VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 216 or 235

Hello, can anyone tell me the difference between a 216 and a 235 engine? Thank you.

About 19 cubic inches of displacement.. Sorry, just could not resist the obvious.

What year engine are you considering? The later (1953 and newer) 235 full pressure engines have lots of visual clues. These include the valve cover as well as the shorter side cover.

There were 235’s as early as 1941 for use in heavy trucks. Those look very much like a 216.

The 1950 -1952 235 also had ahort side cover and was used in 2 ton trucks and Power Glide cars.

Rusty....yes I should have seen that line coming!
Ok this is where the confusion starts. Soon I will need to replace the rear engine seal and in going over all paperwork from the previous owner he states the engine is a 235. Even though the engine does not have many miles on it since a 90s rebuild the rear main seal is leaky probably due to being stored for at about 15 years. The 216 engine is a 52/53 factory rebuild probably installed in the 50s.
So my question is, is it possible my head could be from a 235 even though the block is a 216. The valve cover is the old style with no oil filler and the spark plugs are 14mm. The oil filler pipe is in the block.
Now a little history on the block. Some time ago Chev Nut verified the engine size (216) and vintage (52/53) by my serial number. Chevrolet supplied factory rebuilt 216 engines in 52/53.
Thank you and I appreciate your help.

Sorry Gene, looks like I quoted you wrong. I guess it could not be a 53. The engine block number is 3835794. Would you say it is a factory rebuilt 52?
John

In mid 1951 the Canadian block was recast and the 216 and 235 used the same block. Both had the short side cover. The bore is larger and stroke longer on a 235 so meassuring would help. I do not have Canadian casting numbers.. To replace the rear main seal the pan gasket and seal ithe same for a 216 and 235. The pan gasket fits1940-1954 all engines as the same for the rear seal.

I didn';t notice ,that you are in Canada.

Hello Gene, sorry but I should have given more history on the car before. It originally was a US car. The previous owner purchased it from Tennessee about 1980. I actually have the original 1941 bill of sale in a protected frame. The car is in very nice condition due to a frame off restoration by the previous owner mid 90s. I am very thankful he took some pictures of the body off the frame during restoration. One day I’ll figure out the process to post a picture on this site. The underside of the car has no rust just some oil now from leaks. I have fixed a few leaks and I believe the rear seal and pan is the only ones left to seal up. He also had the engine rebuilt.
The original engine would have had their cast numbers on the block on a raised plate to the rear of the distributor. My engine number, 3835794, is embossed on the block ahead of the fuel pump. The raised plate to the rear of the distributor has been ground clean of any number because my engine is a factory rebuild (early 50s) as you mentioned in a previous post to me in 2016. Thank you.
John

So from Gene’s info since the 216 & 235 share the same parts I can go ahead and order the rear engine seal and pan gasket.

Rusty & Gene, do you know the measurement of the shorter side cover on the 235?
My side cover is 9 1/8” high and the valve cover has 3 vents and 2 nuts securing it down.
Thank you.
John

Hi John,

Sorry for messing with your mind earlier. Those moments just hit me now and then.

You definitely have the earlier style valve cover. The transition to the valve cover that was retained with 4 screws along the edge was related to the change to the 235 head.

You also have what I call the “full” side cover. The short cover is about half that tall and only attaches to the block. Once again, that transition is related to the 235 head and block. The casting for that head fully enclosed the push rods.

My thinking is that even if you have a 235 it is a splash lubricated engine. When you have the pan off to repair the rear seal you might be able to measure the bore and stroke.

That is a 216 side cover.

I can find no record of the casting number'

The engine number is stamped into the horizontal ledge to the rear of the distributor......not behind the fuel pump.

If it is a 1952-1953 216 engine it will have the boss cast into each side of the block with 4 bolt holes for the motor munt bracket used in 1952 and 1953.

Gene, Ok so with the size of my side cover it is a 216.

The horizontal ledge to the rear of my distributor has no number on it.
Gene can you tell me what the numbers ahead of the fuel pump, in large letters are for? GM
3835794
On each side of my block at about the center there are a group 3 bolt holes.

So I would think it is that 1952-1953 216.

Hi Rusty, yes I think it is a 216 and when I have it apart I can measure to be sure the bore and stroke.
I guess this is as close as I’ll ever get to saying I almost had the big mill 235 under the hood.
Thanks. John

If no number it indicates a new factory short block.
The late short block was sold for replacement for 1941-153 applictions.
te short If rear main leaking a lot it is common for the rope seal to rust onto the crankshaft and spinwith the crankshaft.

I just Googled that number and I got two hits that said it was a 1942 to 53 216.
I would suggest using the Best Gasket seal. It is a new type woven type seal. I have used it on both my 216s with good success. The secret to a good result was to get the main bearings down to minimum clearance. Gasket City near you can get that for you.

Next time you have the pan off you could measure the bore. That will tell you what you have. If you use a digital calliper, you can see if it has been bored out.

My 1939 216 has no rear main seal, just a slinger

1940 was the first year to have a rear main seal.