The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk how many guys here running a 216 in there trucks?

how many guys here are using a 216 in there chevy trucks? what gear ratios? tire sizes? how far are you driving your trucks everyday? crusing speed???

My 53 3100 has I believe the stock 4;11,nothing has been changed.The rear tires are 750-16LT.I drive it 3 times a week about 40 miles round trip,mostly highway at 50mph indicated 60mph actual.

orig 216 with 4 speed. Have not driven it anywhere yet. March of next year will be its first trip in 7 years

1949 216 cubic inch I6

Original Crash Box 4 speed
1)7.06
2)3.43
3)1.71
4)1.00
R)6.98

Original Differential
4.56:1

I get 45MPH (ish) at 2500 RPM (in high gear), and if I go all the way up to 3000, it goes 55MPH (ish).

Number 7 is taking a nap this winter. She's only being woken up once a week for an hour or so to keep everything happy.

ETA: Tires are 235/75R15's on stock split rims.

My 216 resides under a shelf in the garage... anyone want it?

beaver, afew questions for you, first where did you find your tires at? i work in austin and would like a set, 2nd, whats the rpm on your 40 mile trip? bearable?

i have the original 216 in my 50 3/4 ton chevy. it has somewhere between 65,000 and 75,000 miles on it. it runs great and all i've done to it is plugs, points, condenser and change the oil every 1500 miles (over the summer months every 1000).

i have a home office so i don't commute anywhere but to get my coffee fix in the morning. the truck is typically driven daily but i ususally don't put more than 400-500 miles a month on the truck.

i do have the 8 lug, 17" wheels on the truck but it's comfortable top speed is probably around 45. it has been on the freeway twice since i've owned it in the last 13 years. it does not like freeways.

it also has the original gearing in the rear end and it's a four speed (granny plus 3).

1940 3/4 ton with 216, original 3 speed transmission and original rear end. Top speed is just a smidge over 45. 50 if you are going down hill with the wind at your back. The old 216 purrs like a sewing machine and I actually like going slow (once in a while). I only put around 200 miles a year doing errands around town during the 6 months of decent weather. The truck has 15 inch rims and the tires are 225 75 15 I think.

Since my truck also has the wind out windshield, you never have to worry that you are going too fast to crank it open and let the breeze blow through the cab.

I have a sports car and the truck. The kids prefer a ride in the truck with all the windows open. No ipods or gameboys allowed in the truck. We sing songs if we want music. It is a blast!

Some have seen these pics before but there are many new members here so I'll show them again. That 216 is a great little engine (but I do like the 261 in my '48 truck).

In 1964, we drove our '51 Chev with its 216 the 1250 miles from western Washington to southeast Wyoming, crossing the Continental Divide several times while loaded to the gills and pulling a U-Haul trailer. We had a contest to see which family member could guess our miles per gallon.....of oil, that is.

End of the Trip.

After Wyoming Blizzard.

DBone,

Running a "39" 216 in my 46, with 4:11 rear end and crash-box 4-speed. She runs like a dream a cruises pretty comfortably around 50 mph with 16 inch wheels/tires.

Similar situation with my 52. I'm running a "48" splash oiling 235 and the stock 4-speed and rear end. She'll run a bit better than the 46, feeling pretty comfortable cruising between 55-60. I'm sure she'd do better, but I'm running smaller 15 inch wheels/tires.

I have the original 216 ci in My 52...It
has 15,872 miles...This is original mileage as it has been in Our Family since new...
During restoration, I kept looking at the spanking new turn-key 350, but the 216 ci won out.
She was born with a 216, and thats how she
stayed... BB

I plan to put the 216 back in my 53. I would like to change out the 3 speed column shift with a 4 speed floor shift and leave the enclosed drive shaft. Maybe I will find one here in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Floor shifters are cool.

Putting the 216 back in Betty Boop as we speak. If I can get my body guy off his a$$.

I'm driving a 1/2 ton 3100 with the original setup, 216 with the 3 on the tree, 16 inch tires. I don't drive farther than 20 - 25 miles from home, since the block is a little cracked, but I drive around 50 mph, and I think it is actually going some faster, since not so many pass me by. It runs just fine, feels strong, even on those few occasions when I load it heavy. It seems like a good strong unit.

