The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 216 Chev VS. 228 GMC

Hello all,

I found a running 216 Chev. I am working on a 51 GMC with a 228 engine. I am rebuilding the 228 little by little, but in the meantime, will the 216 plug right in?

1. Bell houseing?
2. Motor Mounts?
3. Linkage?
4. Valve Cover/Carb/Air Cleaner (valve cover reads gmc, thought it'd fit the bill until i got the 228 done.)
5. Anything else?

This is of huge help, and appreciate all feedback.

Many thanks!

Dallas

Also, since we have a 216 vs 228 is there a horsepower difference?

Just curious....

Thanks again...

The biggest difference is the engine length. The 216 is shorter. you'll need to make an adapter for the front motor mount. It is also less powerful, but not enough to make a big difference. Just don't rev it too high on the highway, the babbit in the rods will deform.

Ah shoot. I was hoping it would go right in...

Any other ideas?

Why not finish up the 228 and drop it in ? Case closed..

How far along is the 228 engine?
If you can get the 216 cheap enough, maybe sell/trade it in ebay so you will have a REAL TRUCK ENGINE

That may be a plan.

Here is the scoop, tell me what you think.

This is my Grandfathers truck, pulled it home. I didnt try to start, no batter, etc.

Dad said tranny was strong, clutch was bad, and motor smoked to high heaven.

I have carefully and cautiously labled everything during disassebly.

I have the short block (nickname grease nugget) on the engine stand, and the head, everything else dissassembled.

No visible cracks, water, or anything. The head gasket was ruff, and leaking the tops of the pistons have in my mind quite a bit of build-up. The oil was fairly clean, and the water jackets all flow.
The head is fairly clean as well.

However the estimates I am getting on re-builds are:

1980.00
2250.00
2120.00

The running 216 I found. 50 bucks, plus gas and everything to drive 16 hours round trip to get it.

I want originality, thats why I was hoping to use the 216 long block, and put all the gmc stuff on it (valve cover, etc.)

See the dillema?

-Dallas

Big dilemma there, as the GMC stuff just will not fit on the Chevy stuff,,,,UNLESS it is Canadian built.
I see that Kanter vintage auto parts has a deluxe rebuild kit for a 228 GMC for $850(includes new valves and guides for the head)

You can rebuild it yourself with a shop manual and a few tools. A torque wrench is a must, a lot of the other tools can be borrowed or rented at a parts store. Find out how much a local machine shop will charge to rebuild the head and machine the block and crank. Be sure that they magnaflux the block before machining, that way if they find any cracks you're not out much money.

Good call Mechainiac!

I found them on the web at:

Kanter Auto Parts

The sites a little wierd, but if you scroll down, you can see enine parts and re-build kits.

I am lookint at about 1100 to do it myself "right". That includes the entire kit, plus having the head/block/crank machines and magnafluxed.

Well, its better than 2 grand, and I will have a (hopefully) strong running 228.

I'll keep you all updated.

Thanks for all the help...