216 Chevrolet engine

[johnlu]

I have a 1948 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe with a 216 engine and I'm looking for another engine. I had bought a 216 core but it was really bad so I'm needing another engine. Staying with my 216 engine having a hard time taking out the lifter's. Ugh I'm new at this and this is my first old vehicle and I plan own keeping it and I have 2 216 engine cores now OMG

 

[52wasp]

Welcome aboard Johnlu,
You may be better served locating a 235, from a later model Chevy. They are a more modern engine, yet they are the same size/interface as the 216.

 

[johnlu]

Thank you I truly appreciate it had a friend he told me too. Well now I'll be own the search for a 235 wishing you a wonderful weekend

 

[vwnate1]

That one doesn't look as sludgy and all the ones I remember from the 60's & 70's .

If it's original the pistons will be cast iron (!) and never wear out .

I concur, a 235 / 261 is a sturdier and more powerful engine, not prone to throwing rods like the earlier " Target Lubrication" 216's & 235's were . (" whaddya mean don't drive it 60 MPH ?! it'll go 70 with only 1/2 throttle" .

Two or three months later they come crying "It three a rod darn itall" .

These engines are still plentiful and dirt cheap, watch old Hot Rod threads, they typically still have the perfectly good 216 / 235 /261 sitting under a tarp in the back of the garage or lying in the weeds behind it, they tried to sell but a$ked too much, now they just want it gone .

I know a guy in Kansas who scraps out dozens of old "Task Force" (1955 ~ 1959) grain trucks, he saves every 261 engine and sells them, I have no idea the co$t but an original one that still runs or turns, is dead easy to freshen up or overhaul, be aware the 261 connecting rods are special and often get "lost" (yea, right) at the machine shop so TAKE PICTURES of any parts not in your hands .

The best 235/261 cylinder heads have raised casting #'s ending in 048 or 050 .

I like the looks of your Sedan there .

 

[Chiro]

I followed Nate's advice many years ago and got the '58 235 for free from a guy on the '55-'59 forum that pulled his in favor of a V8. It was sitting in his heated garage for years until he got tired of tripping over it. Adjusted the valves, new fuel pump and carb and it fired right up. It's still in my truck to this day, almost 20 years after I got it. I have a '66 283 V8 mothballed in my garage for when the 235 gives up the ghost but I honestly don't think that's ever going to happen. My son drove the truck loaded up with stuff from Long Island to VA when we moved. I drove it 8 hours round trip last year to Chapel Hill to pick up a high end chef's stove I found on Craigslist. Dang 235 is like the Energizer Bunny or a Timex watch "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking", which is really appropriate as they "tick" away like a sewing machine when the valves are properly adjusted.
Andy

 

[vwnate1]

Yep ;

GM really hit it's stride in those years .

I know a guy in Kansas who runs a junkyard, one of the few parts he sells are good running 261's salvaged from old farm grain bed big Chevrolets .

A work buddy drove his Advance Design pickup to and from work for many years with a rod knock in it's original 216 engine before eventually restoring it .