How many of you are still running a 216 Chevy ? mine runs great,not a tire smoker by any means , but very dependable, curios as to how many still going and the good and bad about the old dinosaurs....Thanks
My Pop's running one in his '36 coupe. It's got Fenton headers and a dual exhaust and runs like a top; sounds really good. It burns a little oil and isn't anything I'd want to take on a long trip (or even on the highway around here-75 mph traffic) but it's just right for the running around he does in it.
My 51 is still sporting one. I have always heard nothing but bad things about the babbit beaters, but I have had two cars with 216s in them and I drove both of them daily with no problems at all(well if you don't considered having to add oil once a week or so).
My '41 Chevy coupe still has one. Runs great! I added Fenton headers with smithys mufflers, Offy intake with 2 W-1 Carter carbs. I also converted it to 12 volt.Not fast but the mods woke it up a bit. Still running 3 speed with vac. shift. Drove it from Maryland to Tennessee a few years ago. No problems.
Still running the 216 in my 51. The damn thing runs great. Although now I have rebuilt the head and added split headers with dual exhaust. I made the Bootleggers Run. Starting from Cartersville GA to the Tenn border up Hwy 411. I have heard of bad things with the 216 but if you don't run them hard they seem to run forever.
My '52 is still running with the original 216. Although it leaks oil out of every orifice, it runs like a champ.
still running one in my 50 chevy with the fenton splits dual ex. and trying to track down a carb rebuild kit for my dual intake.. but i cant complain.. sounds great runs great and looks great..
Gertrude still has her original 216. It leaks but runs good. I have a 261 on a stand ,ready for that faithful day when she decides that she needs a heart transplant...
My '50 has the original 216 and runs great. I did a valve job and clutch in the early 80's. I also changed the points and plugs around then also. I haven't done anything else other than oil & anti-frz changes since then. I did have to file the points in the radio ******** a few times when they arc'ed closed while idling due to voltage drop. Powerband
still running mine, all I've done is changed plugs wires and points & condensor...not fast by any means, but it gets me from A - B...
I probably would still have the 216 in my 37 but I got stupid and tore it completely apart and when I got around to rebuilding it was completely rusted up so a 235 went in,it was a sweet running motor but since I was restoring the truck I was going to rebuild the motor too but I ended up ruining it.
I know a guy who did exactly what you're doing. He abused the 216 for years trying to get it to quit. Finally, last summer, he shows up at a cruise sporting the new 261 and I said to him "well, the old 216 finally quit huh?" He said, "h@!! NO, I finally just jerked it out and sold it to a guy who was looking for one." Bottom line, keep your eye on the temp guage, don't let it get too hot, and keep the oil clean - they'll run forever.
I'm still running the original 216 in mine, all stock for now, No problems except it pings going up hills for some reason. I'd like to put Fentons on it just because they sound so darn good.
Back the timing off just a hair, the pinging should stop. Pinging is not good and is shortening the life of the motor.
Still got the 216 with 5.14 gears in the truck in my avatar. Have several engines from 235 to 261 to 292 on standby for it...so far so good. I doubt I'll ever pull the 216 because of a failure.
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