I'm at a bit of a cross road here and need some advice. Have been piddling with a 50 Chevy that is intended for a daily driver. The car currently has the original 216 with closed driveline. I have purchased a rear from 57 Chevy with 3.73 gears, and a T-5 out of an S10. The original intent was to use a 261 inline and stay with the traditional look. The first one I purchased has a very large hole in one of the cylinder walls. Now I've already bought some of the parts for this engine but nothing big. (intake, headers, etc..) After much searching I have found a running 261 but will also need rebuilt. It may not need a full rebuild but I refuse to throw junkyard engine straight into a car like they do on TV. Anyway, this should go in without too much modification. My 2nd option is a freshly rebuilt 230 that is sitting on the engine stand just a few feet from my car now. This one will require more mods to install and looses the traditional look, but is already together and will out perform the older style engine all day long. Since this is going to be daily driven I would like to get as much MPG out of it as possible and think that the 230 with excel here as well. (A/C may be another addition later) So there it is.... What would you do if it were you? (and no it will not get a V8)
It sounds like you have a pretty good understanding of what the pros and cons are. It's going to depend on what you want to do. The 230 makes sense....the 261 would be neater....what do you really want? what can you really afford?
Yep, what squirrel said - it's always a tug-of-war between traditional-cool vs. modern-practical. After 10 years with a 235 and T-5 I'm starting to think 292 and an automatic for my p.u. I like that you're going to stick with a 6-banger. Good luck, whatever you decide.
Thanks for the replies so far. Another thing that plays against the 261 is that one of my pet peeves is a leaking engine. From what I understand they are almost impossible to keep from dripping oil. Also, everything I know about either engine is only from reading, so I may be wrong in some areas too. I realize that at the end of the day it will be my choice but I would like to know which direction you would go and why? Are there any pros and cons that I may be missing? Thanks KK
You're probably right about the leaking thing. Maybe you would need to get used to wiping the drips off the stovebolt, if you go that route. Although you will have to go to a bit of effort to keep the later engine from leaking, too. At least it's more possible. Consider how far from home you're likely to get with the car...more modern stuff is easier to get parts for and fix. That may not be an issue for you, and a 230 is probably almost 50 years old anyways.
I say 261. They have the appropriate period look. It will have way more torque at cruise and low RPM than a 230. Think about all the rowing through the gears that will be required when slowing to turn corners around town or down shifting when climbing moderate inclines. The long stroke of the 261 gives you the low end torque to grunt through those situations. As I recall most 230s have intakes integral to the head, limiting your induction options. A 261 with a pair of Langdon's Holley/Weber carbs will give excellent economy and performance. A set of Ross popup pistons will up the compression to make good use of the modern fuel. As for leaking: the solution I have found is to loose the draft tube and adapt a PVC system to the engine where you create a controlled vacuum in the crankcase. This reduces pressure buildup that pushes oil past the seals. The later GM engines weren't necessarily better for our applications, they were developed to use as many V8 parts as possible to minimize parts count in the bins for the Bean Counters at GM. If you want a late model inline don't stop at a 230/250 jump up to a long stroke 292. Ask "Bob K", His 51 convertible is about cross 200K on He and Maggie's current trip. Check out "North to Alaska" and their current trip here on HAMB. Best Regards and Good Luck with all your endeavors, KB.
KB, Like I said, most all of my knowledge of these engines comes from what I've read. With that said, the two engines have the same advertised torque rating at 220. Not sure when it comes in on a 230 but the curve on the 261 is somewhere around 2K. Also the 230 has a detachable Clifford intake with 4 barrel on it now. (Would probably change to multiple carb setup if used) It was built for another project that has since been sold. It is a mildly souped up engine as it sits.
I put a 250/th350/57 Chevy rear end in my 48 Fleetline after the 216 had a cast-iron convulsion. Makes for a great driving car. I understand the attraction of the 261, but highly recommend the 230. If you want some bragging rights at the local drive in, the 261 is the way to go. It will impress the few who know. Otherwise, the 230 is by far the better choice, and I'm not bagging on 261s.
The integral head on the 250 was something that came along in the 70s, after they quit making the 230.
