Thread: Does Anyone Have A Chevy 216 V6 Motor That Needs To Be Rebuilt?

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"Trouble is, I don't think Zak will heed any of the advise he has asked for."

Don, your wisdom is exceeded only by your good looks.

I understand what everyone is saying, I just thought if I can find one for cheap I would go ahead and get it. The first thing I planned on fixing was all of the body work then doing the interior. When I get all of that done I was going to mess with the engine.
Zak

Don, your wisdom is exceeded only by your good looks.


Thanks Tech, but if good looks are a requirement for being wise, I'm really in trouble.


And Zak, nobody is trying to beat up on you, but think about this. What if you find and buy that 216 only to find out the car is untitleable (is that a word?) then you will be stuck with a 216 that is good for an anchor.

There is a reason experienced car builders do it in logical steps. We've all made mistakes that have cost us time and money, if we can save you from making some of the same mistakes, that is all we are trying to do.

Don

Thanks for helping. I don't think getting a tiltle for the car will be very hard. Like I said the car has been sitting in my Grandpa's pasture for 30+ years. It was dumped there in the late 70's??? My Grandfather owns the land, so I guess that makes him the owner of the car since it was there when he bought the land. I think all I have to do is fill out an application for a lost title.
Zak

Gotta add my 2 centavos here:

The most common mistake made in the hot rodding hobby (or in any hobby for that matter) is jumping in without first being realistic. I've done it, we've all done it.....we let our dreams comingle with reality and we start a project with no chance for completion. Swap meets and Auto Trader ads are full of good intended projects that are only partially done.

Be realistic: It will take at least $20,000 cash to get this car running. Twenty grand IF you and your relatives work for free. I'm guessing that the windows are broken, the tires/wheels are gone, the gas tank is rusted out, the chrome is shot, the trim missing or unuseable, the interior is probably a pack rat hotel, and the cloth-covered wiring is frayed.....and the engine/tranny is gone. That's why it was drug to the ditch in the first place...it was shot. Twenty grand. Minimum. Dont spout the B.S. about scrounging parts, etc. We've all used that line too. You might scrounge some stuff but the rest will cost.

Be realistic: This wasnt your grandfather's car. It was dumped on his property before he bought it. What is your connection to the car? If you got your first sex in the front seat, it might have sentimental value. If you married her, it will not. Spending all the time plus the $20 grand isnt a good deal, not matter what you learn from the experience. Take part of the money and buy a 1948 Chev from someone who already hiked this trail and is ready to dump his dream.....nightmares are dreams, too.

Be realistic: Are you a body man? A painter? An engine builder? A chassis man? Learning is good but it takes time. Dont try to build the Empire State building on your first try.....and dont think you are going to learn the right way and do it with Harbor Freight crappy tools. Look at real pros...their tools are not el cheapo Chinese junk. OOPS, add $20 grand for tools.

Be realistic: get a car that is running. Fix the brakes first. Tinker with the motor. Do some work on the shocks, suspension, etc. Learn about the wiring, especially the wiring. Try some body work if you feel brave. If you start with a shell of a car on your first try, you'll be overwhelmed and will never have it completed.

Be realistic.

We have all done it.....dont toss good money into a hopeless cause.

mike in tucson

Thanks for the reply. I kind of wanted to use this car to learn to do body work and stuff like that. If I can do all the body work that's when I would maybe start putting money into it. It would just be a project I would work on when I'm at his house. I just hate to see old cars sit and rust when someone could do something with it. You all are right it may never see the road, but I'll still work on it anyway. Here's what's left on the car.

90% Original Chrome Trim In Good Shape
Complete Shell-Unrusted, Nice Solid Body
Dash, Door Handles (Interior/Exterior)
All Chrome Bumpers In Good Shape
Chrome Grill In Good Shape
Seat Frames
Floor Pans Are All There With No Rust

Zak

Originally Posted by Oldf100fordman

Matt, unless I've gone totally deep into Oltimerz', that 235 in your car with the powerglide should have insert bearings and should have an oil pump, and the oil pressure gauge should go all the way to 60 PSI, not the 30 PSI max that the splash and babbit bearing 216 had as it's top reading (and the 216 never got that high, believe me).

I don't know, could be. I thought the first year for a full preassure 235 was '53. mine looks just like a 216, with the 2 bolt valve cover and all.

My Grandfather owns the land, so I guess that makes him the owner of the car since it was there when he bought the land. I think all I have to do is fill out an application for a lost title.

Just a thought. YOUR guesses and what YOU think it takes to get a title might not agree with what TEXDOT thinks it takes to get a title. Before you do anything, call them. If you get someone who doesn't seem to know, ask for a supervisor.

That's what I planned on doing. If they dumped it 30 years ago I doubt they want it now. If anyone has an opinion on this topic please let me know. I'm guessing I can just get a lost title for the car, but what do I know.
Zak

Mike in Tucson brings up some very good points, and so do you Zak, about wanting to save this hulk from rusting away to nothing. That is very noble, and what we rodders and restorers try to do. But there are two things (at least 2) that you have to consider:

1) This particular car will cost far more to restore than it will ever be worth.

2) A project that starts out as a body that has been sitting in a ditch for that long has more serious issues to deal with than body and interior. Every suspension bushing and component is going to have to be refurbished and/or replaced. It doesn't make sense to make the body look nice and then start redoing the frame and running gear. Do it the other way around.

You can find these, or similar cars very reasonable on Ebay, in running, or near running condition (we passed up a very clean one at Daytona last year for $ 2500 because it wasn't our cup of tea, but the owner was really ready to deal, and it ran.)

Just trying to help.

Don

I wanted to start with the body first because it won't cost me anything but time. I'm only 15 so I don't always have cash. That's one of the reasons I want to work on this car. I Got It For Free!!!
Zak

That stinks. Someone on Ebay has a 216, but they are from up north. They are selling it for $10. I wish someone in Texas had something like that. If they did it would be mine.
Zak

I think I am done with this thread. Feel like I am on a runaway train.


Don

Step 1--get a title
Step 2--Don't worry what step two is until you complete step 1

Just a thought, I wouldn't waste a dime on a 216 or a 235---Neither one were any good when they were new..... Get something late model for an engine and at least build something you have a chance of getting some of your money back when you're tired of it.....Trust me, you will get tired of it.......

I know what you all are saying. The motor isn't big enough, it doesn't have enough power, the car isn't worth messing with, and it will cost me way too much money. I'm not just ignoring you all. I understand. It's just it was free and I don't have alot of cash so that's what I can afford at the moment. Down the road I may decide to take out the 216 and put a 350 in it. I just don't know. I got it for free and it's just something for me to play around with. I may never even buy an engine for it. It might sit at my Grandpa's house forever. Who know's.
Thanks for your time and responses,
Zak