Wanted: Piston for Chev Engine

Willanthry · #1 04-07-09, 03:06

G'day Everyone!

We've come across a problem with a Chev Engine we're stripping down and doing up to put in my Blitz; one of the pistons is unsaveable. I need a piston similar to the one in the photo below. It has the number "1632" engraved on the bottom of it. If anyone has one they don't need, preferably in Australia if at all possible, would you be so kind as to contact me?

Thanks for your help!

Toby

Tony Smith · #2 04-07-09, 06:32

A seller on e-bay currently has These pistons for a Chev 6, but they look different to yours. Seller has 3 sets listed, but doesn't specify if they are for a 216 or 235. Maybe a Chev specialist could chip in here and advise?

cletrac (RIP) · #3 04-07-09, 07:00

First of all, Chev never made a 239. That's a Ford. The 216s had cast iron pistons and the later 235s had aluminum pistons. I'm not sure about the early 235s. Before getting a piston you'd better make sure whether it's standard bore or oversize.

Mike Kelly · #4 04-07-09, 07:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by cletrac

. The 216s had cast iron pistons .

Yes, but there was also various brands of aftermarket 216 alloy pistons made , they were even made here . I've got a set of dome top 216 alloy pistons ..from EPAY years ago. They are about 30% lighter than the cast iron type.

Toby, if your bore size is 3.5" it will be a 216 ..I think Im correct

Mike

Bob McNeill · #5 04-07-09, 11:08

the 216 on epay are .020 o/s flat tops, there is a 235 dipper feed motor in my shed, have,nt lifted head to see if its a 4 ring piston.

jim sewell · #6 04-07-09, 11:48

Toby
There are several steps to take to determine what piston you are after.
1. measure the bore accurately , ie snap gauges , digital verniers etc
These engines came out as 3.500 inches ( blitz's )or 3. 5625 inches ( others )
and determine if bored out to o/size ( some piston manufactures stamp the o/s on the head of the piston.
2.Referring to the picture where you are hoisting out the engine and looking at the angle of the water pump inlet pipe I would say this is a blitz engine that originally had domed cast iron pistons and a single hole in the block where the water pump bolts up to.Check how many holes in your block .
3. Looking at the picture of the piston I would guess that it is made of aluminium alloy , so it may have been a replacement set at some time , maybe had a rebore at the same time.
4. Looking at the picture of the block with the pistons in it , they appear to be flat heads , so the replacement pistons may not have had domed heads.
Check whether they are flat or not .
Summary
Blitz engines originally had domed cast iron pistons , were 216 ci , had single hole from water pump to block . A similar engine made about the same time had two holes into the block with flat top pistons , not many engine parts are interchangeable between these two engines.
So firstly determine what engine you have.
Regards
Jim S.

Mike Kelly · #7 04-07-09, 12:40

scan from the 1950 edition of the Victor Page book..I have both the Chev and Ford versions of this informative book. At just under 1000 pages ... much info .

The page is refering to the 1941 model changes ....

Mike

Mike Kelly · #8 04-07-09, 12:56

The book covers up to 1950 . It describes the introduction of hydraulic valve lifters on the 235 ci motor as fitted to the Powerglide auto transmission .

BTW the 216 first appeared in the 1937 models ... in the book, he refers to the 1935 206.8ci motor as the 'blue flame' motor. ( bore 3 5/16" )

Mike Kelly · #9 04-07-09, 13:06

the 1937 motor .........

nigel ward · #10 04-07-09, 15:16

Hi Toby
I have had the pleasure of traveling with Jim throughout Europe for about 8 weeks using ww2 vehicles and it is without a second thought I suggest you undertake Jim's suggestions. We are both owners of chev Blitz's and I am sure any information from Jim comes from first hand knowledge. Do not be afraid to ask for further info if required from Jim. I am sure he will be more than happy to help. He was a great help to me on the trip.

When you have figured out what you require I may be able to help as I have a small supply of NOS pistons in sets and singles. In amongst those there are a hand full of chev pistons. I may have what you require. Apart from that, there are a number of company's in Australia that may be able to assist including providing single pistons.

Great to hear from another Blitz owner.

Nigel

aj.lec · #11 05-07-09, 01:39

Toby If you post the engine number on the block you intend to use , we can give you a better idea of what you are playing with
Then as the others have suggested you will have to measure the bore at very least to see if it has been rebored at some stage

Willanthry · #12 05-07-09, 02:58

Sorry it's taken so long to reply;

The engine in the pictures on my thread is a different one to this one; it's the original 216 engine that was in it, and it's essentially done for.

