Is there a shortage of 216 Engines?

gazzaw · #1 12-04-12, 18:18

Phil

Any more info re the NOS heads as it might be prudent to get one and keep the old refurbed one as spare?

Below is photos of one of the engines we bought (from a distance on interweb) which was unsuitable - it has the fluid flywheel and rear mounting and we were prepared to redrill crankshaft but mounting casting all wrong. It was sold as a 235 but must be a different type as it is all wrong, better to repost it on Fleabay and sell it on I think. Info we got was the castings were right to swap over from the 216 to a 235 but now know different.

Phil Waterman · #2 12-04-12, 23:04

Hi Gary

Here is where I got my cylinder head from:

http://www.obschevy.com/ home page

http://www.obschevy.com/pages/Catalogs.html Catalog page

Then search "head" part number on the second page you will find

1941-1953 CYLINDER HEAD w/ 216 & w/ 10 mm Plugs 839049 375.00 Each

Hope this helps.

When you say that the flywheel on the 235 is wrong bolt pattern what do you mean. When I set up my 235 to 216 flywheel what was wrong was the diameter of the crank shaft to flywheel bolts 216 being slightly smaller, is this the problem you are hitting or is it a completely different bolt pattern?

Cheers Phil

gazzaw · #3 12-04-12, 23:19

slightly out of line and wrong sizes -too large so would need to redrill and tap to correct pattern but the casting on the block rear didn't line up at all with original bellhousing rear support plate etc

Phil Waterman · #4 12-04-12, 23:38

Hi Gary

Thanks for the information you are presenting an interesting - mystery as what this engine really is? I was hoping it would be a simple thing of getting the right flywheel but, if the bell-housing doesn't line up that is a whole different problem.

I'll do some searching on the casting number to see I can find anything.

Cheers Phil

Bob Carriere · #5 13-04-12, 02:56

HI Gary

I don't understand what part did not fit.....

You mentioned the .... mounting casting were wrong....?????

That looks like a perfectly good 235 and should bolt right up to the CMP bell housing.

Side motor mount can be discarded and the front support drilled to accept the CMP / GM front engine mount.

The whole large donut at the back must be removed.... and the adaptor plate to fit the Pwoerglide needs to be removed to the bare block.

Usually all that is needed is to redrill the crank and install a pilot bearing for the tranny shaft.

Do you have a picture of the bare crankshaft end.....? so we can see the difference......

We have a spare 261 engine at the barn which came with a Powerglide tranny so we can make an easy comparaison.......

Don't sell it yet........

What is the engine number by the distributor and what is the cast number on the head near the carburator side.......

If you are interested in looking at Canadian engine serial numbers have a look at Stove Bolt site.....on the forum go to the Engine shop .... at the beginning is a thread on engine Casting ID....... AND THAT WORK WAS THE INFORMATION/DATA..... DONE BY NO ONE ELSE BUT...............
OUR DEAR FRIEND ........ David Hayward......

try the following link.....

http://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/...127#Post512127

Half way down the lsiting you will find some PR 387XXXXXX engine numbers circa 1942/43

If David was here he would, as usual, help us navigate this treasured information. Make ourselves a copy for your files.

Bob C.

gazzaw · #6 13-04-12, 15:02

Hi

looked at casting numbers on stovebolt and nearest are

3835253 chevrolet 42-53 which is a 216 engine for the original one
and
3835911 chevrolet 53-55 a 235 engine for the red one

The problem was the centre casting around the crankshaft was too large to accept the flywheel from the 216 and the holes to match up the bellhousing were in wrong place and other bits would need ground off -totally wrong almost everywhere and a lot of work by looks of it- also as previously mentioned about the crankshaft

Bob Carriere · #7 18-04-12, 04:37

Hi Gary

I am really curious as to how the rear end of the Chev engine was made taht did not allow the flywheel to be isntalled.

We tried installing a 235 standard Chev flywheel on a Chev engine..... and in our case it fitted perfectly even with the Power Glide adapter in place. It turns out the outer diemension of the flywheel is the same as the flex plate that mount the hydraulic stator donut.

Not for you to mount the 216 CMP flywheel that adapter has to be removed. I tokk some pictures of the spare block we have at the barn and attached text.... a bit crude as I am still learning this new software program.

If you can take a similar picture of that block that would not fit I might leanr something.

anyways comments from any other viewer is appreciated....trying to broaden my mind and learn the various intricacies of our hobby.

Bob C.

gazzaw · #8 18-04-12, 08:38

Thanks Bob

I will need to strip off the back end of the 235 and photo etc - we used (tried to) the 216 flywheel so maybe we need a 235 one? but the 216 tranny bellhousing wouldn't line up with the 6 holes you show once we took off the adaptor plate etc. Might not get this photo'd for a couple of weeks as the vehicle is in garage 50 miles away.

Gary

Bob Carriere · #9 19-04-12, 02:45

I fitted a 261 truck engine to my 216 original RH bell housing.... and quite a few others have done the same. The 216-235-261 crankshaft I have seen all have the same bolt pattern/configuration.. could your have been modified for industrial use...marine application...?

That's why I am so curious to see what your engine block looked like.... it may have been modified..... at first I though that maybe you had a later series 6 cyl in the 230 to 250 c.i. from the sixties but the pictures you posted sure convinced me it was a 235 engine.

Will look forward to your pictures.

Bob