The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Save the 216?

I yanked the 216 out of my 46 and was ready to build my recently aquired 327 to put in it. i was ready to scrap the six when a freind sugested i should keep the 216 and soup it up. Is this possible???
Is the 216 worth building? Where do you find performance parts for one? If anyone has ever built a hot rod 216 or can tell me if it can be done, I would love to hear from them. I also need
to know where to find such parts.
Please help before the 216 is out of the garage!

Please don't scrap your 216! Lots of members on this board would love to have it. It's not the ideal engine to hop-up but it can be done. Maybe somebody who knows engines better than I do can tell you how.

Get a 41 - 51 flat topped pistons 216 block complete , , get a '37 -40 head . ( off the domed top pistons block ) .
Have the head planed .185" .
This will take your standard comp ratio to 7.8:1
Max over bore will increase it more.
3/4 cam ,, a set of Fentons , and a dual carb setup , and all the usual detailing and care when assembling .
It will look cool , sound cool , drive GREAT , and be different to all the other 350 / 350 combos out there .
A good reference book to soak up is California Bill's "Chevrolet & GMC Speed Manual.
You can pick this up fairly regular on e-bay.

I was planning on doing an engine swap in my 46 too. Once I got my truck home and looked at the shape it was in, I just could not bring myself to tear it up. Yes, yes, I know, a V-8, subframe or Mustang II front with discs does things for a truck, but if I had wanted that, I kept thinking I should have bought a newer truck. I am keeping the 6. If I does go toast, I will upgrage to a newer 235 but keep it stock. With a 6, my truck will be unique. Your 327 will be just fine on the engine stand for another year or two.

Rooster
Welcome aboard (Sorry I'm late seeing this)!

There are a bunch of our friends over at The Inliners Web Site who can help you hop up that 216. Plus, there are lots of speed goodies available for it -- check out our Links Page on this web site (look at the menu at the top of this page) under Parts. I know Barry Weeks used to have a lot of speed stuff available, as well as Patrick's, Jim Carter and American Classic (always at least try American Classic because they are so good about supporting this site).

Throwing a V-8 in an old truck is great and all that, but the guys who hop up the original motors seem to draw a lot more interest it seems (You can't swing a dead cat around here with out hitting an AD truck with a 350 in it. Nice, but everybody is doing it).

And once you hear a hopped up 216 like the one in Cosmo's or Doug Peterson's trucks, you'll just have to do it yourself.

Once I heard those two trucks, I changed my mind and I'm now going to go with a split header/manifold and straight pipes (stacks) up the back of the cab on my '49 2-ton

Straight motors rock!

Regards,
John

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy -- Red Green.