I ran a 216 in my 37 truck for about 12 years. It was fine for crusing, but it would not hold it's own on any sort of hill and was especially difficult to try to pass someone without taking a quarter of a mile.
About 14 years ago I put a 261 in the truck. No problems now. It has great top end power!
I would not stop at a 216, I would go right on to a 261.
Joe
