This is the first time I've heard of 216's cracking. Mine is cracked, so I can see it happening I just didn't know happened. Someone has slathered some sort of epoxy in the crack (10") and it holds water with a zero pound cap with only the slightest trickle. I've been driving it that way or months.
I think, as long as the engine doesn't get hot and the water is not going in to the crankcase a small water loss is acceptable with theses old engines.
having said that I overheated it the other day driving over the Santa Cruz Mountains from here to Half Moon Bay. The temp was fine until I pulled over to let some tailgater pass and once the rpms dropped, the temp spiked. and I sat on the side of the road pouring water in the rad.
When i came home I pressurized the cooling system to 4 pounds and there is water leaking everywhere except the rad and the crack so I am pulling the head and putting the head gasket I have in if the head/lock surface is straight...
Not to hijack a thread....
Jeremy
