High Mileage For a 216?

[studda]

I know that the old 216 Chevy motors weren't built as sturdy as modern engines. What would be considered high mileage on a 216? Mine has 46k miles on it right now but doesn't smoke or make any noise so it's staying as is. I know rebuild can be expensive for these so I was just curious. I've heard 75k is very high on one of these engines.

[Rednek13x]

i have a 235 and the odometer says 85,XXX now i have no idea if its ever been rebuilt way back in the day but i highly doubt it as there was a good inch of dirt and grime on it. Still runs like a top and only smokes a little at start up.

[dubds10]

My old 235 ran mint when I bought it 15 years ago and as far as I know it's still running to this day with no rebuild. Prior to me buying it, it was driven off and on since the '60s when it was redone, so no idea on mileage but it's lasted 50 years now without a rebuild that I know of.

[studda]

I think it probably, like other engines, depends on how well it was maintained and the driving habits of the owner. My 216 is a babbitt rod motor too. Were the 235s you speak of the ones with the inserted rod bearings? Or is that now the reason people say the 216s aren't as durable?

[OrrieG]

I had a 41 Master Deluxe that had 215,000 original miles on it and ran a little loose but did not use and extraordinary amount of oil and did not smoke. It came with the second owners maintenance records in a little book. He changed the oil every 2500-3000 miles and during its life had the main and rod bearings filed twice. The third owner did not drive it much, I was the fourth owner. It was my DD for about two years. One year when we had a real cold winter it was the only car that would start for two weeks, everything else has the fuel systems froze up. In the two years I drove it about 6K miles and only thing I had to do was oil changes and replace the wire to the distributor when it shorted out.

[studda]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

I had a 41 Master Deluxe that had 215,000 original miles on it and ran a little loose but did not use and extraordinary amount of oil and did not smoke. It came with the second owners maintenance records in a little book. He changed the oil every 2500-3000 miles and during its life had the main and rod bearings filed twice. The third owner did not drive it much, I was the fourth owner. It was my DD for about two years. One year when we had a real cold winter it was the only car that would start for two weeks, everything else has the fuel systems froze up. In the two years I drove it about 6K miles and only thing I had to do was oil changes and replace the wire to the distributor when it shorted out.

Either way, I don't plan to drive mine a bunch. I'm getting historic plates on it so I can only legally drive it 1000 miles per year so it'll take a long time to wear it out considering it doesn't smoke, even on startup, or make any noise.

[OrrieG]

They were designed for straight 30 weight oil too.