Let's Build a 265 Chevy V8!!!!!

Okay i read all your posts and 94's should work fine, just remember that the hotter the engine the better it uses the intake. You should have a decent volumetric efficiency with a warm chev, which by VE i mean how much air the cylinder fills with air.

As in a similar cube flathead running 3x2's with a VE of 75% will pull similar are to an overhead pulling 100 VE . Now I'm not saying you are pulling 100% VE but there are a lot of flatties having no problem with 3x2's

Now i dont know your aplication or budget or more importanly rescorces, but 265 heads aint the best starting point according to the old books and mags. As of 57 they came out with heads with bigger runners that might fit the bill better if you have access.


Now as for me, my 283 is comming along, i'm back to work so that means i get to start pricing oversized valves, and my unmachined SP tops are on the way thanks to the hamb classifieds. Now i just need to find a cheap place to chrome my strombergs, and need some stainless tubing to make some cal custom style wire looms

 

JJ- staggered VC bolt holes are 55-59 ... mid year 59 is when they change over to even ... 55-57 used front mounts ... 58 and up for side mounts ...

 

I thought the '55 had block and piston skirt problems, but was resolved for 1956. That's what I think I remember.

 

Thanks man, those figures are always getting mashed up in my mind.


Shaggy great to hear your 283 is coming along. I have a chrome shop here in NC that's does things cheap. He's a little sketchy on turn around times but it's worth the wait when you figure the price. That may be an option for your 97's.



I'm currently trying to find a way to buy Josh's (TUDOR) 283 that he had in his coupe. It ran a blower but I figure I might throw on some small chamber heads and work on the top end before throwing it in my '54 Chevy. That's a whole other project so I'm not getting crazy there just yet. First things first, I need to hear my 283/265!!!!

 

Thanks for the info Shaggy. I'm on the hunt for some 'later' heads. Theres two engine guys I'm considering, the first is a local 'old boy' who's been around hot rods his whole life, that is trying to talk me out of it. He knows why I want to do it but he'd rather see me get the most bang out of my buck. The other build race engines and didn't even blink when I told him what I was looking to do, just told me to bring 'er in.

 

Go with the second guy. It's your money and I hate when builders try to tell you you'd be better off with a 350 or 400 sbc. No shit! But that's not what we're after. I had my friend Scott build my engine and he has experience with early Chevy V8's as well as racing so I felt confident that he'd get it.

 

I used a race engine builder, young guy, that thought it was fun to play with older technology he had only read about!

 

Haha, yeah the old guys reaction is usually 'You wanna do what with a what?!" I respect their input, as they have been at this longer than I have been alive, but trying to explain what I'm up to is painfull sometimes.

 

Ok, gotta jump in one more time. I have a new found friend how suggests building a stroker out of it by using 307 pistions and 327 crank to get 1/4" more stroke. Using 2 barrel 57 heads and port and polish the intakes; increase intakes to 1.84 and use an L-79 cam. Z28 valve springs. Use a stock 56 dual carb intake and maybe use holley 390 cfm vacum carbs so as not to overflow the fuel. Use a 1 inch carb space so as to add enough clearance to allow a modified (oil cut) HEI distributor. Modify block for full oil pressure. Stick with the rope seal and just do it right (fotflmao). Use Rams horn headers and a decent exhaust with a good crossover.

Supposedly push well over 300hp.

Anyone done this one?

 

If your thinking of stroking a 265 have a read of this thread

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181361&showall=1

The Speedomotive kit mentioned in the thread appeared to be pulled a little while after emailing them with the block pics. I've still yet to do it and the only I reckon you'll get a 3.250" crank in there is to get a used nascar/cup crank that has been highly profiled and it might fit. But then have to deal with BBC snouts and honda 1.888" jounal rods.

 

Guy's thanks for a great thread, I'm finally putting together a 283 + .060 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=430809 and have learned alot from it. What is the best option for a guy who has a 57 283 and needs something to go on the oil filter boss? My engine had the canister and an adaptor that I'd have to find the gaskets for Thanks again, Rocky

 

After some searching I found the oil filter adaptor that accepts the Ford spin on filter is still mfg by Trans-Dapt. Part #1024.

 

Cool to know Toymaker!!!!

Question what's wrong with the normal canister filter element? I heard they work really really well! I can my canister chromed too hahah!!!

 

I'd use one and save my money but I unfortunately don't have one

 

For a lack of better term I'm going to call the part I'm describing as the part "X"

I plan on using the stock canister-style filter on my 265, I am missing the canister but I imagine I can find one easily enough. When you tighten the canister/filter up, it comes in contact with part "X". Part "X" would be the item replaced if one was to upgrade to the modern filter adapter. I took my part "X" into the local GM dealership (the Parts Manager there is an old boy, knows his shit) because there is a chunk mising out of the filter contact area. He told me they are still available new, and as far as he was concerened there wasn't really any reason to spend the money on the adapter, that "somehow we managed to get by fine with the old cartridge filters"

So take that for what it's worth, like you I'm going to get mine chromed and run it.

 

Chrome it chrom it!!! I actually had one that came with the engine but it was pitted and had a few pin holes. So I quickly got on ebay and ordered another which was mint for like $25.00. Then paid the $15 to have it chromed by my local back yard Chrome shop and blam!!! It's awesome!!!

 

^^^Pictures or it didnt happen!!

 

A wise guy once told me, "chrome dont get ya home, but it might get ya laid", and yes i'm gunna be chroming a canister, too bad i cant fit a hemi one on, i have chromed ones for them

Kid again, that reminds me of my daily i get 25 mph in my 81 el camino that is 283, t400, L79 cam, 1.84 305 heads, not a bad setup, but it needs a stick, it cant pull enough R's to use the cam propper. Also i need more compression, because i doubt i'm much over 9.25 to 1. I really like that cam for a hydralic, kicks the crap outa the comp the previous owner had in there. Like most early cams it has slow ramps so it is happy with low spring pressures and should be reliable

 

Here is a tidbit for you chrome junkies, I just tore down my '55 bellhousing mount starter and threw its guts in a Speedway CHROME stagered bolt patern case and silinoid kit. Yep, they are practicly the same, so for $70 i have a chrome starter.

I havent tested it yet because i havent been able to unscrew the fields from my old case, but everything seems to measure and fit right

Btw, being a delco part i wouldnt be supprised if olds and caddy might interchange too

 

265 bore 3.750, 305 bore 3.736, 283 bore 3.875, 307 bore 3.875
265 strk 3.00, 305 strk 3.48 283 strk 3.00, 307 strk 3.25

 

Anything new on this build?

 

Nothing new since two years ago! kill the thread.

 

?? Delete all this stuff ?? Gary

 

This is a great source of info. Why would we kill it?

 

i just want the source for a back yard chrome shop

 

The engine may be built, but the story continues......

http://jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=594569

(You're welcome, JJ!)

 

Thanks B For C!!!

Nothing new except getting it ready to fire. I am hoping to have the car wired next week and today I got the generator pretty much ready to get back together. Only thing that I am behind the 8 ball on is the 97's. I just know it's going to be more then a thousand bucks to rebuild all four of them. Not looking forward to that at all.....

Here's some engine shot for you....



Polished mallory dual point...

 

Oh, sweet Jesus! Hurry up would'ja?!

 

Any one know where the factory temp sending unit was located on a '56 engine????

 

Jeffy or nyone else, I have a set of NOS MT 283 pistons in the classifieds. If your block will handle it a 1/8th overbore in a 265 would be fun. Selling some stuff to pay for the Bonneville car. Keeping the 265 however.