The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Shops to rebuild original 216cu?

Good evening, I've got my great-grandfathers 1949 3100 deluxe cab that I'm wanting to start slowly restoring. It was running and being driven up until 15-20 years ago when it was parked in the barn and left sitting till now. I'm trying to see if there are any reputable shops out there that rebuild Chevy 216's.

I really don't want to get into the the whole "replace it with ______" argument, as I want to keep the truck original because of the family history.

Thanks

Ask around at some of the local car shows. I know Springdale must have at least one garage. Talk with them about who does their machine work. Old guys rule so go find one. Good luck with your project.

Welcome to the Bolt!

Are you sure it needs to be rebuilt? Just because it's sat for 20 years doesn't mean it's bad. If it ran when it was parked chances are it will run again with some proper planning and PM. So get it running first to see what issues it may have.

Mike B

Any reputable engine shop should be able to clean and flux your head, cylinder bores and crank. Cost you about $300 if you take them clean parts... add in about 2-3 hours labor if you take them a complete motor.

The only parts that will get specific are the babbit bearings and the splash oil system. The main bearings can be adjusted with shims but if you can't shim them then they will also need to be poured and bored (or honed... I forget).

I know of a place that will rent you the tools to align the splash oilers but if you need new babbit then you are most likely mailing the parts somewhere.

You're probably looking at well over $2k if you need extensive work... and over $3k if you are not the DIY kinda guy.

Poured babbit bearings are still very, very common... but just not in car engines.

Mattmus,

216's haven't had poured main bearings since the mid-1930's.

Your 49 model will have replaceable mains with adjusting shims to fine-tune the clearance and Babbit rod bearings. Adjusting the rod squirters is as simple as connecting a garden hose to the oil pan gallery and bending the tubes so the oil spray hits an "X" scribed straight across from the nozzle.

Check your private messages.

Jerry

GM called them spray oilers - "rod squirters" (à la Jerry) is a much better term than "splash oilers" (splash oil lubrication was much more primitive). The spray oilers and rod dippers
lubricated the rod bearing surfaces on 216 and early 235 stovebolt engines.

On early Stovebolts, splash oiling was a term better used to describe how the camshaft/lifter contact-surface, cylinder walls, piston, and piston pins were lubricated.

Thanks guys. I'm fairly good with modern motorcycle engines, but I've never opened up an auto engine, especially one this old. I'm not against spending the money to fix it, and even learning to do it myself with the help of some knowledgeable in older motors. I'll ask around at some of the engine shops, and also some of the guys in the local car clubs and see what I can find.

You will have to have the rods sent out if they need new babbit. They are not shells. The 47 was the last yaer for needing to bore the main journals. My mistake.

Link to place with the dipper/oil tube adjustment tools.

http://www.vintageautostuff.com/rental-tools-engine-oiling-system.html

The 1947 216 had insert main bearings and you could buy precision insert main bearings. The size of the bearings changed in 1948.

family barn find cool to start i would pull valve cover put some mystery oil over top of head remove spark plugs squirt mystery oil into block let it soak try to turn by hand change oil remove fuel line blow it out clean carb check fuel tank and fuel pump get a fresh battery i would guess 6volt new plugs oil change turn on key fire it up.if its been parked inside no weather i would bet fresh fuel and battery would do it
good luck
Robert