VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 47 Chevy Lover

Understood that I should keep my 216 engine and have it rebuilt and I am working on that.

However, this question keeps coming up. Are the 216 engine, the 235 engine, the 250 engine and the 262 engine interchangeable?

I.E - pull the one (anyone) and the other 3 would bolt right into the tranny? or the bell housing?

Thanks!

The 216, 235 and 261 engines are from the same family. They will all work with some modifications.

The 194,230, 250 and 292 are modern 7 mian bearing thin casting engines.
The 216-235 and 261 are fairly easy drop-ins.
The 7 main bearing engine is not.

Hi Gene..Are these 7 main bearing motors GMC motors..?
Take it for granted ...I'm not very smart...

All 7 main bearing engines were the new short stroke thin wall casting engines and had no relation to the old GMC engine. The engine was more related to the small block V-8 with the stamped rocker arms pivotong on a ball, and the pistons on some of the displacement engines being the same as a small block.
The engine first appeared in a 1962 Chevy II as a 194 cubic inch 6 cylinder and also as a 4 cylinder.
In 1963 it replacced the 235 engine in cars and trucks and with 230 cubic engines.
The long stroke 292 version replaced the 261 for large trucks.
In 1966 the new 250 C.I version was used in cars and small trucks..
It also replaced the 248 GMC engine used in GMC trucks. I believe the 292 replaced the 302 GMC.
It was a corperate GM engine with various displacements used in Pontiac Oldsmobile and Buick.
Pontiac offered an over head cam version of the engine in the mid//late 60's.

I am thinking about going to a 261 swap with my 216. However, going to keep the 216 and have it rebuilt so that should I or a future owner desire to have the matching number car the 216 will be available.

What are your thoughts about this? Thanks!

What year 261 do you have to put in?

I have not purchased a 261 yet. However, I have leads on two at this time. What is your recommendation? I thank you for it!

It was about '67-'68 or '69...Think it was only two years it was available...You could order it w/a 4 barrel carb...I thought they were great...People couldn't believe you only had a 6 in the car, as fast as they were...Wish I had snagged one from a junk yard years ago...Probably can't get your hands on one now...

The later 261's had full flow oil filters on them, it does add a little more plumbing to deal with. You also will need to take note of the harmonic balancer, some of them are dual pulley and are bigger around and can cause clearance issues. You can also buy a water pump relocating kit so you can use your original water pump, if you do this you will need to get a earlier harmonic balancer so you have the same wider pulley for the belts to match up. With a little work you can do the 261 swap and it will look good and you will be happy with the extra ponies it has also. If you get some #'s off the engines your looking at so you know what your getting. I'm sure Ive missed some items but gives you an idea what your looking at. Good Luck, Don

Pontiac used a 230 cu. in. seven main bearing engine that was essentially a modified Chevrolet. Used the same rods and pistons. Crank was the same but drilled for front pulley bolt instead of press on for Chevy. It was a single overhead cam run by a ribbed belt (first for a USA car). It had the distributor and fuel pump run off the belt as well. I purchased a brand new '66 Tempest Sport Coupe with the OHC and manual transmission which was the first year. Sold it to my sister-in-law and later bought it back. Still have it. They stayed with the 230 in 1967 and then moved up to the 250 in 1968 and 69. That was the Delorean regime at Pontiac. All years also had a Sprint option which had a highlift cam, 4 bbl Rochester carb and split exhaust. I owned a '66 Sprint Convertible twice. Was not a drag car but loved the highway. In addition to still having the '66 Coupe have several OHC engines. Have thought about putting a Sprint engine in an older Chevy but not done so far.

Yeah, it was the Tempest I recall seeing them in...Could give a Camaro V8 a run for their money...Amazing OHC motors...Love'em to this day...

Always thought if I would switch from a 216, it would have to be the Pontiac OHC...But, then there's the braking problem...Would probably have to put rotors up front...I think...

Think I'll just leave it be, and tool around in the garden...Still would love have one...Had a '65 Grand Prix...
What was it...? 427-8.C.I...Classic...Would do 120 MPH in a heart beat...'69 was a great year for G.P's, too...

