The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 48 Chevy 3100 Truck

I have a 1948 Chevy 3100 truck that is 95% stock / original. I changed to 12v system, upgraded mater cylinder to dual bowl and changed ring and pinion from the 4:10 to 3:55. Other than these, all original / restored. My question is; should the 216 engine bite the dust, what replacement would the members suggest? I was thinking a late model full pressure 235.

Thanks

Is the engine dependable and strong enough to get you where/when you need to drive it?
If yes, why not just leave is as it is?
95% original is quite rare.

While you are enjoying your truck, get a 1954-63 235 (or 261) and rebuild it and safely/dryly store it.
A 1954/1955st truck engine would be the easiest to to swap in.

Almost all 1954 and later (high pressure) truck 235's had mechanical lifters.

1954 and later car 235s would be the next choice; however, they would have hydraulic lifters. Almost no truck engines had hydraulic lifters. Corvette 235s had mechanical lifters.

Some later car/truck engines have different motor mounts, but this is not an insurmountable reality (I will not call it a problem).

Posting the same question in two different forums is not proper Stovebolt etiquette. Your post in GTT was deleted by the Moderator.

I am new so my apologies. I did enter it in General truck first then I found the Engine forum. I thought I had successfully deleted the General truck forum, evidently not...

The 216 in my truck runs like a top so not planning on changing it just to change it. I was just curious what my options might be if something did happen. I was also wanting to have the knowledge that if I came across something like a 235 or 261 for sale I might want to pick up strictly as a backup.

Haney Nothing wrong with the 216 most of those that got damaged were hurt from rocking the truck in a mud hole (hung up) It would damage the rod dippers. Then the loose dipper would demolish the pan (oil channels) . If they stopped right away a good mechanic could still fix it. That forged crankshaft is pretty tough !

It's possible to modernize the 216 and still keep it looking original, but either rebuilding the spray-oiler engine or modernizing the internals can get pretty expensive. Going with a slightly newer engine such as a 1954-62 235 is probably the simplest upgrade, as long as you don't mind losing the "original" look of the 216 engine. I'm currently working on a couple of projects that look like an original 216, but have either 235 or 258 cubic inches and a crankshaft that lubes the connecting rods internally, has a bigger oil pump, a hotter camshaft, and a leakproof rear main bearing seal. About the only thing "original" on those engines is the block and the cylinder head.
Jerry