The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre 49 3600 & New to Stovebolt

Greetings-
I bought a 1949 3600 Chev truck back in September of 2019. I had this same year, make and model truck when I was 18 years old. I'm now 62. I found the truck on-line through Hemmings. Body-off restoration and she looks great ... get a lot of thumbs-up when we take her out on nice days. I am new to this website and I've spent some time reviewing posts and information. This looks to be the perfect site for good information and guidance. A little about myself. I live and work in the Pacific Northwest (Seattle). I'm a lifetime PNW native. I have interest in cars but quickly and humbly admit, my mechanical aptitude is limited. However, I'm learning and as I grow closer to retirement, this is a hobby I intend to pursue. Beside my truck, I also own a Porsche - 1988 911 Carrera. I love the blend of my old graceful truck to the classic German sport cars. I take great pleasure in driving them both.
The engine is the original 216. It's an old tired engine, blows some smoke and compression is off by 20psi between cylinders. It runs adequately, but will need a rebuild in the next year or two. I haven't investigated to engine numbers to determine if this is the original motor. In reading the forum and as I become comfortable and knowledgeable in navigating/posting, I'd like to find out the pros/cons on 216 versus 235. If the engine turns out to be the original, I'd definitely re-think my approach and stick with the 216.
My interest in a 235 would be in hopes to get more top-end speed and have the ability to make drives between Washington down to Oregon on occasion. I've read where I might need to consider transmission change/modification and appropriate gear ratio for more top-end highway speed. Currently, top-end is about 45 mph-ish. I'd like to find a solution to get to a comfortable 55-60 mph if possible.
Other changes are more modest and again, this site and membership group will be ideal.
Being new to Stovebolt, I'm looking for help in learning how to efficiently post information and questions and engage with members. This site looks to offer a lot of valuable information and history. Thank you for allowing me to join this group. In introductory guidance on posting and receiving information will be appreciated.
Todd

Welcome to the 'bolt. Sweet looking truck!

Welcome to the Stovebolt madness. There is no cure!

Look through the various forums and find the most appropriate forum for your particular question. Engine questions in the Engine Shop, gearing and brakes in the Driveline Forum, etc. Take the time to read the post at the top of the page in General Truck Talk Forum titled “Why posts are edited, moved or deleted “ by Cletis. This is a comprehensive guideline for using the site. Again welcome.

Todd -- Welcome! Read This before you get too crazy thinking about transmission upgrades.

Food for thought -- rebuilding your 216 is going to be expensive, even *if* you can find someone near you knowledgeable enough to deal with the poured babbit rod bearings that engine has. Original is neat but won't get you modern cruising speeds.

One thing to consider before swapping engines ... is your truck titled off the engine number or the truck's chassis number (VIN) on the data plate on the driver door pillar? If the truck VIN, then you are good to swap. If the truck is titled off the engine number, you can still swap engines, but you will need to deal with paperwork down the road. And you will have to keep that 216 on hand until you do.

If you swap engines, the 235 is a good choice, and certain ones won't need much modification. The 261 is also a good choice (it's what I went with in my 3804). The gang in the engine forum can answer more questions about that swap.

Swapping out transmissions is a much harder project. But the boys in the driveline forum can help you there.

And lastly, if you are going to be upping your cruising speeds, please make sure your brakes and steering are good to go, as well.

Glad to have you!
John

Todd, Welcome Aboard. And ditto all the above. I too have a 3600 with it's original 216. And I too wanted to honor the original drivetrain of the truck. It's a low mileage '51 that worked on a farm and lived in the barn till it had a amateur restoration and wound up in a small museum. And then it had the misfortune (or good luck) to land at my place.

45 MPH was the little truck's happy spot. Then a set of 4.10 gears replaced the stock 4.57s. 55 MPH became the new good speed. Then the need for "more speed" popped up and a T5 transmission with a .72 overdrive 5th gear replaced the stock, stump pulling SM420 transmission. Now, on flat ground with no headwind, 60-65 MPH is a good cruising speed. While getting caught up in big city traffic when traveling, it's seen 70-75 MPH.

