Hello all, new thread here for a new endeavor. First a little background:

I love my '48 1600 (3600 south of the border) and it's original 216 has always done me well. I'm also a realist and I know that nothing lasts forever. From the years on this site, I've learned that:
1- It's likely not worth the time and effort to rebuild a 216, should something go wrong
2- A full-pressure 235 and beyond are worth the extra dependability, HP and a relatively simple swap.

With this in mind, I've been watching for something to come up, local to me, but with no real pressure or timelines associated with it. I have yet to jump on anything, until just recently:

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...ne-code-starting-with-w.html#Post1371828

Needless to say, after finding the first Canadian Pontiac 261, I was hooked and quickly located and picked up a second one.

There are a number of good articles and discussions that define the American 261's that were mainly intended for big trucks, but the Canadian Pontiac story goes a little further.

In a nutshell, Pontiac Canada wanted something different for their cars, so they took the truck 261, added hydraulic lifters, a fiber cam gear cam out of a Corvette and did not add the full-flow oil filter.

This brings us to the present, where I have this engine sitting in my garage and no clue what to do with it grin

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PKRN2o6en3evxF15A

I can struggle through swapping engines and turning wrenches, but measuring clearances and identifying wear are not skills I currently possess. I would like to 'freshen-up' this engine and get it as reliable as possible. I also need to make some alterations to it to make sure it is compatible with my truck. I would like to do some of the work myself, and send it out for the work that I'm not comfortable in doing.

So to start off this thread (which will likely go on for some time), I was hoping to get some suggestions:

1 - What should I do to fully assess the condition of the engine as it sits?
2 - What actions do I need to add to the game plan to freshen this up?

Some specifics:

Engine ID: W9204502 - GM documentation says it is from a 1960 Canadian Pontiac, apparently it came out of a 1959 Pontiac.
Block: 3769717 - 261 for sure
Head: 3836848 - May not be original, but has higher compression! Steam holes may be an issue...

Thanks!

Last edited by Phak1; 04/03/2025 11:25 PM.
1948 Chevy Thriftmaster 3/4-Ton
Poncho "farming" in Ontario
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