Might remember that back in March 08 I discovered an external crack in the cyl
block of my 216. Since then I've been trying to figure a good solution. I still
used the truck anyway, but just had to make sure that it was kept full of
coolant etc. Well during the summer, while my one employee was using the truck
for personal use, it was severly overheated and blew a head gasket at the very
least. One thing I knew for sure, when water was put in the radiator, #5 cyl
filled up with water and water ran out between the block and head.
Contrary to what he told me, I strongly suspect that he overheated it many
times while he was using it to go back and forth to work. I've heard that
evidence through the grapevine around here after the fact.
In my world of equipment repair, that likely means that all the previously new
valve springs are shot and the piston rings have shrunk along with a certainly
warped and possibly cracked head to go along with an already cracked block.
Although I painstakenly overhauled that engine 6-7 years ago, it probably still
only had 12,000 miles on it. Oh well. I should've known better. He no longer
works here. Not just because of that. He had other issues as well.
Luckily, I was the winning bidder of the NOS 216 short block on eBay a couple
of days ago. It has arrived and I am amazed with it. It still has the Genuine
Chevrolet Replacement Parts tag hanging on it with the recommended break in
procedures. Although its dusty/dirty, it has no oxidation to speak of. It is
coated with a very thin film of something. Must be good stuff. The casting date
code shows it to be a late 49 casting but it has the same block casting number
as the 53 model year engine currently in the truck.
Looks like I'll be building another 216 soon. This one has to be completely
disassembled for cleaning but I can live with that. I also have an empty NOS
cyl head here that I picked up a couple of years ago but I may or may not use
it. Depends on the condition of my warped head after an inspection.
Pretty happy about this situation so far so I thought I'd share. It amazes me
what NOS parts are still floating around. Someone recently had a boatload of AD
Chev truck stuff a couple of months ago. There was alot of stuff I wanted but
just couldn't justify it.
Jeff in Clermont, FL
53 3800 Chev (parked for now)
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Ole Chevy and GMC trucks rule!
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