Yepper here, correct gasket, but it's a W-1 now anyway!
My 216 runs like a finely tuned sewing machine, no
complaints whatsoever about it's performance. She gets a
tune/up going over every time I change the oil. Valve check
or adjust, carb adjusted, points and plugs checked or
adjusted, she's timed to the ball and vacuum advance is
functional. Starts first turn over, idles down to 450rpm
nice and smooth and still running fine and smooth at 3000rpm
plus if need be to pass on the highway. I've posted video of
her running up to 65 with my 4.10 gear and still had
throttle left.
Just poor mileage, after first couple of years
rebuilding Rochester 'B's then settling in with the old
reliable throwback W-1. Fuel economy never varied, never
better than 15mpg and usually averaging about 13mpg.
Could be the 3/4-ton weight combined with a heavy right
foot. Never had it on a sustained 50mph highway run where
I burned thru a couple tanks of petrol. Might try that this
summer just to see what max mileage is possible with this
combination.
We did drive my buddies '52, 3100 with a freshly rebuilt
stock 216 down to KC a few years back. Engine was broke in
over the summer before we left on the trip. We ran 55 all
the way, cept for some driving round town in KC.
About 1,000 mile weekend and I averaged the fuel mileage at
the end of the trup. Just a hair over 15mpg. Seems pretty
consistent to me for that model vehicle in its relatively
stock configuration.
dg
Last edited by cletis; 02/10/2016 5:20 PM. Reason: language
