Inliners International Forums General Discussion Hi Performance supercharge a 216?

just browsing the boards and found this link http://www.inliners.org/larrowe/index.html

they have a supercharger manifold for 235-261 engines. it says they'll fit the 216.

my question is, could the 216 handle it? what mods might it need?

just wonderin

Dear Mr Lee;

NO, NO & NO.

The 216" engines were 80-90 Hp. and worked just fine to get everyone around the country for three decades. After the Korean War the 235/261 engines replaced them with 100-140 Hp. and are quite different.

Some have made Hot Rod engines out of them in the 1950(s) and still do today (myself included)
with some sucess. Even then 5500 RPM is about tops safely.

To 'supercharge' wouldn't do much at those speeds, but "Hot Roders" are a 'strange breed of cat'.

John M.......

yeah it didn't seem smart to me to do that to the 216. or really anything to a 216 which is why im going for something else.

it just confused me is all

I'm just sitting here wondering how those babbited rods would enjoy all the extra pounding from a huffer force feeding those cylinders?

heck...supercharging any inline is an awesome idea...if u have the time and money and an extra vehicle just in case...i would say go for it because its awesome...i wouldnt think twice about supercharging my 250 if i had the money for it because that would be reallllllly cool....its just not the kind of thing 'practicle' people do...who cares...its sweet. although the mods to stregthen up an engine like that is quite expensive.

mike... that's what my dad said when i told him. i would try it after the swap if i had the money to blow on a... well a blower.

I think the dipper engine would be a poor place to start, mainly because of the oiling system. Try a modern engine such as a 250-292 or a 235-261 or a 270-302.

Hey guys . . . have you checked out our rides page? Did you notice Soren Madsen's '34? Looks like a Roots ontop of a 216 to me . . .

He's only runnin 7psi of boost - so he won't be winnin any drags . . . but I like it for "most unique in show"!

The concerns for supercharging any engine are basically the same. There are plenty of books out there on how to do it properly. Like Ed said, the oiling system would be my concern. Whether babbitted or insert I don't think would matter as they are made from the same material, but the rods on a 216 may be too weak. Also, better pistons would be needed. The 37-47 216's actually used iron slugs instead of aluminum. Keeping the boost low and not abusing it would help, but then what would be the point of doing it other than to say "because I can". Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's one of the basic tenets of hot rodding, I guess.

Like the other guys said you would be better of with a newer engine a 261 or a jimmy. But if your in love with your 216 it could be done.The first thing I would do is get a 235 rotating assembly.The block will easly bore 1/8 . You will have to deck the pistons 3/32. Now you have full pressure lube and around 240 cubes. A 235 or gmc oil pump might be a good idea. Also you may have to change the flywheel.

Looking through old books you see 216's with the original oil system used for competition probably makinf 150-180. There was a popular turbcharger set up for the 216 street use, supposedly made 150 hp.I wouldn't modify a babbit pounder, but some do and did with good success.

what is decking the pistons?

The 235 crank will stroke the 216 3/16 s .So to keep the pistons from hitting the head half of the stroke has to be cut off the piston.