My vote is go for 261,I had one that ran all of the time,I had that same motor in 7 different rigs! I drove it 20 plus years and it never let me down! In my mind way better then the 230,250,292 motors! Uncle Bill
Well, the 230 uses the same mounts as the V8 so you can buy bolt-ons or weld-ons. But you may have to play more games with the radiator. That's why I went V8 with mine - shorter overall so no messing around with the radiator.
From what I understand, when running the 230 I would need to move the radiator forward only one inch. Is that about right?
You could convert that 230 to a 250 for less money than you can rebuild the 261 and have a really good engine that will take ANY GM/Chevy transmission that you may choose now or in the future. The ignition and fuel system options seem a little better to me on the later series sixes. Also, there is available an adapter plate, as I recall, that permit using the early valve cover on the later series head for that 'nostalgia' look.
You could check out this build: http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/journal.php?action=view&journalid=130186&page=27&perpage=5&reverse= Sure fit's nice
If the 230 weren't already built it wouldn't even be an option. This would be a 261 vs 292 discussion. lol I've heard of the adapter plate you mentioned. That will be a must if going with the 230. Starting to think that I'll purchase the 261 and build it later. Since the 230 is ready it seems to be the obvious choice for now. Gotta get rid of this closed drive line so I can drive it on the highway.
Well Karl you have been around long enough to know that I would toss an 8 in it and be done with it. That said if I had an engine on a stand that was ready to go and it was something that I liked well enough to rebuild I would use it. You can still dress it like it is going to the prom and keep it clean, can't you? Oh and I just wanted to say, I am with ray a 292 is the way I would go if I had to run an inline and it was an option. I ran a 292 in a '41 pickup once and loved it.
261 has the cooler factor, 230 has the convenience and modern design factor. Since you want it for daily driver, I would probably lean to the 230. Better trans options, it is ready to go rebuilt.
My first car was a '65 Biscayne 2 door, with a 230 and three on the tree. You won't have to row the gears as much as thought, the 230 has plenty of torque down low, and isn't afraid to rev hard either. Mine took all the abuse a 17 year old kid could give it, and never quit. Did 110 mph, too! Very few can tell a 235 from a 230, fewer still will care.
This has some good Chevy six info: http://enginefacts.com/chevrolet250.php Looks like the 1967-70 would be a good base.The 2004R trans is narrow and a good fit and the overdrive would make it a good cruiser and easier on gas since it looks like "pain at the pump" again,look for a 1988-92 donor as those have the good upgrades and are non-computer.
I've owned a lot of 216s and 235s but never a 250. I've also blown up a lot of 216/235s back when they only cost about $5.00 at the local wrecking yard. No real point to that comment except to say I gave up on inlines for many years because of the inability to run at highway speeds......till now. I own a '51 AD truck with a 261/T-5/3:54 rear end. It's without a doubt the best inline drive train I've ever had. Engine is stock except for a Holley 94 2bbl and Fenton headers. The dang thing is a torque monster and appears to be close to bullet proof! (bare in mind my donut spinin' days have long passed) I can cruise along all day at 70-75 and not see 3,000rpm. I routinely get 18-20 mpg and have even gotten as much as 24 with a tail wind. I'd heartily recommend building the 261.
283 or 327 , any SBC , just do it , it's traditional and you'll be happy you did in the long run if you plan on trips and highways , parts availability is easier in the event of roadside repairs , better setup all around...There , someone said it...
the 230 will be great! find a TF truck and swap rears. if your staying manual use a TF V8 bellhousing. Easy swap.
Well, every time I think I have my mind made up on this something else throws a wrench in things! I had messaged a guy about a Tattersfield intake for the 261 about a month ago. He never responded so I thought that it was gone or he just wasn't interested in selling it to me. (Was listed with a 235 engine) Anyway, he called me today apologizing for not getting back to me and that my email had gotten sent to his spam for some reason. Sends me pics of it and it has two W1 carbs with the oil bath air cleaners on it. He gives me what I think is a good price and all I could do is jump on it. Even throws in a couple of extra carbs and Jimmie rods for the 261. Before this call I had my mind made up to just run the more economical 230 and add AC to the car making it a non-traditional build. Now since the acquisition of what I believe to be a fairly rare piece of eye candy, I'm thinking that the 261 is meant to be in the car and the kids will just have to sweat their little balls off just like daddy did when he was a kid. Besides, what good is it to belong to a traditional hot rod forum if you are going to build a street rod.
The Jalopy Journal
