The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1952 216 GMC cylinder head

I have been told that my head has a crack in it. Before I look into possible repairs, which I have read are difficult, I thought I would look into trying to find a new good condition head. What are the chances of finding a good one? I checked eBay and Kijiji and didn't find any other then ones attached to a motor.

Mark

Put a wanted ad in the swap meet forum "trucks parts wanted". I've used it several times successfully.
Also keep a check in the trucks parts for sale in the same swap meet forums.

Sometimes you can get an entire 216 engine as cheap or cheaper than you can get individual pieces so getting a full engine may be your best bet.

Depending upon where the crack(s) is/are it may be cheaper to just repair what you've got.
Shop and price all angles.
Good luck
Dave

Note: To Denny for your files, Canadain GMC's had the 216 in them. Only in Canada EH. Have fun, Brian

Canadian 216's use the US 1950-52 235 head.

What year Canadian 216s?

Those Canadian 216 blocks must have been set up for the short side cover?

If you look at his pic's you will see they are short side cover engines.
I am in no way a Canadian expert, but I suspect, and it looks like the 1950-52 Canadian 216 is based on the 1950-52 US 235.
This has been covered before, so I hope our friends up north will chime in on this.

I have the same engine and head. Those heads are really hard to find. My experience with a repair was not positive. I now have another head that has the US castng number. It came from a car engine. Someone in the crack repair business that knows what they are doing can probably help.

None of the 216 U.S> made 216 engines use the short side covers??
John

No US built 216 used a short side cover.

Okay that is what I thought, Thanks Dave. Did they use the 216 later in Canada or I wonder why they bothered to make it different. Or is it a 235 block just not bored out as much?

John

I know very little about the Canadian 216. It appears to be based on the US 235 used in Power Glide cars and big trucks.

I have posted in the looking for parts forum here. I was speaking with the machine shop that found the crack and he didn't recommend anyone locally to do the repair. Not sure if the casting number will mean anything to help with the debate on if it is the same as a 235 but here it is;

3365499

GM 9

EDIT; I later found a listing for casting # 3835499 for 235?

Thats as close as I can figure from the pictures I have. I will try to add a couple more pictures of the block and head once Photo bucket starts co-operating again.
Thanks for all the input. What should I be prepared to pay for a good empty head?

Mark

I just found this regarding casting numbers
http://1954advance-design.com/Stovebolt-engine/casting-numbers.html

My Canadian block # is 3835814 which I don't see for 1952.

The casting codes at that link (on my website) are for USA castings. They may or may-not be right for Canadian engines.

Thanks Tim;
It does appear that the Canadian 216 did use the same head as the 235.

Mark

I am quite sure this is the case. I have a Canadian GMC 216 with short side cover.

It seems to me that I ordered a gasket kit for a Chevy 216 from the states, and found that the head gasket did not work. I had to buy a different head gasket and specifically request a 235 gasket instead.

Also, if I am not mistaken the exhaust ports are also bigger on the 235 head. I found this out when I swapped engines with a '51 passenger car 216 (tall side cover) and tried to install the original truck manifold. The ports in the car 216 were smaller, hence this leads me to believe that cars used a 216 head and trucks used a 235 head.

This is good to know as I have a kit in the shop but have yet to check the head gasket or manifold gaskets. Thanks for the heads up on that.

Mark

Just went through Gmoniz sticky on castings and wonder if the head on my engine has been changed. This is what his post says:
"1952 1-ton 216 unit
# X583,038 Block casting # 3835814 E-26-2 May 26, 1952. Head # 3835909 [235 head]"
Wonder if the two heads are interchangeable?
Mark

52Ton

I have a file with GM Canada casting listings. The block number 3835814 is listed with the head casting 3695451. Head casting number 3835909 is also mentioned but I have not seen this head. Here is a link to a previous posting in which I give some more details of my two heads for my 1951 Canadian 216. Previous Thread

If you want the file, send me a PM with your Email address.

I would think a 216 with a 235 head should breath a bit better?? Is the horsepower rating any higher on the Canadian 216 engines. The 235 engine had bigger valves..... John

Low pressure 235 truck head with bigger valves, or low pressure 235 car Powerglide head with bigger valves?

1950-52 235 all had the larger intake valves, would make for a free breathing 216.

Can anyone tell me what the GM number cast below the head number means?

My head cast: 3835499
GM 9

http://s1142.photobucket.com/user/52_Ton/media/100_2536.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2

I have found a head with GM 7 on it.

Mark

Here is a better picture of my head casting numbers;
http://s1142.photobucket.com/user/52_Ton/library/?sort=3&page=1

On the right is F 27 2- date code July 27 1952

Could the GM 9 be plant #9 maybe??

Mark

This is the casting numbers on the one I am looking at.
http://s1142.photobucket.com/user/52_Ton/media/_57.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Want to make sure there would be no surprises. It looks to be the exact same by all the bolt and port holes.

Mark

Mark,

That is an interesting question, and I not think that anyone has asked/answered what the "GM" number means.

There were two engine plants in the USA, so I doubt it is an engine head/black casting plant number.

The CON means CONveyor within a plant.

Let's hope someone comes up with an answer, a guess, and/or maybe some documentation.

I believe there was a casting plant in Windsor Ontario as well back then.

Mark

It looks like the head I found is a match going by the picture they sent and my head. All holes look to be right. Now I just have to convince him to have it tested before I'll commit…

Mark

Wow, you are really lucky to find a head that fast! Good work.

Unless you are shooting for head numbers compatible for the truck, why wouldn't any low pressure 235 head work?

52Carl,
the head is unique to that engine that was produced from 1950 to 1952. The block has the short side cover but the head is not the same as the one used in 1953.

Only 1950-52 has the right bolt pattern.

The guys at the machine shop mentioned this as well. They had ordered one, not sure of the year, that had the ribbed side compared to the smooth side the 50-52 have between the plugs.
Ive got to thank you guys for all your help with this. I really don't want to have the wrong head show up and with all the insight offered here it sure has helped a lot.

Mark

P.S. anyone looking for a 1953-235 head there is a brand new out of the box head on eBay.

CANADIANS!!!

Thats right EH!!

I checked the '52 Canadian operator's manual and found the horsepower is rated as 92 - same as US.

Mark - my block has the same casting number as yours, but my head has a different casting number. Also, on my head there is a large number 2 (presumably instead of 7 or 9) cast not below the GM symbol but nearby on top of the head under the valve cover.

I've often wondered if a newer head could be used on the older blocks. 2 less head bolts, but the diagram looks like all the rest would line up with the older block?? Would it really hurt anything?

John

Ya I have seen the GM number up to 14 on some of the different heads I have looked over. It would be nice to know their meaning.
There are also some numbers on the plug side of the head between plug 3&4 where mine has:
11
499
The one I am looking at is:
X8
12
499
Any idea what those numbers mean

Mark