Good brakes and tall 16" radials and going 55 shouldn't be a problem.

I am planning on keeping the 216 in my red '42 ton and a half. That is, if it is healthy. It hasn't been running in at least 15 years (according to the previous owner).
I hope to have it running before spring.

John

I have installed a 4.10 pumpkin in the rearend and I will be running 235/85 R16s. My motor is the original 216 which I rebuilt myself. I expect to do 50 mph at just under 2200 rpm. That is a high as I want to run the revs on the motor, on a constant basis. During the rebuild I installed aluminum pistons of similar design to the original iron ones and I converted the rods to inserts. The rods are very difficult to re-babbitt because they use a very thin layer unlike other babbitted rod motors.

The original 216 is in my '48. It has the original rear end, too, plus the original 16 inch rims, and the tires were on it when I bought it in 1989, and they're still holding air. I haven't drivien it since I bought it, but hope to by spring.

1940 1 1/2 ton w/ the original 216

700 20 tires, dually.

Tops out around 40 mph, I think the rear end is 6.58?

Dbone, I could not tell you where the tires came from.They were on the truck when I got it and started the restoration 12 years ago. The are recaps and yea I know they are old, but look like new. Can't tell you the RPMS at speed but purrs like cat. I saw a post the other day that linked to two dealers selling 750x16 tires at about 115.00 each. Wallice tires out of Dallas also has them, but I can't find their # now .I,ll look in the paper this weekend and get it.

thanks beaver...

Some have read about my current 50 3/4 ton pickup . It has its original 216 with 52000 something miles showing. SM420 4-speed, 4.57 rear gears - all stock/original. I have driven it about 600 miles in the past 11 mos that it's been "back". Mine will go 55 with the 7.00-15 tires but it's screaming. I calculated about 2800 rpm. Gas mileage I guess 10 mpg and right now oil mileage is about 60 mpq.

Well...the guy said it ran when he parked it 4 years ago, and he meant to rebuild the carb and somehow lost it. So I hauled it home and fogged the pistons.It wasn't stuck but I did it anyway. My neighbor gave me a carb...been sitting in a box on the shelf for about twenty years and you guessed it...it worked when he put it there. So I wallered out the mounting holes on the carb with a chainsaw file and finally got it to slide over the studs on the intake, took the pan off and scooped out the handfuls of gooey sloppy crap that had been there for 54 years now (it's a 52 3600 with a 216 and 4-speed...all original except the wallered out carb that Roy gave me). Added new plugs, cap, rotor, condenser, honed out the master and wheel cylinders and kitted them, got all the electrical working, put new used radials on the 15 inch split rims and headed down the road....44 miles a day to work and back...every day...at a blazing 45 mph...and loving every minute of it! No need for body work...surface rust only. It's actually a real pretty shade of rust, sorta brownish copperish with a hint of faded green paint here and there. Will get some pictures on one of these days. Plan to drive it til it blows and then figger it out....probly change to 235 and put 1/2 ton axles and driveshaft in her. In the meantime, I'll just shake rattle and roll on down the road with that old 2-piece driveshaft jarring my teeth out until something flys apart. So far so good. 97000-plus and still going....and going!

Dash
I been to a lot of places in Tennessee but not to Bean Station. What bigger town is it close to?
I also like to read about guys actually driving their old trucks - daily, to work or to work out of. My 50 3600 is getting close and I hope to make it my daily by next summer. Keep drivin em.

47 1 1/2 ton original 216 ran when it was it was parked 35 years ago woke it up and I think it runs as good as it did in 47.

'51 3800, 216, synchro 4-speed, 5.14 factory rear gears. LT225-75R16 tubeless tires. Happy at 35 - 40 mph. Will do 50, but not happily unless it's pulling hard.

I've pretty much decided on a 4.10 rearend, yet to be installed, which will make 50mph easy and 60+ possible. That ought to bring the fuel economy into the tolerable range for daily driving, and eventually one of those 5-speed trannies from a Dodge Cummins, with one minor modification, will hide under the floorboards and make freeway speeds practical.

