The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 216 or 235

hey guys, need some quick help, my truck is a 1950 1 ton, i have a chance to get some 216 parts asap but not sure on my engine, everything is original on the truck, i just dont know what engine it is. is there a quick way to id it without scraping off the dirt and grease to get the stamp number?

Nope, the engine might have been changed over the years. A few external items can give you a general idea but even some of these things can be disguised.

- 2 bolt or 4 bolt valve cover?
- Side cover that over/around the spark plugs or stops below the head?
- Is there a little triangular cover on the manifold side of the block?
- Does the down-pipe from the exhaust manifold drop straight down or is it angled towards the rear of the truck?

Tim

With a 216, the centre to centre measurement on the carb studs is 2 11/16". That measurement on a 235 is larger.

If you remove the carb, the bore at the bottom end will be 1 1/2" for a 216 and 1 9/16 for a 235.

If your motor is original, it will be a 216 and the valve cover will be held on with two studs coming through the top of it.

If you have a side cover that does not go higher than the block, your casting numbers on the block and the head will be the same for the 216 and the 235.

holy smokers, 2 v-cover studs, smaller side plate and draft tube points backward.not sure on the carb studs til'i take it apart.did that truck come stock with a 235 option?

I've seen the number '235' stamped in the pan, directly below the distributor. But still hard to see under the crud etc.

I have not seen where the 235 was optional on the 1 Ton.

You don't have to take anything apart to measure the distance between the studs, you just need a pair of cheap calipers.

I just went and measured the spacing of the studs for the 235 and it is 2 15/16"

Manifolds are interchangeable so anything is possible there.

Here’s a great page showing the differences with the exception that GM Canada put a short side cover on later 216’s :

http://pugetsoundvintagechevrolet.org/Programs/6%20cylinder%20engines%20with%20photos.pdf


Look at the lower right picture on this page specifically at the tumor on the right side of the block:

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1948_51truck/51ctsm0605.htm


If the engine has a cover plate there it is splash oiled and as Patrick Dykes would say…..”walk away and look for a full pressure donor”. Where in Alberta are you?



Curt B

hey curt, i'm in edmonton, looks like alot of bolters in our area,we will have to have a edmonton get together haha,keep in touch.

The serial number by the dizzy will be the for-sure ID.

He seems confused as to how the crankshafts were lubricated - refers to all pre-1953 main bearings as "spray".
Not true - they're pressurized.

There also doesn't seem to be a mention of the low pressure motors with hydraulic lifters. Also, the short side cover 216s were made in Canada and the USA.

The manifolds on the 216s and the 235s have different size alignment rings and trying to interchange them can be a problem. Beyond that the carburetors would not operate correctly on the wrong motor without some modifications. For that reason I suspect it would be unlikely to find a truck with that modification.