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

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I need one of these for my 1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster. If you have one please post it here. Remember it doesn't need to be running, but it needs to be rebuildable.

No one has one? It can be running or non-running. It must be rebuildable.

You may be misleading people as the motor you have discussed is not a V6. It is a "straight 6" or "inline 6". You could also tell what years of Chevrolet it was used in, so those who don't know what size engine they have could still respond.

I said I needed it for my 48 Stylemaster.

Someone told me it was a v6. That may have been a typo.

On another thread "Henry Rifle" told you that the motors were the same from 37-53, in all Chevy products. The only thing I will add is that the 53 with an automatic trans had the new 235. It is a better motor. I put one in my 53 Chevy with stick shift, replacing the 216. The only thing I had to do was drill some new holes in the motor mount brackets. These motors were the same until the early sixties, and were much better. If you are going to keep the car, put the 235 in it. If you want to keep it original to sell, go with the 216.

Zak: Been reading the threads you have posted re: the '48, and it appears you are new to the car rebuilding hobby. (when you asked what a compression test was, that sort of gave me a clue ) That's ok, welcome to the car world. Get ready for some greasy fingernails, busted knuckles, and a lot of fun.

Now, for this '48......what are you trying to accomplish with it. If you are looking to restore it, that is one thing, but if you want to build something to drive on a semi regular basis, that is a whole different animal. As HOTRODPAINT, Henry Rifle, and the others mentioned, the early 216's were superceded by engines that were vastly improved by having real bearings in them, among other improvements. These early engines were, well..........early. They were great engines in their day, but there is a reason Chevrolet changed to the bigger engine.........they had outlived their time. The splash oiling system works, but not as well as a real oil pump does. (probably someone will come on here and say the 216 is the best engine ever made, but this is just my opinion) I bought a '38 Chevy that the previous owner had painstakenly restored. I drove it around the block and took it to a swap meet and sold it. I couldn't see myself driving such a slow, noisy shifting, antique. I am just not a restorer guy.

Anyway, give us a thumbnail of what you want to do with the car. Post some pictures of what you have. As HOTRODPAINT said, a later straight 6 goes in there pretty easily, and will make it a much better car, driving-wise, but it will not be original. Nor will it be original unless you can find exactly the same year and model 216. By the fact that you have a vette, it appears you have an interest in cars, so that is a great place to start, but if you are going to rely on shops and others to do all the work for you, there will be more money in this car than it will ever be worth.

Time for some show-and-tell. Give us some pix showing as much as possible, and we can all give you a better idea of how to proceed. Also give us a rundown of what your goals are for the car.


Don

PS: Be a little patient in waiting for replys to your posts. This forum is spread out all over the world, in all different time zones, so the guy who may have an answer for you could be asleep when you are waiting for some response.

For one thing I was at my Grandfather's house day before yesterday when I found it. It was at the back of his pasture in a ditch. It's pretty much a shell. Over the past 30 years people dumped trash back there so the area has to be cleaned out before I can do anything to it. My Grandfather told me if I will spend the time to clean that area up I can have the car. There's no telling how long it's been sitting out there. He moved there in 1980 and it was back there when he bought the land. My plans for it are to get it out of the back of the pasture. Then piece by piece I'm going to take it apart to clean it up. (Sand it down, beat out dents, patch holes, etc.) There isn't anything really wrong with the body. Apparently someone thought it would be funny if they shot holes in the driver's side door. Nothing too bad. The body is solid with no bad rust. It's all surface rust. I guess because it has been under a tree for all of this time. I want to restore it to original. I'm 15 and I'll be driving the Vette for a while. I want to use the 48 as a project. My Grandpa used to rebuild cars in the late 50's & early 60's. I want him to teach me how to do body work, and if I can get a hold of one of the 1948 Chevy 216's I want him to show me how to rebuild the engine as well. This is my 3rd car already. Along with collecting cards, cars are a hobby.
Zak

I don't have any intentions in selling it. I like putting the cars back to original. I've had a 1980 Trans Am, 1985 Corvette, and now a 1948 Chevy Stylemaster. When restoring them they were put back to as close to original as possible. You don't happen to still have the 216 do you?

If you really want to drive this car much, you are going to be very unhappy with a 216. They are not on oil pressure motor. They use scoopers on the crank to splash oil around. They will not take any abuse at all. You'd be a lot happier with a 235 that has a full pressure system with pump and noone could really tell just looking at the motor that it was a 235 as the two motors are very similar on the outside. Take my word for it. I found out the hard way in 1962.

(QUOTE) (probably someone will come on here and say the 216 is the best engine ever made, but this is just my opinion)

I've noticed that too! If you make a statement on a forum, there is always someone to say it's wrong!

I guess that is exactly like "life in America". There is a group opposed to absolutely EVERYTHING.....even if you can't rationalize it! I guess it is their self-appointed job. I'm just glad that the "silent majority" is smarter than 99% of the people you see on the news channels!

I drove my '53 with the 216, which was pathetic, in terms of power. The babbit rod bearings did not hold up to my driving style long. I put the 235 in because it was cheap and available. The car was now more driveable, but still would not do well on the freeways today. It lasted well for the next few years that I had it.

Yeah I would like to have more power, but would like it to be original. I probably wouldn't drive it very often anyway. I have the Vette that has plenty of power. It will be my daily driver for the next 5+ years. HOTRODPAINT do you still have your car's original 216?

I'm not saying it's the best engine ever either, but that's what they came with so that's what I want to put in it.

I think that I'm off to a good start with the cars I've already had. I had two cars before I ever even got my permit.

Don't those old motors have poured bearings? You don't need a rebuild kit for that, you need a line boring machine and a very, very skilled mechanic in the old trades. He will actually have to make the bearings through a process similar to soldering and then bore them out on the line bore machine.