The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop What Engine Should I Use??

I know that many out there have strong feelings about this, but I will ask anyway. I just purchased a '47 1-1/2 ton w/ a 216 under the hood. It appears that someone along the way cut out the tranny crossmember and welded it back afterwards with what may have been a tranny fix/replace. I am going to do a frame-off restoration (and replace that crossmember if I can in the process), but I plan on driving it for general truck stuff (Home Depot, moving stuff, show & shines, etc.). I do not need it for a business or to win awards for authenticity (however my first preference is to kepp it stock). So my question is this, what is the ideal engine/tranny combination for this purpose? I like the idea of staying stock, but I see a lot of notes out there warning about the '216. If I don't keep the original engine then I might as well look at all my options. What about a later model V8/tranny combo? How hard is this to do?
:confused:

You know we been thru this a bunch.
If you wanted to go fast why would you have a 216?
But if you just want to drive round town at 35-40 it's just fine
Change the oil a lot.Don't push it too hard climbing hills.Have fun

47, I wouldn't even rebuild engine if it runs OK. Have you had running yet? Just put on new gaskets and paint and leave alone. I'm wondering if you really do have a 216 or if someone replaced it and needed the later year x-over for it to set in. Around 54 they went to angled feet on bellhousing as the early ones used straight mounts. Check the flat-angled spot behind distributor for engine code stamp and also the casting numbers in/on block and heads. Post them here or go to www.inliners.org site for their list of #'s. I like the old sixes. Will be much easier to put in another six rather than cobble in a newer V-8. Can use later 235 and drop right in. Rebuilding 216 is OK, tricky if you're not familier with them to set-up the shims for bearing clearances. OR, can change to insert bearings by changing rods and other things, but costs more that way. Inliners can help you with all those ideas.

Just ignore Proffit, he's using too many Med's again. I think he's depressed again! :p

235/261 run the 216 till it blows up(maybe it aint a 216) than throw it away.

GL............ D.F.R.

yer probly waste'n yer money rebuildin' the 216.
go with a 235 or a 261. shure you can put a v8 in but that's what everybody does :p just my .02

hello 47 chev. i had the same planning to do a few months ago on my 55 first series. i've even gone so far as to have a nice 350 and 4 speed sitting between the frame rails, and the steering modified to fit the engine. but what made me decide what engine to use was to go to some of the major car shows in the area to get an idea of what others were doing to their trucks, and combine the ideas to use on mine.what i came up with was to keep the 6 cylinder idea, but use a 57 235,[mine came with a tired 51 235], use the stock 3 speed transmission,and change to 3;55 rear end gears,front disc brakes on the stock front end, and a dual master cylinder. as you go along you'll get plenty of ideas. some that i just mentioned might fit your situation since you mentioned that you wanted it to appear stock two times.hope this helps. good luck.

Thanks to all for your comments. I can see that I will be spending a lot of time at this website where opinions come cheap, but the advice is priceless.

As it turns out, I do have a 216 with a date code that matches to '47. Also, the engine does run and the guy I bought it from actually had it up to 50MPH, however he recommended I don't repeat that feat. I don't plan on firing it up again until it is done. I may just keep the 216 till it dies as was suggested. Now my only problem is the transmission. Does anyone know where I can find out tranny info such as types, codes, etc??