BUSY BOLTERS Are you one?  The Shop Area
continues to pull in the most views on the Stovebolt. In August alone there were over 22,000 views in those 13 forums.
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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 581 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 581 | Holy Crap!!!
That's some piece of artwork you got there - definitely a conversation piece!
What's the history of this engine?! Like, How'd it get so beat up? Looks like a broken skirt on the other piston, as well?
Wha' happen?
-Michael | | | | | Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,028 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,028 | The machine shop thinks this was siezed. The pistons were froced out the bottom so a few are damaged. It will likely need to be bored out so I will be getting new pistons anyway.
My real concern is that the block and head are not cracked. I will find that out soon enough.
Rich
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 130 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 130 | howdy rb 53,,, i can't help but mention to you that if you move the head off the bench ,it looks like the block will fall on your truck ! [the 2475009 picture] . also,, we have a 235 long block if you want to come up to suncook to get it. we're not going to use it,, if you are interested let me know and we'll will dig it out for you. good luck,, garyg. grantg34@comcast.net
our garage is a non-profit organization
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 | That's a lot of money for an old Stovebolt engine. I bought a 54 6500 a while back for $500. It has a rebuilt 261 and a rebuilt carb on it with 6 decent tires. I just sold a runnable 54 235 to a fellow 'Bolter for $100. In my opinion, I would scrap that engine and go after something better, like in big 'bolts,
Scott | | | | | Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,028 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,028 | Scott,
I see your point but runnable is not what I want. Repairable is what I like! I get satisfaction from saving old junk...it is my cross to bear(a disease according to my wife).
Beside these engines are not that common around my parts. I saved my truck from the crusher...no one else thought it was worth saving.
Rich
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 581 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 581 | Rich,
way to go!!! I'm a card-carrying member of the save it at all costs club, so I appreciate your point of view.
Of course, I'm also a member of the "what-the-hell-we-may-as-well-rebuild-it-from-the-ground-up-since-we're-in-it-this-far club, so I generally advise on the less practical side of replacing everything. I'd rather sink a lot of money into it know, so I can know exactly what I've got, and it won't need ANYTHING 10 or more years down the road (hopefully!).
If it's just fun to save it, than fix/replace what obviously needs it, and put it back together. There are amazing stories of these engines taking huge amounts of abuse and staying on the road.
If you're gonna make a daily (or very often, at least) driver out of it, or even a worker, then go more deeply.
My thoughts, anyway.
-Michael | | | | | Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,028 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,028 | Mike,
I agree...my current 216 is a great engine but years of wear have robbed it of much HP. I drive it as often as I can but would really like a more dependable and drivable truck
One that doesn't have to pull over to let everyone behind it by on the long hills of those Maine country roads.
In for a penny in for a pound. I started this truck with the thought that I could just get it on the road with some repairs... ended up a full of frame restoration. But I wanted to know what I was driving was dependable.
Maybe my expectations of this old technology is just to high?
Rich
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 | That's great, provided you have someone capable of "saving" it. Not many old time machinists and parts left,
Scott | | | | | Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,028 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,028 | I know a few.
The guy I am taking it to has a lot of experience and knowledge of the 235. A friend of my brother's has been machining engine blocks since these trucks were new.
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