The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1952-216, Engine

This is our first truck restoration project. Just pulled the engine and pondering ideas. I'd like to be able to run the truck at 55-60 mph. I also want to keep it original. In "How to Restore Your Chevy Truck" they recommend Beck's Machine and Tool to change the lubrication system to run at a higher pressure. However, I'm a little worried about shipping this engine clear to California, I'm in Ohio. I've heard in other places that the 216's didn't get enough oil to the main bearings to operate at higher speeds. Anyone thats re-built this type of motor, your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance

Welcome to the shop!! Lots of the guys and gals around here run their stock 216's and are perfectly happy with the results. I would think yours would do 55-60 in stock form but to help it along I'd consider a gearing change in the rear end, Patrick's sells a 3:55 ring and pinion set that works well. A tranny with OD such as the T-5, or a 3-speed with OD combo works well too although you'd need to change to an open drive line.

Good luck with your project, and keep us posted.

If I wanted to keep everything original, would it be still not be pushing it?... Wouldn't mind changing the gear ratio, but keep it looking original.

Is your truck a 1/2 or 3/4 ton, and do you know what the rear end ratio is? If it's a 1/2 ton with 4:11 you should be fine.

It's a 3/4 ton, don't know the rear end ratio though

Looks like you've got a 3/4 ton there. It will have a 4.57 rear gear ratio (and an outside chance of a 5.14) which will make it slower than a stock 1/2 ton. There are no aftermarket faster gear sets available. Since you mentioned you are doing a restoration and keeping it stock, there aren't many options.
Your truck will do 55 to 60, but you wouldn't want to stay there for very long. You can try to find the coveted 4.10 third member from '68 or so to '72 (do a search here for more info) that will help some. I think some guys have swapped the 216 cast iron pistons for aluminum pistons on a rebuild to get a few more rpm's. I'm sure you'll get a lot more suggestions.

Unless you're planning on a complete restoration to original equipment condition, I'd suggest an upgrade to the 54-up 235 engine with a little camouflage to make it look like the 216 to the casual observer. The top-bolt valve cover and the high-mount water pump adapter makes the high pressure engine look original to the casual observer.

It's going to be very expensive to convert the 216 to full-pressure oiling, and you won't have much of an advantage over the splash-oiled engine when it's all done. Millions of splash oilers ran for a lot of years under tougher operating conditions than the average restored stovebolt encounters. A good original-specification buildup, possibly with the rods machined for insert bearings, would be very reliable without going to the effort and shipping expense of the conversion job. The 3.55:1 ring & pinion will help the cruise speed and you can keep the original-looking closed driveline system.
Jerry

Edit: No help on the 3/4 ton gear ratio- - - -there's no highway-cruise gear available for that one. You would need a transmission and rear end change to get more road speed.
Jerry

I happen to be "disguising" a '55 235 to look like a 216 like Jerry mentions for my '52 3/4 ton.
Photo
Though I can understand you wanting to keep your 216 due to the very low mileage of your truck...

the side covers are a dead give away but most folks don't even know about that!

As I said original is what I'm after, however i don't have any problems with changing the "guts" of the rear end or such.
How much different is the rear end of the 1/2 ton compared to my 3/4 ton??

Keep them ideas coming!!! Thanks

There's a really big difference in the 1/2 ton rear, compared to the heavier ones. 3/4 and 1-ton rear axles are similar, with the center section being interchangeable. 3/4 tons use single rear wheels and slightly smaller brakes than the 1-ton, while the tonners run dual wheels and larger diameter, wider brake drums. They both run "full-floating" hubs with two large bearings and eight lug bolts, where the axle shafts bolt in from the outside of the hub. The 1/2 ton runs a "semi-floating" hub with a single wheel bearing inboard of a flanged axle shaft with six lug bolts. The axle is retained by a C-shaped washer that fits a groove on the inboard end of the axle. Virtually nothing interchanges between the 1/2 ton and larger rear ends.

The 1/2 ton axle runs a standard gear ratio of 3.90:1 and there is an aftermarket gearset to change the ratio to 3.55:1. The bigger rear end can have 4.11, 4.57, or 5.17 ratios, The 4.11 is as scarce as a chicken with lips! Good luck finding one! The 3/4 ton will probably have the 4.57, which is good for pulling medium-sized stumps, especially combined with the crash-box granny gear on the 4-speed SM-420 transmission. There are some later-model full-floater rear axles with 8-lug hubs, but most of them are too wide to fit inside the old Chevy pickup fenders properly.
Jerry

I changed my 1-tonner from the original 5.14 to a 4.10, and I can easily do 55 - 60 with my 216. A '72 centre section dropped into my axle housing. I believe, too, that the standard ratio in a 3/4-T is 4.56.

cshamel,

I happen to live right by ol' Beck himself. Give him a call and ask him if he knows anyone around you who can do the conversion. He'd be more than willing to talk your ear off.

have been following this post because it is interesting reading. one or two posts up is a mention of 3:90 gear in a 1/2 ton rear. i have a 46 1/2 ton and believed the rear to be a 4:11. not having known of the 3:90 are these part of the AD series trucks? is there an easy tell between the two? are all 41-46 1/2 tons the same rear @ 4:11? will 390's swap w/ 411's and at a cheaper cost than the patricks 355's to get a nearly similiar gearing to mph result? i will be installing a 60 261 in my truck when she is ready. thanks folks...biged

The 3.90:1 rears didn't appear in 1/2 ton trucks until 1954. Before that the only ratio in a 1/2 ton was 4:11 (not sure how far back that goes but includes all the AD's except '54).

Also, the 4:11 was not available in any 3/4 or heavier trucks during the AD years.

Rear ends are totally different between a 1/2 and 3/4 ton,look at 67 to 72 3/4 tons to get taller gears and the center section will bolt in. You can find the gear ratios by looking on the inside of the glove box door usually as it has the options. Jeff