The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 216 Motor Questions

What are the good AND bad points to consider in having a 216 motor in your Stovebolt? :confused:

Good Point - Original Motor
Bad Point - Original Motor


You could have had a V8!

Brian, there's no good points about the 216 ... low pressure - just a poor design all round. I have one in the Canary it's been converted to shell bearings but I still am unfortable with it.

Good Point = Mine has the only reference to the serial number on my title.

Bad Point = It's heavy as all get out, leaks oil and rusty water everywhere and it's sitting in the corner of my garage.

Bad Point #2 = It dont work.

Yup, those old motors are junk,the 10's of millions of Chevys made with them never got beyond the dealer's parking lot.
For driving around or actually working the truck at speeds it was designed to run at, a good running 216 is fine.countless Chevy cars drove cross country with those engine. Countless Chevy trucks,overloaded,delivered the goods powered by 216's.
Bad points,expensive to rebuild these days. In fact, 235's,261's and GMC's are all expensive to rebuild.

LOL, true enough. Better stated that they are not designed for today's usages.

put in a "late model" 235 and be done with it.

Good Point # 1- Mine runs
Good Point # 2- Mine runs well and is still in the truck

Bad point- I am not sure what to do with it now that it is in there. Everyone tells me Fentons and a dual intake will kill it quickly. That will erase points one and two listed above..eliminating all good points about afore mentioned 216.

If I did not have the 216, I would probably not keep the closed driveline, tranny, brakes, etc....so my 216 is the driving force behind what I do to my truck....not sure why...but it is....

Oh great--now we're 216 bigots. I gotta tell ya--good motors. Remember my Gramps truck--he drove it forever; till he died. He was a plumber--hauled his tools around in it--took it on vacations--went up Pike's Peak-truck did everything he asked of it. He kept it flawless shape always in the barn.

I expect a lotta guys who have been on this site still have one--tuff motors. Technology has changed too--full pressure oiling (45psi) is available for the 216 from Beck\'s Machine and Tool They've also solved the notorious rear seal problem.

Oh well, :rolleyes: everybody wants to tear em out and put in Bus Motors popular thing to do I guess--makin horses. Those 216s sure were quiet stout little engines though. Anybody can make a strong motor out of a lot of displacement. Would be really neat to see somebody(maybe one of the Deco Crowd) make a 216 with full pressure oiling and maybe a little overdrive. A rebuilt 216 that somebody made modern hiway capable would be something to be proud of--I'd sure be impressed.

Thank you all for your informative replies. I figured the 216 was not a motor of choice, and wanted to hear what our Stovebolt experts had to say. I'm convinced!

Mine runs well. I would say that if you have one, run it 'til it blows up, then replace it. If your's needs rebuilding, replace it.

Wished you had not posted this one. I've been wrestling with this for three years now and have been restoring everything around mine. It turns but has not run in well over 20 years. The debate goes on.....rebuild it to keep it original or just go with a 235? I just keep hoping someone around here or on e-bay decides to "upgrade" their 216 they just rebuilt. That's when I'll be taking a road trip. Shortly after I got my truck three years ago I saw a beautiful 216 that was freshly rebuilt even with new gray paint and all the bolt-ons that ended up going on e-bay for under $1000. I'm still kicking myself for not bidding! You can see it in my "Details" photo album and the picture name is 216.