I've got an opportunity to buy a very complete 250ci six banger out of a 1966 Nova. I'm looking at taking out my seized 216 and dropping in the 250 in it's place. As my car is with the 216 in it, there is only about 1/2 inch of clearance from the firewall to the rear of the head and about 5/8 inch from firewall to block. Is the newer 6 cylinder physically the same length as the 216 or am I going to have a nightmare getting this engine to fit? Here's my larger questions: 1) Will the stock 3 on the tree bell housing bolt up the the 'new' 250 engine? 2) Can I still use the front engine mount for the 250? 3) Is the pressure plate and clutch interchangeable from the 216 to the 250? 4) What else would I need to make this work? Any help you guys can offer is majorly appreciated!
1) No, but if you find a three speed from a '48-'54 truck, it will bolt to both the newer bell housing and the torque tube in your car. 2) No. 3) It might be---some of the newer Chevy sixes used 9 inch diaphragm clutches similar to the 216 setup. 4) Either aftermarket or fabricated engine mounts, cable or redesigned throttle linkage, maybe move the radiator ahead for fan clearance. Also----if it's out of a '66 Nova, it may not be a 250 at all. It could be a 230, or even a 194, so check it out. The Nova oil pan has a different sump configuration than the sixes out of any other Chevy, and may interfere with your steering linkage. A swap to a Chevelle pan and oil pump would cure this.
Well, it turns out that the 6 cylinder from the Nova is a 194. CRAP! So I scrounged around Craigslist and found a 250 from a 1970 Chevy truck. Rather than modify the parts to work with the archaic torque tube set up, I have decided to go with the ever so typical automatic and the 250 six and try my luck at converting the closed driveline to the newer open driveline. If I go with a TH350 trans and a 250 six cylinder that will save me some money that I can spend on things like modern brakes, modern rear end, wiring, interior, etc etc. Here's more questions though. (I looked for older postings to help me, but can't find out what I need even though it probably will sound very simple to you all) 1) Is there a rear end from another car/truck that is dimensionally close to what's in my '51 and what would it involve to install it besides the obvious relocating of mounts and brackets? 2) Driveshaft. What would be a good vehicle to pilfer one from? I guess it depends on the rear end type of course but how will I know what U-joints to use and overall length of the new driveshaft? 3) Engine mount for the 250 six (replaces stock 216 six), is there a 'kit' I can buy? 4) Transmission mount for a TH350. Again, is there a kit or a suitable crossmember that will fit? I know I'll have to do some drilling...no worries there. Now on a separate issue. Front brakes/spindles/springs/master cylinder setup. 1) Is there a spindle I can use that will accept disk brakes or a kit that can be bought that includes spindles and disk hardware? 2) Master cylinder. Is it okay to utilize disk brakes with the master cylinder located under the floorboard or should I adapt a mount to install it on the firewall? 3) Springs...what to use? Original replacements or aftermarket or something from another car? Sorry for all of the questions. I'm new at a project of this magnitude but I do have the skills to do the work. I just need some direction and the occasional kick in the ass or the head to get things going. Thanks for your help and for your patience with me!
Get a rear axle and the drive shaft from any late '60's to mid '90's Nova, Camaro, Monte Carlo, Cutlass, etc. Call Chassis Engineering for rear springs, engine mounts, trans mount, and anything else you need for this conversion. Later, Kinky6
You need to head over to ChevyTalk.Org where this is well covered in the 49-54 forum. The late style sic is slightly longer, you may need to run a pusher electric fan and/or move the radiator forward. Commercially made mounts are available to do this swap. It's too bad, I just sold the complete changeover assembly that would have allowed you to do the late style six swap and still keep your stock 3-speed trans. We wound up going the V-8 route in our 51 Bus Coupe. Butch/56sedandelivery.
I have a 250 in my 50 Sedan along with a TH350. I used a S10 4X4 rear end and a Chassis Eng. spring kit. Their are pics on my photbucket page. Todd
Thanks for the information everyone! I know where I can find an S10 4x4 rear for next to nothing and even get a driveshaft to go along with it. Whether or not the driveshaft will be long enough or not is a different story altogether. 56sedandelivery, thanks for the link to ChevyTalk, I found a ton of information there that should really help me out. Too bad you sold your changeover 'kit'...I would have loved to have sent ya some $$ for it!
The 194 isn't a world beater but they are pretty reliable little engines. My 48 had one in it when I bought it in 1973. I did like the 250 that I put in in 1989 better though. With the 250 that will make a pretty sweet little cruiser that will be able to run down the highway for hours on end and give pretty good gas mileage to boot. i got 20 on road trips with the 48 and the 250.
And with gearing that's numerically lower than the 4:11 in the original, it should be pretty darned good mpg!
I ran a 250 with a 700R4 and a 3:25 rear and the six didn't like the overdrive with a torque converter lockout, but if you run a 350 and even 3:08 rear the six will like that, it runs the best between 2100 to 2500 rpm's, best mileage etc.. Hope this is some help.
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