Originally posted by dbone:
HEY "BIGRED" guys what if you rebuilt the 216 with modern bearings/pistons/rods/ and used the 355 gears from jim carters would it be safe to run a 216 up and down the hiway at 50-60mph?
With the proper gearing a babbetted 216 can easily run highway speed. The 3.55 gearset would be a great leap in that direction. I've been told by the owner of a 39 sedan that he regularly drives 70 BUT he has had aluminum pistons put in his 216 to lessen the strain on the babbetts. I don't know the ratio of his rearend. The main problem that keeps the babbetted 216/235 from running highway speed is the low rear gear and the cast iron pistons. As stated above I run my 38 with 3.73 gears at 55 most of the time and up to 60 at times without problem.
