Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 216 & trans?

Going tomorrow to go pick up a complete 230 long block with 3 speed but part of the deal is I also have to take a 216 with tranny cause he wants the space.

Hadn't seen the 216 up close only pics but I am betting it's a Babbitt version. I have no use for it unless it's got the shell type bearings. My question is what to do with it? Anything of value on it or if it babbit and bad it's junk? Your thoughts.

All 216's were babbit engines, so just know that going into this. Even the 235's were babbit engines until 1954 or later, so unless its actually a 235 or even a 261, not many people rebuild these.

It is a shame that so much folklore surrounds the 216 and it's oiling system. When the 235 came along it's larger displacement was a bigger deal than it's insert bearings. The problem these days just the hassle and expense of finding a place that can pour the babitt. The first Horning heads were for the 216.

I thought maybe in 53 some had inserts but still used dippers but I have been wrong before.

Once the full pressure oiling system came out with bearing, this eliminated the dipper and babbit design. Bearing were only used with full pressure oiling.

True from an 'as shipped by the factory' perspective.

And as Jmay points out '53 is the transitional year. In '52 cars could be had with a babbited 216 stick or babbited 235 powerglide trans. In '53 Chevy shipped an all new body with only 235 power-plants. The stick cars had essentially '52 powerglide engines but with solid lifters. The powerglide cars had an entirely new set of castings with a full pressure crank and insert rod bearings. The '53 stingray used this new full pressure engine with solid lifters. BTW '53 216 engines were shipped - but only in trucks.

As for the question of inserts and dippers - the machining of rods to accept inserts for full pressure conversion proved to be economically competitive with rebabbiting services. As a result the aftermarket produced insert bearing shells for dipper engines. This created an option for service departments and re-builders.

I have used Perfect Circle inserts in my 216 build:

dippers and all:


As for what to do with a 216 . . . find a late forties or early fifties Chevy project that needs a power train . . .

Stock49 thank you! Most informative. We all learned a little something.

I will know more after I pick it up. I will report back.

That's true Beater! Many forget that nearly a full decade passed before the Stovebolt's were made with inserts and used these awesome heads in the mean time. And a lot of HP was made with the 216's and 235's with the Horning heads with babbit engines. The Horning head was on the drawing board in 1939. I know a man that worked with Mr. Horning at Lockheed in Burbank during that time when he conceived this cylinder head.

Well I picked em up today I got either 230 or 250 according to the block # no big deal mainly wanted the head. The 216 is kinda got me. The guy pulled it out of a 53 truck he said it still ran but missed on 1 cylinder. He said he thought it was a valve so he gives me another head to go with it. Trans is crazy looking to especially at the end part got a bolt pattern around the end of tailshaft.

When I got home I noticed the head are different. The one he give me almost look the same but no recession around the spark plugs for the round cork gaskets for the side lifter cover but buy the # is says it a 216 head. The head on engine #s are under the valve cover. The spar head # are outside the valve cover area.

One other thing the 216 has a metal tag rivete above the fuel pump with 040 020 020 stamped on it. Maybe machine work stamping?

Indeed. The tail shaft is designed to mate with an enclosed (torque tube) drive line. There is a ball housing that attaches to those 4 bolts. It encloses the single universal joint in the system. The ball holds about a pint of gear box oil.
Old Car Manuals Project - 29-54 Parts Master Catalog

You are likely right about that metal tag. Probably 40 over in the cylinders and 20 over on the mains and the rods.

Well don't know what I will do with it but I got a long block an extra head with trans, bell housing, clutch and pressure plate. I think I will pull the oil pan and have a look at the bearings.