thank you very much! (And thank you for correcting me so I don't look like a complete idiot in the future again) I will do some more research!

[bigblockv6]

If it has a 235 inline six then at some point the original V6 was replaced, also Canadian models of that era only used Chevrolet engines yet as far as I know the 235 was not produced after 1962. The new 230 inline six came about in 1963.

[Hantke]

Okay, thank you! I know he took the 305 out of his 65 and put a 400 in it but got rid of the 305, else I would have tried to get that. Maybe its a 230 and he was mistaken. Once I have some cash saved up I will look into it further for sure, I'd hate to bug him too much without having cash in hand though.

[GMCDAC]

Hi Hantke, I can post pics of 235 and 230 engines if needed for identification if you want. Sounds like it may be a good opportunity to get one of these trucks if the price is right! I have dealt with LMC several times and never had any problems although it seems they get a bad rap a lot on the internet.

DAC

[Hantke]

Awesome! thanks again, you guys are great! I think I just landed a new job for the summer (college student) and already have my plans. 1. Get fishing license 2. Pay off last little bit of school debt 3. buy truck

GMCDAC, that would be great, the guy seemed to know what he was talking about (obviously, I didn't think stuff through before posting) but it is always smart to double-check before-hand.

I've been trying to find a good one for quite a while now, and a short - step side is the perfect truck for me, so i got a little bit over - excited when I saw it.

[Hantke]

Another thing I just remembered, he said that when he first got it, it wouldn't start, but then his dad poured a little oil down the carburetor and it started and ran fine, they assumed it could be compression.
Is this a serious issue starting to show through? or perhaps a leaky piston ring? I've hear of lots of people doing this (usually 80's fords) but never really knew why. It doesn't need the "oil treatment" right now, just the one time after it had been sitting for quite a while.

[GMCDAC]

Originally Posted by Hantke

Another thing I just remembered, he said that when he first got it, it wouldn't start, but then his dad poured a little oil down the carburetor and it started and ran fine, they assumed it could be compression.
Is this a serious issue starting to show through? or perhaps a leaky piston ring? I've hear of lots of people doing this (usually 80's fords) but never really knew why. It doesn't need the "oil treatment" right now, just the one time after it had been sitting for quite a while.

It is possible the engine had stuck rings and the oil sealed it enough to start and free up the rings. A compression test would be a good idea as it could help determine if the engine is due for a rebuild.

The first two pics are of the mid 1960's 230 that someone installed in my 1955 GMC long before I got it. It really runs nice now after some TLC, cleaning and paint.

The last two pics are a 1957 235 that I got a while back. I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but it was going to scrap and I didn't want to see that happen.

The most obvious difference between the engines is the distributor position is centered front to back on the 235 and it is toward the front on the 230. The lifter cover is one long one on the 235 and it is 2 shorter ones on the 230. Those covers are the sheetmetal plate on the distributor side of the block

Post some pics if possible! Hope this helps.

DAC

[Hantke]

Originally Posted by GMCDAC

It is possible the engine had stuck rings and the oil sealed it enough to start and free up the rings. A compression test would be a good idea as it could help determine if the engine is due for a rebuild.

The first two pics are of the mid 1960's 230 that someone installed in my 1955 GMC long before I got it. It really runs nice now after some TLC, cleaning and paint.

The last two pics are a 1957 235 that I got a while back. I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but it was going to scrap and I didn't want to see that happen.

The most obvious difference between the engines is the distributor position is centered front to back on the 235 and it is toward the front on the 230. The lifter cover is one long one on the 235 and it is 2 shorter ones on the 230. Those covers are the sheetmetal plate on the distributor side of the block

Post some pics if possible! Hope this helps.

DAC

Awesome, thanks!
I just got a confirmed job (step 1, done!) and would like to have cash in hand before I bug him too much, I know the guy is still on the fence about losing one of his projects, so i'd hate to pester him to the point of not getting the truck. As soon as i am nearing the right amount in savings i'm going to go over and help him with a project or two and take some pictures, then i'll be able to post them, and come back with a definite yes / no.