Thread: pros and cons of a chevy 216

Tweet

I think Don has hit on one of the most valid points I have heard in a while.

Basically any old car (to include you 216 powered 52) can do well within the limitations of what it was built to do. In the case of most cars built prior to the mid to late 50s (and depending on the available options such as drivetrain and brakes) most of these cars do not allow you to have your cake and eat it too. Basically even if all the original systems are brought back up near factory specifications they are not designed for the demands most would subject them to using them as basic daily transportation or for cross country cruising.

If your expectations for the car are the occasional Sunday cruise, parade, or local show and originality is important to you, then the car and original drivetrain will do fine. If you have plans on say driving for a few hours at interstate speeds and/or in heavy stop and go traffic chances are your going to quickly find it is not a fun car at all.

One of the painful truths about many of the less than mainstream cars is that even in professionally restored perfect condition there is not much of a demand for them so relatively speaking they just aren't worth much. Such cars are a hobby not an investment as there is not going to be a sudden rise in the market that's going to let the owner retire early. That being the case it's up to the owner to determine what he or she actually wants the car to do. If originality is the # 1 priority that's great it just depends on what you want the car to be able to do.

If the old " babbit pounder" runs good and the car is in mint shape, I'd keep it as is. When it craters, or if you just get tired of the thing, then put a V8 and automatic in it. Like Mike P says, its probably never going to be a really valuable antique, a well-done modernising job might make it worth more as well as being a lot more fun to drive. Bottom line---its your tin, whack it if you want to!