The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1951 4400 engine horse power

I have a 1951 4400, relatively all original if you don't count an old paint job. All the serial numbers date to 1951, so it's intact. My question is; why is my truck only rated at 85hp, and why is it a 216. Everything I can find lists my truck as a 235, and all 216's should have 92hp. I've read that Canadian trucks never got the 235 and they had lesser horsepower, my gauges are in miles per hour I do know that Canada switched to metric in 1971. I'm thinking I might have a Canadian truck, I did buy it in northern Minnesota. Thoughts? Thanks, B. Kelley

Your truck falls into the Big Bolt category. We have several members that are familiar with the Canadian trucks and the engines associated with them. Someone will be along shortly.

USA 1951 4400 trucks came standard with a 216.

1954 (USA) Chevrolet Specifications (truck engines)

Thanks. That makes sense now, the tag lists net horsepower not gross. As for the 216 being standard, you're the first one to state that and show proof. I have been wondering about that for the longest time, you've scratched my itch.

On some years the trucks had a restricter on the intake, presumably to limit how hard they were driven. If you look at some of the horsepower curves you will see that the truck curves peak before the ones on the car engines. I have always thought that this was due to the heavier pistons in the truck engine.