Thread: pros and cons of a chevy 216

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i bought a 1952 chevy styleline deluxe 2 weeks ago. i just want to know if the engine it has in it(216) is a good motor. any advice would be helpful

thanks
leadsledchevy52

What be good?

As a performance motor, an economy motor, as a reliable motor, as a cool-looking motor, the 216 ranks at the bottom of the list.....it was designed in the early 20's and carried the Chevy banner to until the early 50's when the cousin 235 came out. The 216 and it's smaller predecessor were Chevy's answer to the Ford......"a six for the price of four" was Chevy's early ad slogan.

OK, here's a free opinion: We all are on a budget....some budgets are bigger than others. IF you already own a 216 and it is running, spend some minor amount and keep it running....it's already paid for and is cheaper than doing anything else. IF the 216 needs a rebuild, don't pi** you money away on rebuilding it....swap the darn thing to a modern design. AND for sure, dont blow your money trying to "hop" up a 216......there isnt a prize for the fastest anchor except in the Navy.

Babbitt Bearings, Splash Oiling, no power..... Don't waste a bit of time, energy, or money on it unless you need a really big boat anchor.....

Originally Posted by leadsledchevy52

i bought a 1952 chevy styleline deluxe 2 weeks ago. i just want to know if the engine it has in it(216) is a good motor. any advice would be helpful

thanks
leadsledchevy52

In another post "photo op" I mentioned a friend with a '58 wagon. He has modified the six (which is bigger then the 216) wtih dual exhaust and dual carbs. Every time he tries to do activities with other car guys, he can't keep up with them in normal traffic. He wanted to keep it to be different, but it's to "doggy". The car is getting a 400 smallblock.

HOTRODPAINT points out exactly an arguement I have made for years relative to the "Rodder versus Restorer" debate. I know some restorers hate what we do to these old cars, but when was the last time you saw a stock model a out just cruising around or actually being driven as a car? We modify these cars for various reasons, and one of them is to make them drivable and usable on a daily or fairly regular basis.

I've mentioned before that I bought a bone stock 1938 Chevy sedan that a man had spent a lot of time and money in restoring perfectly. It was ready for paint and upholstery. My plan was to turn it into a street rod, but I didn't have the heart to do it because of the work the man had done and the fact it was so clean, so I sold it to a restorer. But before I got rid of it, I drove it about a mile around our home, and it was a horrible car to drive. The transmission was whiney as h***, the engine was a real slug, and generally it was like driving a Model A in all respects.

It had a 216, and this thing was totally rebuilt, but I like to drive my cars on a regular basis, and could not see myself driving this car anywhere. Maybe you could go to the occasional show or cruise, but that would be about it.

But as mentioned before, they make really good anchors.



Don

I think Don has hit on one of the most valid points I have heard in a while.

Basically any old car (to include you 216 powered 52) can do well within the limitations of what it was built to do. In the case of most cars built prior to the mid to late 50s (and depending on the available options such as drivetrain and brakes) most of these cars do not allow you to have your cake and eat it too. Basically even if all the original systems are brought back up near factory specifications they are not designed for the demands most would subject them to using them as basic daily transportation or for cross country cruising.

If your expectations for the car are the occasional Sunday cruise, parade, or local show and originality is important to you, then the car and original drivetrain will do fine. If you have plans on say driving for a few hours at interstate speeds and/or in heavy stop and go traffic chances are your going to quickly find it is not a fun car at all.

One of the painful truths about many of the less than mainstream cars is that even in professionally restored perfect condition there is not much of a demand for them so relatively speaking they just aren't worth much. Such cars are a hobby not an investment as there is not going to be a sudden rise in the market that's going to let the owner retire early. That being the case it's up to the owner to determine what he or she actually wants the car to do. If originality is the # 1 priority that's great it just depends on what you want the car to be able to do.

If the old " babbit pounder" runs good and the car is in mint shape, I'd keep it as is. When it craters, or if you just get tired of the thing, then put a V8 and automatic in it. Like Mike P says, its probably never going to be a really valuable antique, a well-done modernising job might make it worth more as well as being a lot more fun to drive. Bottom line---its your tin, whack it if you want to!