I can't say about the 216, but this was a problem in some even older engines that had no oil pump whatsoever. The 4 cylinder in the Model T (this is my second post today talking about Model Ts on the Stovebolt site. Somebody is going to shoot me yet LOL!!!) used a total splash oiling system, and if the hill was too steep the oil would all run to the back of the pan and not lubricate the front bearing, which would dry out and burn up.
To help prevent this from happening, the gravity flow fuel system was set up so that once the vehicle was at a steep enough incline, the fuel would quit running to the carb and the engine would die, preventing engine failure. It was a pretty common thing to drive the Model T up steep hills in reverse, as this allowed the fuel to flow to the carb and kept some oil in the shallower front part of the pan to lubricate the front bearing.
This could have been a problem in other makes and models with the same type of system, but the Model T is the only one I have any specific knowledge about.
Bobby
