VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Removing a 216

I have pulled out (4) 216s out of 47, and 48 chevys. Rebuilt 3 of them. Did it with the clip off, and the clip on. IF you do remove the whole front clip? It is VERY difficult to get the body lines to match up again. Unless you are doing a total ground up resto I would advise against it. The hood, and the radiator support is as far as you need to go. Dont worry too much about the hood. There is a hood aligning process outlined in the shop manual, and is really quite simple. I do agree though if your pulling the whole engine out, may as well rebuild it right away if finances permit. I always prefered to pull the tranny "with" the engine. Much easier when installing the engine back in the car. The 216 is quite an engine when you start to study its workings. One of favroite parts of refurbishing my 47. Good Luck!! if you need any help just drop me a PM.

I don't know how far along you've gotten, but I had the impression from reading the thread that it was suggested that you don't need to remove the hood springs to remove the hood. You absolutely have to remove the springs first. The hinges are not like modern hinges that are kind of self contained. On your '47 (and my '48) everything in the hinge system is under tension until you removed the springs. I think there has been a discussion about removing the springs before. When I did it, we lowered the hood as far as you could and still reach in a hand and inserted washers to help keep the springs expanded when you raise the hood and then pry them off from the bottom. I think someone else said they used a spring compressor with good results.

I haven't got that far, but true, from what I read on earlier post I didn't think I had to remove the springs.
Once again I appreciated all advice coming my way!

Come to think of it I was researching other steps that are further down the process. I did a quick search on hood springs but most of the topics discuss installing the springs.

If I need to remove the springs, is the washer method a good choice to go with?

Dale ? Where have you been...? lol Yes, we had a lively discussion a while back about hood springs, washers and spring compressors...

As I recall the spring compressor's are for '49 on up...

Forget the washer idea....

Lets see...getting them off might be harder...you do lower the hood a bit...and I use a very large/long screw-driver/safety glasses...gloves?...getting them back on is hella fun, too...and loud !

You should be able to do a "searh", under hood springs...If not I could look for it in my old posts...

Not to change the subject here, because you are absolutely right about the hood springs. But, I was just wondering what it set you back to get that mention from cousin Dave in that mighty fine article about his '40?

I have been following along and wasn't sure what or how to tell you my suggestions. Then along came SARGE, he has it exactly right!!! Please re-read his post and consider it strongly. From someone with experience with "this" model.

I hadn't heard from Dale in awhile...Thought maybe his computer had broke or "something"...lol

Mine broke just the other day and nobody noticed...lol

No computer troubles. It just seemed like I was always a day late to the party and the questions had all been answered. Been vacationing, doing some touring (Happy Days Tour in May, local tour to PA just last week). Way too hot here to driving around in an old Chevy with no A/C!

That was pretty nice of Cousin Dave, wasn't it??? :-) I had to buy him lunch, but it seemed like a small price to pay.

I suppose those of you who have removed and reinstalled an engine in a 42-48 know a heck of a lot more about the pros and cons of either removing the front end or leaving it on, than me.

Here is the part I don't quite get.

If you scribe or otherwise note the position that the fenders meet the cab (upwards and lower points) and you don't bother the shims of the radiator support in front, what then is the problem of getting the clip back in the same place from which it was removed? You may need to make minor adjustments where the fenders meet the cab but that should be simple (refer to scribe marks, etc).

The front clip stays in one piece and as a unit. It is not going to change its height or length owing merely to being removed. For it to not go pretty much back where it was, it seems that something must be added to the equation.

Having maneuvered a 216 into a 41 with the clip off, I can tell you that I wouldn't want to try it with the clip on. The 42-48 does have a lower profile fender to engine than a 41 and that may make a huge difference.

On the 42-48, and with the clip on, aren't you going to have a tough time getting the starter mechanism on the back of the bell-housing by the cowl opening. Mercy!

In any case, I agree that the transmission should be removed with the engine as a unit. I would let the u-joint slide out with it. On installation, with the u-joint in place just mate it up to the splines of the drive shaft, have a little aft pressure, jack up a rear wheel and turn it slightly and it will slip right in. Worked for me. I did the whole installation job right by myself. Yeah, Eastern Ed, I have no friends.)
Charlie

BTW: For of you who are swallowing this notion of leaving the front clip on, just remember: The farthest distance between two pints is somebody's suggested short-cut. Can I get an amen?

That was me. I recalled selling the hood off of one of my coupes and just pulled it off. Forgot that the springs were already removed. I stand corrected.

Update: The motor's out!

Here's what we did... Removed the hood springs, hood, battery tray, radiator support, along with all the other things mentioned earlier. It took a little while being our first time pulling a straight 6. We had to stop a few times and change course here and there taking the extras off and out of the way, but we finally got it out.

A bonus so far is that nobody got injured and my car/fenders didn't gain any extra "character"/scratches.

Will all the help I received here I was very well prepared for this task... but I'm not done asking questions- I'll be starting new topics soon, it's just beginning!

Thanks again everyone.

Congratulations!!! have one on me

I have had the front clip off of my 41 about 5 times in the last three years. You need to document how everything fits as you take it apart. I use a video camera to do this and narrate what I am doing as I go along. Don't take things apart with a buddy as this rushes the process and might cause you to forget to videotape or right down important info. Your primary goal is probably to maintain good hood fit so my best advice is to not remove the hood. Or if you do get it fitted good to the cowl, then assemble everything so it lines up with the hood. Keep track of how many washers are where? What the measurements are for the radiator support, and anything else like inner fender positions. You can not ever have too much info. Every minute you take in disassembly will pay off in reassembly.

I am on my 16th one hour video on work I have done on my car. There are very few things that I do not videotape and there are still lots of times I wish I would have taped more. Good luck, Mike