What motor is this?

Just bought a '51 Chevy. I am wondering what size motor the car has in it. I am ***uming it is a 216 but am wondering if there is an easy way to tell. thanks in advance. Chuck

 

216 has the side cover all the way up over the side of the head.

 

Man that was quick. is there anything I need to pay special attention to on those engines? Oil, overheating....things like that?

 

They have babbitt bearings, so they are NOT a high-speed engine. They were for a leisurely top end of maybe 55 mph. They are a durable engine, but not for modern highway speeds.

Had several over the years. Never had one heat up. Leaks are minor (usually).

 

babbitt beater baby......

 

Keep up on your oil changes too. That oil filter in the orange canister is a byp*** filter and doesn't see all the oil all the time. And with the road draft tube the oil gets dirty quicker.

 

Be sure you are getting oil to the rockers, old oils and bad filters can sludg up the little pipe that feeds them.