VCCA Home Forums Thread Like Summary - Curious If Manual Posted

Someone posted a PDF copy of a 49 Chevy shop manual. I wonder if there's a library of such literature and if my 41 Special Deluxe might be available. Does someone know?

Glad to help. 👍

I really have no fear of the babbited 216's if properly set up and high quality light oils are used.
In fact I think 216's actually had at least one advantage over the 235.

The only caveat to that is when the crankshaft has been ground undersize and the babbit in the rods is thicker as a consequence.
Even then, installing bearing shells in the rods will get around the issue.

I would never even consider swapping the 216 out of my '46. 🙂
It came in the truck, and it's going to stay that way.

PS
The truck gets driven regularly at 50 mph and still has the original 4.57 rear end in it.

Well...

I'm far from an expert on values, especially what they might be where you are.
That said, being a mechanic myself, I have no fear of the 216's.
And I for one put a value on a car having the engine it's supposed to have.

If it were me, and if the 216's are 1940 or later production (identifiable by the oil distributor valve), I'd jump on those for $100 each as possibilities for the future of your '41.
But that's just my opinion. 🙂
Hopefully others nearer to you will offer their opinions as well.