Still thinking about my 47 - It is winter here and it is resting peacefully in the garage not knowing what I am planning for it.

Should I go with a 235 should I go Hydraulic Lifters or Mechanical Lifters?

Which year do you consider the best year 235 - 54 - 55 - 56 - 57 - 58 - 59 - 60 - 61 - 62?

Still planning to keep my 216 number matching & up grading the engine to 235 or 261. Thanking about the 235 just now. Thank you!

The 1953 Power Glide or any 1954 engine would be my first choice as it has the same looking water pump as a 1947.
Any of the choices wll require drilling holes in the front mounting plate for the motor mounts.
My choice would be hydraulic lifters bt beggars can't be choosers when looking for a good used engine.
Next Best choice would be a 1959-1962.
Any engine from a car afteer 1956 will have Hyd. lifters and a truck engine solid lifters.

I believe "matching numbers" did not come into existence until the '60's.

However, if the 216 you have is original to the car, the numbers on the 216 block will show the "same approximate time frame of manufacture", as the car itself.

So then would you say that matching numbers are not important in the era of this car? Should I or should I not be concerned about keeping the engine that I have currently in my 47 that needs to be completely rebuilt? Thank you!

Matching numbers originally meant that the vehicle still had the same major parts on it when it left the factory. That is regardless of the year of manufacture. Lately some have modified that to be parts that were originally available in that model year. I personally feel that all the major parts should be date correct as well as part number correct.

I definitely would be concerned about keeping the engine that is in your car especially if it is the original engine that came with the car from the factory.

If you are concerned about originality, for whatever reason, keep the 216 engine, IF THAT 216 IS THE ORIGINAL ENGINE TO THE CAR.

More VCCA "matching number" insight for our older cars.

https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/319443/Cast_and_Numbers_Matching

Regarding my "matching number" comment.

I was referring to the factory practice of stamping the V.I.N. (partial V.IN. only) onto the engine block and or transmission. This practice began in the '60's, within the U.S.A.

See the thread below by VCCA member Verne Franz.

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showpost.php?post/2504430/

While I am in favor of keeping the original engine I believe it will not effect the value of the car by installing a 235.
Many do not have confidence in a 216 (like I do) and prefer a later engine.

From a VCCA point of view, how would the judging of this 1947 vehicle be affected, if a 235 is installed, in place of the factory 216 ?

Hello 47 Chevy Lover:

To answer your question about Judging, I need to ask several questions. Will you be placing the 1947 in the CDPC Class = Chevrolet Driver's Participation Class? In CDPC for a 1947, you can run radial tires, FM Radio, halogen headlights, overdrive unit, dual exhaust and probably a 235 engine in the vehicle. All components must look period correct.
If you are going into vehicle judging, a 1947 goes into Class 02, which is for 1947 and 1948 Chevrolets. In Class Judging, there is a Mandatory Deduction for the wrong displacement engine of 100 points. Judging starts with your vehicle worth 1000 points. A 100 point wrong engine displacement mandatory deduction does not allow your vehicle to move out of Junior Status. You will not be able to advance to the Senior Class or the Preservation Class.

dtm

I am currently building two different 216 engines. One is for my 1940 and another is for a 1948 Chevy. I see no reason not to run a 216. I have driven my current 216 for 32,000 miles with no problems at all except that the rear main rope oil seal leaks on my car. I am rebuilding the engine with a one piece modern rear main oil seal that requires a machine to line bore the rear main bearing with the cap to accept the one piece oil seal.

dtm

Stay with a 216...I will never forgive myself for the in- correct modifications I made to my 48..I have and still am spending lots of time and $ changing it all back

In Wisconsin the vehicle id number on the title is probably the number that is stamped on the pad by the distributor. My Firetruck was titled by the number on the engine, I changed it to the serial number on the door jamb. To do this you need to make an appointment with a Wisconsin State Trooper to do a VIN check. They come, verify the number on the engine is the same as your title, then have your MV-1 form filled out with the vehicles serial number on it. He will sign it off, send it to the DMV along with a check for the fees and your set.