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Rebuilt remanufactured Chevy GM 216 engine
Rebuilt remanufactured Chevy GM 216 engine builder in Los Angeles. Engine Rebuilding Machine Shop and Auto Parts Store. 818 767-6603

Chevy GM 216 Engine Rebuild

GM 216 Engine Rebuilding.

Cool Chevy GM 216 engine we are rebuilding at the machine shop.  GM 216’s were in production from 1937-1963, this engine is a 1950 cast iron beast.

Engine Rebuild Agenda: Teardown, Inspection, Bore and Hone engine block, Grind crank and cam, Valve job on the head, Install New pistons, rings, bearings, gaskets,  timing set, clean, paint, and assemble.

Here is a Before shot, it’s time to tear it down.

Chevy GM 216 Before Engine Rebuild
Before rebuild

As soon as we remove the oil pan we see where the problem starts.  Somehow, material or a rag got into the pan and wrapped around the railing tubing and clogged everything up.  Not good, the engine was suffocating.
Looks like the connecting rod dippers/scoopers may be bent.

Further inspection reveals a few more issues.  Here you see we cleaned up the connecting rods and we see some damage.  The engine block has a bad cylinder, check out that hole.  Needs to be repaired, we will put a new sleeve in.  We bore and hone the remaining cylinders and make them all the same size.

Gm 216 connecting rod damage
Rod damage

GM 216 Engine Repair

Chevy GM 216 engine block repairs.
Sleeve Me!

In the Bore Machine.  Need to install a new cylinder sleeve to repair this cylinder.

Chevy 216 Valve Job

Basic valve job includes: Grind valves, Cut 3-angle valve seats, Resurface, Clean, Paint, and Assemble.
We also installed new guides and valve stem seals.  I missed all the work, but managed to get one photo.
It’s ready to cut the valve seats.

Chevy GM 216 cylinder head valve job
Ready to cut the seats.

Fast forward and we are already assembling the Long block.
Here we are installing the new screen on the pickup tube.

Rebuilt remanufactured Chevy 216 engine builder in Los Angeles. Rebuild Your Chevy GM 216 Engine Here
Installing screen

The oil pan has been completely cleaned up with all the railing tubes and feeders cleared out.

GM Chevy 216 engine rebuild
GM Chevy 216 block and crank, oil pan

Ready to install the push rods

Chevy 216 Push rod
Push rod time

 

Pushrods and Rocker arm assembly installed. Installing the final gaskets.

Oil pan gasket gm 216
Install oil pan gasket

 

GM Chevy 216 engine rebuilding
GM Chevy 216 engine rebuilding

 

Oil pickup screen on GM 216
Bottom end GM 216

Chevy 216 engine rebuild is complete.  Photos of final assembly.
My phone camera was terrible at the time, so apologies for the lack of clarity and detail in the photos.

Full Service Auto Machine Shop and Parts Store for your next GM 216 rebuild.  Contact us.

Chevy GM 216 engine repair shop

Need your Chevy GM 216 rebuilt?

Call us  at 818 767-6603.

Use the CONTACT form for an engine rebuild estimate or engine parts.

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50 Comments

  1. Josh
    December 31, 202212:17 pm -

    How much would it cost to rebuild a 216 engine 1951 Styleline

    Reply
  2. Marlon
    May 31, 20212:53 pm -

    Price for an engine rebuild? Chevy 216

    Reply
  3. Adam
    April 7, 20214:10 pm -

    Hi can you send me a quote for a 216 engine rebuild kit? And also what it would cost if I had your shop do it. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Valley Auto Parts
      April 9, 202112:33 pm -

      Adam,
      I emailed you pricing on a Chevy 216 Engine Rebuild Kit and a Rebuild Estimate.
      Regards, Lucinda

      Reply
    • EDWARD G. AVALOS
      August 7, 20235:55 pm -

      Complete rebuild 216 52? Total cost ?
      do you put bearings to replace babbits and hardened valves basically upgrade for todays fuel? And is their an increase in horsepower? Thanks for any info!

      Reply
  4. Abel sapien
    April 6, 20211:13 pm -

    I have a 216 engine on a 1941 Chevy truck 1/2 ton what would it cost to rebuild the engine

    Reply
  5. Cesar Baptista
    August 2, 20201:51 pm -

    My 1950 216 engine runs well but I would like to know what a rebuild costs.

    Reply
  6. Felix Benavidez
    June 3, 20208:17 pm -

    Do you have any Rebuild 216 for sale?

    Reply
  7. Javier Michel
    April 27, 20207:03 am -

    Hello, I need a quote to have my 216 rebuilt.

    1950 3100 pick up.

    Reply
  8. Jimi
    October 29, 201911:15 pm -

    Hello all, I’d like to get a quote on a rebuild for my 216 inline 6 in a 48 style master
    Would love to hear back from you!
    Thanks in advance
    Jimi.

    Reply
  9. ZDENO FIALA
    July 20, 20194:47 pm -

    I have 1941 CHEVY PICKUP with 216 engine to be rebuild.Just purchased TATTERSFIELD intake manifold+ 2 Rochester carbs ,have them rebuild at the moment. Can we do valve job as well to have effect on performance and plus maybe camshaft to change.Let me what is possible + rebuild. Thanx ZF

    Reply
  10. Terry Lane
    June 20, 20196:07 am -

    I don’t think my 216 is rebuildable. There are multiple coolant leaks in the block itself. Do you still have a 235 available?

