1958 235 truck motor still on the original bore and worn out. last fired in 2003, pulled head and found cracked ring gouging, top end oiling plugged from sludge ruined rocker assy. but there she sits! thinking seriously about having her rebuilt for my project instead of going the sbc way. you just don't see many of these around anymore.
Your motor has indeed provided much inspiration for my own build. I'd love to hear the particulars. (Bitchin' car, too! )
junkyardjeff, For a budget build, a set of aluminum pistons will go a long way toward keeping a 216 alive, even with splash oiling. With an overbore, you can use inexpensive 235 aluminum pistons (Std. and up to .060" over 235 stock), which greatly reduce bearing stresses. Crank balancing (though nice) is not a necessity. And if you're using a 4:11 rear, switching to 3:55 gears (Powerglide) should allow you to cruise long distances at freeway speeds without problems.
Thanks 'MO....It looks like your motor is turning out AWESOME! Here are the details on my motor , 1940 216 block , full pressure oil with GMC pump , pistons 235+.040 , Delta 3/4 grind cam ,Edelbrock intake , Fenton Headers , Mallory dist. with Pertronix conversion , Edmunds rocker cover ,Nicson side cover , Oil pan was enlarged to clear pump (6 quarts) About ten years ago I removed the stock Trans. and installed a 1966 saginaw 3sp with overdrive. I used a 1962 truck bellhousing to adapt to my motor. The 66' trans also has first gear synchro. Converted to open drive with 3.73 gears . Good combo for town and highway .
Thanks, R&C RON. More than just a pretty face (just as I suspected)! My block will be mated to a '37 Packard top-loader, retaining the closed drive line. I'm on the shelf, but I believe I will stick with the 4:11's for now.
216 in my 50 deluxe,edmunds valve cover and dual intake,2-W 1 Carters.Porcelainized original Fentons(early design)
Not the complete engine but what Im working on.I have a nos full pressure 54 235 shortblock,rebuilding a 848 head.All NOS Fenton stuff .The headers have been replaced with heat chambered Fentons and I have a Fenton push rod cover lined up.
Heres my old 230 plymouth that blew up. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2GvypCT64ww" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Wow, nine pages and no one is running a dare-to-be-different Pontiac OHC-6! Would love to build one of those and drop it into a 60's Nova, then add trim from an Acadian to make it more "Pontiac"!
I'm a big fan of sixes, and have had two Fords with sixes (a 64 Fairlane and my current 66 F100) and a slant six in a Plymouth. Most sixes put out great amounts of torque while getting decent mileage....and, they always draw a crowd at car gatherings.
Here is the 30 over 230 in my 48 Plymouth coupe. Offenhauser intake, Carter-Webber's, Fenton repop cast iron headers, Mini HEI dist., Edgy aluminum head. All running through a Borg Warner R10 overdrive transmission.
My 230 flattie going in my longroof I'm picking up oil and antifreeze this week hopeing to start it in the next couple weeks.
There is a slant 6 for sale on cl,supposedly rebuilt comes with transmission for a 100 bucks. It's on inland empire cl.BTW its not my lisring.
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