The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop How Hot does your Chevy 216 Truck Run

I drive my 1949 Chevy Truck stock 216 alot on week ends and noticed it runs pretty hot, or I think it does. Usually according to the temp guage it stays just under the 180 mark most times all year long, but during this 90 to 100 degree temp it runs between 180 and 212 or so, is that normal for this truck? Thanks Sig

The 216 in my 51 runs around 190 all the time. Will creep up a bit if I'm in traffic but comes right down to around 185-190. What thermostat are you running?

212 might be a tad high, depending on how long it stayed..

my 235 never,never, run over 185 and this was hot Tx weather

My 216 NEVER runs over 180, even when I had to tow the bus (7ton) .

You know that 212 is boiling , don't you. So that is too high.

Maybe time for a flush of the system. Also antifreeze should be used year round , 30% for best protection , both from freezing (not happening where you are) and boiling (is happening!)

Regards

Hi, SiG, My 49 1/2 ton stock engine not rebuilt yet at about 130,000 miles has run at a steady 180 since 1974 when my dad got it to pick up fire wood and take garbage to the dump at the cottage in the Okanagan. It has done a total of 4, 300 mile trips since then up to the cottage and back to the lower mainland.

What's the pressure rating on the radiator cap? That one should probably be running a 4 lb. or maybe as much as a 7 lb. cap. The boiling point of coolant rises 3 degrees F. for every pound of pressure, so you could get up to 233 before it boils with a 7# cap. It looks like you're getting into slightly dangerous territory when the temp gets over 200, assuming the gauge is accurate.

Infra-red thermometers are available from places like Harbor Freight or Northern Tool, and they can be used to check the accuracy of the gauge without removing the radiator cap and exposing yourself to a potentially painful boil-over.
Jerry

Stock 216 1/2 ton truck engines came with 0 psi radiator caps and 150-160 degree thermostats.

Full-pressure standard 235 1/2 ton 1954 truck engines came with 4 psi radiator caps and 150-160 thermostats.

Even good engine rebuilders not always carefully cleaned out the rear-most end of the block. This is one significant contribution to a hot engine (that has a good radiator).

My timing was off when mine ran hot

I will add to my above post that my truck is running a 0 PSI rad cap, also that my dad put about 1500 miles per year on it from 74 till 05 when he gave it to me. I think that it has a 180 deg. thermostat in it, but I am not positive about that.