    Reply
  11. Steve Elizondo
    June 10, 20197:24 am -

    Good morning,
    I have two 216 engines one with a single hole for the water pump and a dual hole water pump. Can you quote me how much each would cost to rebuild and if the head would be included in the rebuild. Thanks in advance!
    Steve E.

    Reply
  12. Elias
    March 23, 20199:02 pm -

    price to rebuild a 216 in a 53 chevy 3100? Is it worth rebuilding or should I find a 235?

    Reply
  13. Harvey Hansen
    September 17, 20181:13 pm -

    I have a 216 in my 51 styleline deluxe. Am told the engine will not last long. Am told to start looking for a 235 asap. I haven’t had any issues with it so far. What will happen with this engine?

    Reply
    • Valley Auto Parts
      September 17, 20182:02 pm -

      Harvey,
      Thanks for contacting us for a Chevy 235 engine.
      We have them in stock.
      I sent you an email with price and questions on your 216.
      Thanks
      Lucinda

      Reply
    • Cesar
      November 30, 20195:25 pm -

      Cesar here i have a 1949 chevy 3600 with 216. How much for a complete rebuild. Engine still runs but have blow by
      or is a 235 a better option? Thanks

      Reply
  14. ROBERT HALL
    September 11, 20187:20 pm -

    How much to rebuild my 216 out of my 49 Chevy 4400? I just discovered my oil pan has rusted through and was searching for another oil pan or complete engine, when I found you. Do you have access to another oil pan? If so, what would cost be on that?

    Thank you,

    Rob

    Reply
  15. Sergio Beltran
    July 3, 20188:47 am -

    I would like an estimate to rebuild a 216 engine off a 47 Chevy Fleetline Sedan. It runs but I want to rebuild before restoring the vehicle so I won’t have to deal with it down the road. Do you also remobe and install? Please emal me a quote if I drop it off or I take the car to you to remove it. Thank you!

    Reply
  16. Al
    June 15, 20188:53 pm -

    I have a 1939 Chevy. Need to rebuild the 216 in it. What would you charge for a complete rebuild?
    Thanks, Al
    Send response to cedarez@aol.com

    Reply
  17. Jaime
    May 14, 20181:34 pm -

    I have a 1937 Chevy and have an oil leak from the rear main seal. It’s my understanding that 37 had no rear main seal but a bearing seal with a check valve . Are you familiar with the 1937 Chevy rear seal leak and if so do you have replacement parts. Or can it be rebuilt? The leaking oil is enjoying and want to have the problem fixed .

    Reply
    • Valley Auto Parts
      May 15, 20189:48 am -

      Jaime,
      Thanks for contacting us regarding your Chevy 216 engine. Yes, that is correct, the 37′ does Not have a rear main seal. It does not have a check valve, it has a return hole in the Main cap that drains back into the engine, that may be plugged. The bearings have an oil sling grooved into them, you may have bad bearings.

      We can source new parts, we can also rebuild your engine.
      I will email you a quote to rebuild your Chevy 216 engine.
      Thanks
      VAP

      Reply
  18. Anthony Colon
    April 23, 20181:11 pm -

    Looking for a price to rebuild a 216 engine in my 1948 Chevy Stylemaster. If you do transmissions please email me a quote on that as well. Thank You

    Reply
  19. Richard A. Smith
    January 17, 20186:49 am -

    I have 216 and I want to rebuild. I want to know how much for labor and shipping? I am Nebraska and I am deaf person. Let me know……. Thank you
    Richard A. Smith

    Reply
    • Valley Auto Parts
      January 17, 20189:50 am -

      Richard,
      Thanks for contacting us for an estimate on your Chevy 216 engine. I just emailed you a quote, plus I need more information to get a shipping estimate.
      Please respond to the email.
      Thanks

      Reply
  20. Matt
    October 30, 20152:41 am -

    Can you explain how or if you shimmed rod bearings to set them in? Maybe you can point me in the right direction. Me and my dad started to rebuild this engine back in 2011 and ran into this whole shimming thing and put us at a big hold as we couldn’t find the happy medium. Thank you

    Reply
    • Lucinda
      October 30, 20159:29 am -

      Matt,
      Thanks for contacting us.
      You would not shim rod bearings. You could shim the main bearings, at the end of the caps, then plexi-gauge them to allow at least .003 clearance.

      Theoretically, it is possible to shim the rods, however rods are not usually shimmed.
      You can do it, making sure there is not too much end gap, so you do not lose oil pressure.

      There are two types of rod bearings:
      Babbit poured, which is usually bored out to the journal size.
      Insert type, most of the time the crank is ground to that size to fit properly.

      I hope this helps you and your Dad.
      Good luck on your rebuild!
      Let us know if we can get you any engine rebuild parts.
      Thanks
      Lucinda

      Reply
  21. Joseph Reiner
    October 6, 20144:33 am -

    I am looking for a Chevy inline 6 engine with a complete hydraulic lifter system to install in my 1950 Chevy deluxe with manual transmission. Also it needs to be able to handle an AC unit and power steering.

    Reply
  22. Joseph Reiner
    November 17, 20137:03 am -

    Looking for a rebuilt 216 engine with hydraulic lifter/cam shaft and push rods.

    Reply

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