The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1940 chevy suburban

I am the proud 2nd owner of this burb,it is all original with windows on the side.I have had it for 30 yrs /clear title it was running when i parked it and am now retired and want to restore it ,but I am thinking of upgrading the engine to a 235 or should I modify it or keep it all orginal? suggestions?

It's up to you. It's your truck, and in order to enjoy it you need to do it the way you want.

If the 216 is good and you're happy with the truck I see no reason to replace it.
I decided to keep the 216 in my '51 until it completely quits on me and the cost of a rebuilt 235 is comparable to any repairs I might have to make. ...basically, I'll think about swapping when the 216 needs a full rebuild.

Dele,

We want to see pictures! seriously! Let me know if you need any help posting the pics. I can host them for you on my server if you have no other way..

As to the engine, I would keep the 216. You only have an original engine one time, and this is the most common question I get about my '51 burb "does it have the original engine?"

I have used my truck for many years for work and play, and I swapped in a 235 as one of the rods in the 216 was bad when I bought it. I have never regretted the swap because of the power and reliability of the 235 until someone asks "does it have the original engine?" Grrrr.

Anyway, unless you really need the extra power, I'd recommend staying with the 216.

Kurt

I've recently been asking myself the same type of question regarding the 46 1/2 ton pictured below. It has a 55-57 235 in it right now, but the fellow I got it from also gave me the block for the original 216. You can get insert rods for them nowadays, but it will still be a splash oiler, rather than full pressure. I had a 51 Chevy 2 door that I drove through high school in the late 60's. It was great running up and down the hills of the Ozarks, but when I started a 60 mile a day commute on the freeway, it lasted for about 4 months. Boom.

I believe that how you intend to use it makes a difference.

I also wondered if there was a clear difference in the market value of a truck that was kept original and one that had been modified. I looked at just about every car auction results from the last few years, that I could find on the internet, and best I could tell, a very well restored original and one, equally restored, but with tasteful usability modifications, are of about equal value in that venue.

I intend to take mine back to fully original, but there's a lot to do before reaching that point.