We acquired another engine along with the Blitz, one which was planned to replace the original engine way back when it was fried in the first place. This engine is where the piston in the picture came from, and it's different to the original 216 engine, possessing different pistons, as you can see, with flat heads rather then domed. Where i wrote 239 is a typo; i didn't mean to put that, and i have no idea why i did.I must have been thinking about something else whilst i wrote it!

I'm not entirely sure which of the numbers you're after, so i wrote 'em all down; on the side of the motor, these numbers and letters appeared;

CON3 I113

GM48

3835309
9

Toby

jim sewell · #13 05-07-09, 03:26

Toby
Take some pictures of the engine you wish to use , take some of the tappett cover, the head, the front of the block , on the exhaust manifold side of the block and of the numbers stamped ( not cast ) on a machined area rear of the distributor , also of the cast numbers around where the starter motor would sit.
Regards
Jim S.

Willanthry · #14 05-07-09, 04:59

G'day Jim

At the moment, the engine is completely disassembled; most of the parts are away being cleaned up. John Mackie, who helped me disassemble the engine, told me that the size is 3.9" standard, and has been sleeved. It's obviously not a Blue Flame, but it's not a 216 either.

The pistons are Repco parts, with the number "HX 1632" on them.

There is a number where the distributor was; it's N541606P, i think; some of the characters are pretty roughly done.

Bob McNeill · #15 05-07-09, 11:26

Have one piston with 4 rings, size is 3.540, dome top

Willanthry · #16 06-07-09, 03:26

Thanks very much for that Bob, but i need one with a flat top.

Willanthry · #17 14-07-09, 03:33

Rightio, further research by myself and John Mackie has revealed that this engine is one that he didn't know even existed! According to him, the engine is a Chev 224 cubic inch; the piston is a 3 and 9/16 flat-topped piston, for a standard bore, with the Repco parts number "HX 1632", which Repco says did indeed exist, but is not made anymore.

Mike Kelly · #18 14-07-09, 05:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willanthry

Rightio, further research by myself and John Mackie has revealed that this engine is one that he didn't know even existed! According to him, the engine is a Chev 224 cubic inch; the piston is a 3 and 9/16 flat-topped piston, for a standard bore, with the Repco parts number "HX 1632", which Repco says did indeed exist, but is not made anymore.

It could be a GMC motor, a 1940's contemporary of the Chev 216..both made at the same period. Does it have full pressure big end lubrication, instead of the dipper setup ? If so, it may well be a GMC motor .

Just looked up the 1940 GMH manual.....the GMC motors were the 1600H and 9600H one of these was 248 ci by the look of it

Mike

wreckingchief · #19 14-07-09, 12:15

the engine number N541606P was stamped on by NSW Police when a new engine was fitted with no number.
N for NSW
54 for 1954
1606 for engine
P for Police

Dave

Willanthry · #20 15-07-09, 03:17

Geez, this engine gets more and more mysterious! There must be a story that goes along with it.

Mike, the engine just has a dipper setup. This engine is proving difficult to find pistons for as well!

jim sewell · #21 15-07-09, 03:45

Toby
Your engine sounds like an early 50's splash feed , and if it has a 3. 9/16 bore then it probably would be a 235 cubic inch chev engine.
Parts should be available from Automotive Surplus in Melbourne .
Have a piston measured at 90 degrees to the gudgeon near the bottom of the skirt with a micrometer or digital vernier.
It's highly likely that it will be of std size.
Regards
Jim S.

Phil Waterman · #22 15-07-09, 14:40

I'm sure that you have thought of this but wanted to raise the issue, once you find a replacement piston and rod assembly consider having them all checked to see how well they match in weight.

I don't know what the tolerance for difference in piston weight is, though it has to change with how many RPMs the engine is turning. I've heard of low speed marine engines running with one piston assembly missing.

The Stovebolt 6 engine was extremely tolerant of mix and match assembly, I've found them running, if not always well, that appeared to have been assemble from the spare parts bin if not the junk bin, different types of valves, one that I rebuilt had 3 different types of pistons, (though not having a precision scale I don't know how different in weight) this same engine had a mix of bearings as well.

The last two engines I rebuilt (235 and 261) we did replace all the pistons as we had the engines bored out. So those engines got the crank and pistons balanced up as a set.

Keep us posted on the progress.

Cheers Phil