Traditional straight 6?

So, Im looking for a new project...something from the early 30's probably...(really anything with a good deal on it)

Thinking about a new project, got me thinking about what motor choice i should go with, which lead me to the question "what is the definition of a Traditional Motor?"
I know the popular engines in the 30's and 40's where the 4 Bangers and Flatheads and then in the 50's they were the Hemi's, Nailheads, Rockets, Sbc (265, 283)....and it goes on.

The thing i was curious about, was that i was considering a Straight Six Motor....for the obvious reasons (Easy Engine to find....Cheaper parts, easy labor, period correct, and something different from the everyday v8 engine)

I know Buicks, Olds, Chevy's ect. all had their own little version of the 6.
The thing im curious about, which ones was the most popular....and did people actually hot rod em out and race it or anyone who pulled them out and stuck it in their hot rods.
Was their actually performance parts out there for these engines, or was stock plenty enough to get rolling?

 

IF you got one, pictures and comments are welcome.

 

Then as now the 270-302 GMC was/is a very popular choice for a high performance six. Overhead valves. Relatively large displacement for the day. Well designed and built basic engine compared to p***enger car engines. Anything you want for a '37-'61 GMC you can get. Check out Inliners International for information. Also fit well into early Chevys. When I was a kid the soda jerk had a '32 Chevy coup with a Military surplus 302 still painted OD. I loved that car.

 

As far as availability of speed equipment goes, I've been looking for original stuff for my Ford 215 for 4 years and I've got an Offy tripower intake and Barker Hi-lift rockers (both thanks to the HAMB) but it's been pretty hard to find. You can find just about anything for the Chevy 6s.

 

I would say its safe to say there beefing up the 6's a little, check this out.

http://www.mighty6.com/

6 standing up, is stronger than 8 laying down.

 

Straight 6's are - and always have been
- "traditional". Before the first modern
OHV V8's came out in '49 - and particularly
before the OHV SBC came out in '55, there
was a hotly-fought, decades long war for
racing and hot-rod supremacy between the
Chev and GMC 6's and the flathead Ford V8.

Mart3406
============================

 

The Chevy 235 six full oil pressure has to be one of the most common 6 cylinder engines out there. There is so much you can do with this engine as well. So much hop up stuff to go with. I currently have 235's pwoering my 53 Chevy and my 40 Chevy. the one in the 53 has solid lifters a 4 barrel intake with a carter carb and is backed by a S-10 5 speed. The 40 has a lumpy cam with solid lifters but other then that it is mainly stock. I love these engines, they are affordable and easy to work on.

 

I happen to like the inline 6. You can do a lot to them if you have a bilfold and a little ingenuity. Shocktowers in a Ford Falcon are not that big an issue. A 300 six could probably be put in one but deck height and length would become an issue. But, for the 200 and 250 inline not a problem.
Cl***ic inlines has a load of info. on the Ford 144-300 inlines. I also like the Chevy 235 and 250.
You can get special manifolds and headers for all these engines and set them up how you wish. I think if more people got interested in them we would not see them go the way of the dinosaur.
A lady named Kelly McLearran races one and does 10's in the quarter. Of course she is running higher grade fuels and is turbo'ed. Split manifolds are used in Aussieland and are a hoot. Clifford also offers a lot.-Bob

Happy to see someone with interest in the inline.

Frenchtown Flyer....is here on H.A.M.B. He ran a couple of weekends ago according fordsix.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OzHBhB9S2A

 

Packard Straight Eight. awesome

 

I've been thinking for a while now, that my next build will have a Hudson 308 CI, H-145 engine, with a Paxton or McCullough supercharger.

Pretty cool engines, and you don't see them that much.

 

this thread should keep you occupied for a while.....http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18390&highlight=who+stand

 

Thanks Low for the thread imput...eh!

 

Hudson 308, do your homework on them. Tough engine, performance parts available. Dominated racing in it's day. I'm planning to put one in my truck eventually...

