216 to full pressure need info

[Zach B]

So I'm going back to original on my 47 chevy truck or at least show quality. Everybody tells me get a 235 and buy a kit to make it look the same as the 216. The thing is I know the difference so well that even with the kit I can tell the two apart. I read a thing some years ago about machining 216 to be full pressure like the 235. I actually found a machine shop that specializes in doing this. The problem is they are in CA and I'm in MO. For those of you who don't care about distance the shop is Becks. This is the only place in all 50 states I have found. Does anybody know of anybody within MO or OK who would have knowledge and skill to do this? I don't want to risk somebody ruining the crank because they told me they could do this and can't. So I'm looking for a good machine shop.

[mr48chev]

I'm thinking that is a pretty involved process including drilling the oil passages in the crank from the mains to the rods. That would be why there aren't many doing it.
It looks like Gene Beck uses a 235 crank and special pistons according to this thread.
http://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/...&Number=604983

The bottom post on the first page has a reasonable description of what is involved

[Zach B]

Thanks for the link.

[dwcsr]

You will need to get the 216 crank drilled get a 54 oil pump and pickup. Remove the spray nozzles, tap and plug that oil port. remove the troughs in the pan. 54 pump was made only in 54 and may or may not be easy to find. Then you have to convert from Babbitt to inserts on the rods. You could use a 235 crank but then you need custom pistons. and machining to fit the block This is not a cheap endeavor for the little you gain. Any competent crank grinder can drill it for you. Beck is the go to for this type of conversion.

[Zach B]

That's some useful info. I know where one good machine shop is but I'm not sure what all they do with older engines. I would like to find somebody local who knows these engines. Fortunately anything I have to do with the oil pan because means I can buy anything with messed up nozzles because I won't need to worry about adjusting it with full pressure and all the internal parts will be gone. I had to scrap the original pan because it had holes in it.

[dwcsr]

A pan is the easy part. You can rent a tool here to line up the squirters https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detail...n_Pan_400.html its a hefty deposit but the rental is $35.