Well let's roll it back a few weeks ago when I began my search for a replacement for the tired 216. I wanted to stay period like but not fool with the splash lubrication or babbitt bearings. So the search began. A couple of weeks ago I saw a parts wanted ad for a gentleman looking for a 235. Another bolter responded that they had a 235 and a 261 available. It just so happened that the guy that had the two engines available was the guy that I bought the modified Bellhousing from for a 47-53 truck. I rang him up the next day and he sent me some pictures over. The 235 had been spoken for (this wanted ad was several days old at this point). Needless to say, a road trip to Wisconsin from NW Arkansas was in the works. I normally drive a Toyota Tundra but they're not known for fuel economy and in this day and age any miles I can keep off it is a gift. I decided to reserve a rental truck from enterprise. With the offset of gas savings, it cost me about $100 by the end of the trip. It was a couple weeks before we both had time to get together but finally, last Wednesday, Oct 11th, I left NW Arkansas with a goal to make it about 7 hours. I ended up pulling into a rest stop in N Illinois around midnight (I had to work Wednesday). I woke up at 730, found a McDonald's, and had about 3 hours left to go. It was a pretty morning other than the howling wind. I got there and we quickly got to work loading the engine. I casually mentioned that I was using a SM420 and planned to rebuild it and he said that he had a nice one about 20' away under a shelf. What the heck, throw it in too. We visited a bit and I was on my way just after lunch time. Tonight's goal was to make it as close to Kansas City as I could bear. I pulled into a rest stop a little after 930pm and went straight to sleep. I woke up around 7 and got on the road with about an hour to Jim Carters shop. I pulled in at 8am and waited for them to open. After I got done at Jim Carter, I swung across the state line to General spring and grabbed a pair of rear springs for 36-46 to replace my heavily worn rear springs. By the end of the trip I had that Chevy Colorado crammed so full I could barely see out of the windows.
I've attached a photo of the 216 in Jim Carters lobby and general springs shop.