 

You might wait and see how that guy does with his 370 inch **O/BGC International Harvester Red Head. Might make the Hudson seem puny. Red head doesn't sound nearly as neat as Testa Rossa

 

Don't know how popular they were, but in 1955 or so, J.C. Whitney was selling NEW Hudson 308's for about $150. They were pretty hot from the factory and factory hop up (I think they were called Special Duty) parts were available.

Bill

 

I saw that. Curious to see how it stacks up against the Flatcad!

As for the Hudson, good engines, rarely used it seems, and I really like them.

 

Heres my 1954 truck 235, solid lifter, ful pressure motor, gapless rings, 265 intake duration cam, Edmunds water manifold, holly 94s, fenton exhaust, smoothed all the casting, machine turned the valve cover after work one day and pinstriped.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dPT1j1OLfk

 

Ugh...NOBODY needs to tell 38FLATTIE to do his homework. He does ALL his homework...and then some! (extra credit)

 

Hudson Boys do OK with Hudson power. 252.9 in a 'liner. Look at XO/BGMR for a rarely used powerplant. Nash straight eight. 194.415 in 1984

 

You are correct Rich. I've been following the Hudson Boys! I wasn't thinking about one for Bonneville, but I am looking at a Hupmobile roadster....

I meant I rarely saw them in hotrods, except for Hudsons. For a motor that was dominating in it's day, I would expect to see more

 

Not thinking about running it at Bonneville? I forgot. Wait until after you actually run the Cad on the salt. Thinking changes. The sentence "I wasn't thinking about running it at Bonneville" will no longer make sense.

 

I'm sure your right!

It would be at least 2013. I'm gathering parts for the Hudson now. The Flatcad build is all planned out for 2011, with MAJOR changes to the engine for 2012. It just takes so long to plan and build everything.


Beebeebobby, sorry- didn't mean to hijack the thread! You can do a lot worse than the Hudson for your build. Read up on the history of this engine, and I think you'll be impressed.

 

Sixes are cool-It doesn't take much to make them look cool-they run cool and make lots of power for a 30's car.
When you consider a stock flattie was 100 hp and a mundane 230 cu in chevy made 140hp and about 220 ft/lbs torque-the six is a different alternative for a reliable, cool running,"different' mill.
Lot's out there to soup them up too-go for it!

 

Saw an aluminum head off a Hudson at Hershey last week...it was a good looking engine top!

 

I think it's kind of humourous that some people pretend that at some time in the past an inline 6 motor wasn't traditional in a hot rod. Really? Hey, did you know that Denver is on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountain front range, that there is sal****er in the Gulf of Mexico, and that a 1932 Ford is called a 'deuce'.??

 

You didn't hijack as far as I am concerned. I find it informative and helpful. Also, if you posted a link for more study that would help me personally. I am all about the inlines. I spent a lot of time with my head stuck in V8's. So, to me the six is trying to get a grip on what my Dad was all about and what he grew up with in the thirties and fourties and 50's. My experience was going from 60's sixes to the big 8's to the present. So, thanks - Bob

 

Here's a few to get you started. If this isn't a great engine for a hotrod, then I don't know what is!

Webb City, MO? My dad lives near you, in Scammon, KS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Hornet

http://www.arcaracing.com/news.php?contentid=9391

http://boardreader.com/tp/hudson hornet.html

 

my tbucket project with 1955 235six and three speed.

 

Nothing like rolling on the throttle at 2000 rpm in 3rd gear . . . a sound that can't be beat!

I am pushing 180HP with a mild build on this 270 _ 9:1 compression with JE light weight pistons and a Delta Cam along with some head work. Idles nice and revs to 5000 rpm although I rarely take it above 4200 because I have too much in it and fear splattering engine innards all over the street.



I am running an A833 OD ****** with 3.73 posi - it keeps up with traffic on the freeway easily cruising 60 mph at about 1950 rpm.

 

here's a 6 cyl hotrod thread:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18390