Dbone, for you or anyone who intends to use his truck as a daily driver I'd strongly recommend going to tube-type Radial tires on the original rims. LT7.50-R16 tires are readily available, will run cooler with less rolling resistance, and will in every way be better that original-equipment rubber, which belongs on museum pieces.

FRANK 50...

Bean Station is about 40 miles northeast of Knoxville...at the foot of Clinch Mountain. Lotsa truckers know it coz they get off I75 at Corbin, KY and run 25E thru Bean Station to get to I81 north tords Bristol or I40 east tords Asheville, NC. Nice town...laid back. Glad to hear your ole 216 is goin strong.
Dash Riprocker

I am running the original 216 in my 1951 1/2 ton. It does have aluminum pistons and is bored .40 over. Cruises at 45 mph with no strain. Fast enough for me - old fart - in no hurry anymore! :-) BW

I'm running the original 216 in my Canadian 1952 GMC 1 ton. It's rebuilt, .030 over, aluminum pistons, insert bearing, hardened exhaust valve seats. I barely touch the gas and it purrs at 80 km/h (50 mph) (original 5.14 rear gears). I don't push it any higher.

I have a 216 in my '51 Fleetline Deluxe (car) and the whole drivetrain is original. It has a Powerglide automatic tranny and I'm unsure of the rear gears. I put some radial shoes on it and I have no trouble cruising at 60 to 65 mph. It would probably go faster, but I don't want to push it. I have made several 200 mile trips and haven't had any trouble with its cruisability.

toxictiki - Are you sure that's a 216? I know when the Powerglide came out in 50 it had the 235 engine with aluminum pistons and hydraulic lifters, but still had babbited rods with oil dippers. I don't think Chevy ever mated the 216 to a Powerglide.
Dash - I have vacationed in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, so I have been close to you.

DBone-
Here is a website you might want to check out if you are curious about tire sizes and gear ratios. They have an excellent calculator that allows you to plug in all the variables like speed, rpm, gear ratio, and tire size.
It will help you figure out what you have now and give you a big head start on any new combinations you might want to try...

www://ringpinion.com

Good Luck!
Guy

I have a 216 from a three-quarter ton and another 216 that I have bought (still awaiting delivery).

One of those two engines will head into my 1949 Chevrolet one ton.

-sambear

i have original 216 in my 1949 3600, backed witha a 4 speed and a heck of a rear end i drive it all the time. nice and easy is the key to a long engine life

I thought mine was a 216, it's actually a low pressure 235 after I ran the numbers. Before I threw a few rods, I was mainly driving it on weekends and occasionally to work. It's got original 4 speed gearing and I never drove it above 45. When I was driving it more regularly, I would drive it about 15-20 miles on the days I drove it.

I have a ’49 216 in my ’41, it came that way. Hadn’t been started in 20 years according to the seller. New battery, changed the oil, cleaned the gas tank and carb, some temporary wiring and off she went. It now has 17 miles in half mile increments (around the block).

The 4.10 is in! I've been driving it to work for a couple of weeks, and I love the new gear ratio. The 216 is happy anywhere between 50 - 55 in top gear, nowhere near top cruising speed. Power is adequate, fuel economy improved. Tires 235/85R16. Feels very relaxed compared to what it did. On the weekend I had a 170-mile day. No problem. My truck is 7-800 pounds heavier than a 1/2-ton.

i think the most mileage i put on my truck in one day was in the ballpark of 75 miles or so, that is mainly back road, i alomst hate to go on the highway (65mph) i run about 50-55 mph and people don't like that, their would rather go around you doing 75-80mph and mouth bad words
(thats why i love those hidden cops)

46 suburban ...original 216 w/ 50,000 miles...runs very good...PATRICKS 3:55 rear end.
Goes 60mph no problem...most of time 50 to 55.

I took my old babbitt pounder out. Put in a 261 from a 1959 car. Left the old torque tube in. I don't know the rear end ratio. Hope its a 4:10. Tires are 16"