When I bought my 38 coupe the old 216 engine had been replaced with a 57 chevy 235 engine. The seller said the 216 got weak and started to use oil. It is a numbers matching engine for the car. He gave it to me as part of the deal. He said there was a huge difference in the two engines ,but I should keep it in case a restorer wanted the correct engine. I more than likely will never sell this old car. I'm just going to keep pouring money into it until I can use it for a sunday drive car in the country. What's this old engine worth? I have no idea what shape it really is in.

I would say that if the bottom end is good, a set of rings and a valve job may have it running good. It would be a good winter project for someone. "As is" around here it would cost around $150 with an overhaul, $375 to $400. I sold a bare 216 engine, no distributor, manifolds or carb or starter or gen or flywheel, out of a 51 Bel Air parts car that ran for $75 some years ago and the old guy that bought it had a wide grin and was drooling as he left with the engine!
I thought I got a good deal for the old engine since the complete rust bucket car only cost me $150 and I hauled it 400 miles to home, and parted it out. I got all the stainless, rear end wheels tires radiator, good glass, transmission, radio, head & tail lights, and the two chrome fins on the rear fenders, and a nice interior. Anytime you decide to restore an old car see if you can find a couple of wrecked parts cars complete and cheap.

I recommend you keep the engine, if you have secure storage space for it. At some point you may change your mind and decide you want to restore the car to all original, and you'll have the correct motor. I have a 1940 1/2 ton pickup that currently has a 1948 block with the 1940 head and manifolds. I looked for a long time and finally found on Ebay a complete, running 216 motor and 4-speed transmission that had been removed from a one-owner 1940 1/2 ton pickup. The block had the correct K prefix and the serial number range indicated that it was manufactured in 1940. I paid $400, not including shipping) and was happy to get it, but then, maybe I'm just a nut case. I haven't gotten into the lower end yet, but I did take the head off and miked the cylinder bores at the top, finding them to be .006 to .008 over standard bore, which would indicate to me that the engine probably has in the neighborhood of 50 to 80 thousand miles on it. I'm hopeful the lower end is good, too.

When I get that motor rebuilt and installed in my pickup, I'll try to sell the removed hybrid motor, which was rebuilt about 14,000 miles ago and is a strong runner with .060 over pistons. I'd consider myself really lucky if anyone were willing to pay much over $100 for it, complete, carburetor to oil pan, fan blade to flywheel/bellhousing.

Mark Yeamans
VCCA# 35724

wawuzit...keep the old 1938 216. Having the original engine from the old car is being more and more a rare event today. Someone someday will be estatic that you keep the original powerplant.

dtm

A lot of collectors (me included) consider a vehicle having the original engine to be worth much more.

I agree, keep the engine if you can, I had a 37 engine in my 33 coupe and went to great lengths to get the original year engine in it. The old coupe was a lot more powerful with the 85 hp engine but it just wasn't right so I changed it.

If you are interested in selling this engine i have a 39 with a cracked engine block, so i would be interesting in buying it. If you are interested my email is hunter1581aol

I recently bought a '46 half ton that has the original, but rebuilt, engine. For me one of the deciding factors in buying the truck was the "numbers matching" feature. My suggestion would be to keep it and preserve it as best possible, just in case you change your mind later.
37Blue

wawuzit,

I figure that engine isn't worth a plugged nickel, UNLESS a guy comes along who's looking for it. A guy who wants to restore his '38 to totally "original" - even tho that wouldn't really be original. If that guy comes along, then it's a whole new ball game as to the value of that engine.

More and more VCCA guys are changing 216's to 235's and even small block V-8's. For a variety of reasons. For ME, I sure wouldn't change out the 57 235. Just depends on how "original" you want to be.

Bill.

Bill, I'm not sure I understand your comment "even tho that wouldn't really be original."

I was thinking that it would. You know, a 38 engine in a 38 car. Trying to understand, I guess you meant that to be original there must be a combination of original serial numbered block to car's serial number body.

If so, would that mean that a 216 engine that came in the car but had every component changed out (except the block itself) would be original while another same year 216 engine installed with no more than a valve grind and and new gaskets would not?

Technically, I think I may see what you mean in the sense of: "Is that THE original engine in that baby?" As opposed to, "Is that AN original engine in that baby?" Most folks looking at your car ask the former and not the latter. I guess the right answer would hinge on the block and nothing more. I don't know.

BTW: You're "right on" about Wawuzit's engine currently being worthless unless needed for some other project. Maybe some value as scrap metal, but not much else. I've got my 41 take-out (timing gear gave up the ghost) just taking up space and being in the way. What I think you meant by your comment, however, presents a dilemma for me. I was going to "toss" it but it's the one that came in my 41 coupe, so I think I'll do a minor overhaul on it and keep it.

Thanks, Charlie

Charlie,

Yes, I was referring to it wouldn't be "absolutely" original in that it wasn't the engine that was in the car originally. As in when the car was new.

As far as the VCCA (judging) is concerned, it's plenty original. As I recall, for judging all it has to be is the same displacement as original. It certainly qualifies for that.

And it's even a bit more original, in that it's a 38.

Now, sort of poking fun, however it isn't "really" original because it isn't the one that was in the car when it was new.

All sort of in jest. But sorta not.

As for your situation, if you have room I suppose it's best for you to keep the engine that came in car....

Bill.

Thanks Bill, That's what I thought you meant. We're on the same page.

And, thanks for your advice on the 41 engine. I have decided to keep it, owing mainly to your post about originality.

Best wishes, Charlie