However if a small hill or a 10 plus mph headwind hits, the speeds come down quick and it's time to shift to 4th and run 50-55 mph.

I do have a 1959 manufactured 261 engine, cast in the 1954 block mold (making it a true drop in upgrade) waiting in the wings. This is a desirable change since to all but the extremely knowledgeable it looks like the stock 216, but has almost double the HP.

The point to the above ramble is that in flat country a 216 can work in today's world. But if in hills or mountains, a bigger engine is a much better deal. As you do your DD, you'll see that you can upgrade and keep the proper look when you raise the hood.

Good Luck,

RonR

Todd, welcome to the Stovebolt and consider yourself at home. You can find out what you need right here...the best old Chevy truck site on the entire web.

...see you around the garage and congrats on your truck.

Welcome to the Madness. Glad to have you! I have owned two 1950 3600s, one with the original 216. I loved it, but it has its limitations. Going faster is fun, and maybe safer in some situations, but as others have said brakes and steering must be addressed. Not that there is anything wrong with them: They were not designed for modern speeds. Good luck, and have fun!
Beautiful truck btw. Love the colors!

Welcome to the sickness.

gorgeous truck.

-Woog

Thanks all for the warm greetings! Feeling welcome and at home amongst all of the Stovebolt members. I've taken my intro post to The Engine Shop Forum and continued my post to search for other related posts and advice. I like the idea of keeping my current engine and finding solutions to modify and get another 10-15 mph ... if possible. I'd be very satisfied with that top end to open-up driving distance options for the occasional road trips. I appreciate the reminder and notice on brakes and steering.
To all, be safe and thanks!

Todd, Greetings & welcome to the bolt, fellow PNW lifetimer!

Todd,
Great looking truck! The paint job looks flawless! I especially like the color scheme! Looks awful familiar??? “Oh” I know why, the same is in my garage!
You have excellent taste Sir!
The easiest way to get some increased speed is by swapping the ring and pinion. John Milliman’s post will send you to the tech tip. Mine has been upgraded. With the help of Mr. Milliman! AKA - “Wordsmith” You will easily pick up 10mph!
Best to you,
Jim
She has 1.5 yards of top soil in the bed!

Why thank you, Jim! Marlow is *so* wrong about you!!

Not to keep throwing punches after the bell, but ... Todd, I, too, loved the originality of my truck and kept the 216 for a long time. But the rear end upgrade really made the gearing too tall for the engine. She huffed and she puffed and she could hit 65 (once she got there ...) ... until the slightest up grade or headwind came along. And in town traffic was sketchy at best, especially in the three-lanes of high speed traffic between lights. As long as all the other cars were 240D Mercedes, mopeds or Citroen 2CV's, I was ok. Otherwise, it became a NASCAR "rubbin is racin'" free for all to get around me. Upping the engine to a 261 really made my truck driveable in the 21st Century. It is still very much the same truck, but it doesn't have to travel on the trailer anymore.

Take a look here. Other than the Alpine Green color, there is only one visual cue in this image to tell that this isn't a 216...

Umm, hence the blown engine
Jim

Jim, pretty cool looking truck! Look forward to following you and enjoying future exchanges. John, thanks again for really sound advice. My goal and hope is to share/show-off Lucille with my family, especially my older brothers, down south. There's no way I'd attempt to make this trip under current conditions. John, with your guidance, I'll trace the engine numbers to determine the history. Regardless of what I choose to do, I'm holding onto the 216 engine. I love the original look of your 261 and encouraged by the performance improvement. Give me the ability/option to drive on the highway at 55-60 mph and I'm a happy camper and extends my range dramatically. 75% of the time, cursing around my local area and roads at 35-40 mph is just fine. I mentioned in my introduction post, my current 216 is old and tired. She get's by, by I know a re-build isn't too far off. Makes sense to look at making this change and making a rebuild of the 216 an enjoyable hobby. Thanks guys.

John-
Thank you for the article on the rear axle ring & pinion swap to gain more top end speed. I've consulted the Engine Shop experts on my current engine and came to find out I'm running a 235 out of a 49 4000 series truck ... so not the original engine. I'm interested in your switch to a 261 and to understand what changes you had to make to convert to this engine?