Is there a shortage of 216 Engines?

[gazzaw]

Hi Phil

we are thinking it is between water jacket and into exhaust ports, have had the head tested and ceramic lined as well as skimmed but still leaks after rebuild so thinking it must be in block somewhere so perhaps a pressure or vacuum test next. doesn't seem to be much else wrong with it as everything else was running fine except leak into exhaust. limited workshop and no specialist equipment but cannot afford to keep rebuilding and installing into vehicle only to find same fault etc.

Gary

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Gary

If the water leak is to the exhaust I'm just about convinced that your problem has to be in the head not the block. Heads are easier to find a year ago I know a source that had 25 NOS heads that would fit your engine but you would have to replace the pistons as the heads are the US version designed for flat top pistons not the domed pistons.

Ok the rest of you guys who know 216s chime in with the best way to confirm.

Cheers Phil

[gazzaw]

Thanks Phil

The pistons on this engine are flat headed so might it be US? Also photo of head and the head gasket where it shows damage in No 2 cylinder where water had originally been leaking from exhaust port. After refurb on head and refitting it was still leaking through port making us think it is block now.

Gary

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by gazzaw

Thanks Phil

The pistons on this engine are flat headed so might it be US? Also photo of head and the head gasket where it shows damage in No 2 cylinder where water had originally been leaking from exhaust port. After refurb on head and refitting it was still leaking through port making us think it is block now.

Gary

[/IMG]

Hi Gary,

Seeing the gasket, and how you say the head has been faced, then if the head is still true, then i would suspect the block top face is a possible cause, looks like it may need facing, not unknown for this to happen.

[gazzaw]

Thanks Richard

Can only think it took a real roasting and will look at refacing face on block as well.

Gary

[gazzaw]

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]

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