I don't usually have good luck, so this is surprising. First, a little back story. I have a '49 half ton Chevy with 235 & 4spd. Springs are beat, knee action shocks no good, & bent tie rod. Yes, my daily driver. I have a '58 Pontiac/GMC 336 V8 getting ready to drop in. Out of '58 2ton & has front motor mount & 4spd. Found a '50 ch***is w/ 216 & 3 spd on Craigslist. Has the tube shocks & mounts, straight tie rod, & springs a little better for $200. Yeah! Figure I recoup some money selling engine & trans. Got it home, decided to pull valve cover to see how much sludge. Looks great, no sludge. Wait a second... the head has 4 perimeter bolt holes. Clean off head casting #, it's an 848 head. Yee haw! It's a 235! Hadn't even looked at engine. Just ***umed 216 due to valve cover. What year? Clean off # by dist. What's that above the starter? Captain's bars. It's a 261!!!! Bout dropped my beer! Now, I have never seen a 261 in person & I'm 40. This one's set up for these trucks with short water pump & front motor mount. Almost tempted to install this, but still leaning towards the 336. Both have cool factor. What would you do?
Yup, be cool AHHH!!! Only found in the Big Trux.... unless transplanted... you lucky devil! Big power diff between them tho... the 6 is great down lo, but that's when the V-8 starts to Go!!!
Go buy a lottery ticket? Either way you've got cool covered! That 261 is just a bit more cool in my humble opinion.
The 336/4spd isn't a bolt-in, right? The 261 is. Will the 336 clear the steering box?...it's close there. If the 261 checks out, I'd put that in, at least at first.
The 261 is cool & will probably give me enough power for the mountains. The 336 even more with less weight. 261 direct drop in, change nothing. 336 has front mount (might have to move xmember), will it clear steer box? Maybe looks like 2 ton frame has clearencing. Will have to measure. Had planned on testing on new frame. Keep opinions coming! Thanks.
Never knew about the 261. That would be sweet, maybe more torque than the V8 too. Be easier getting the torquetube bolted up, thats for sure.
id put the 336 in and ship the 261 with all its trimmins to fenderless in washington for his 40 chevy, just cause your that nice of a guy!........... No? well cant blame a guy for tryin ....... heck id even buy ya a few cold beers ...
Hi Giddyup.Do you use a 40lb bale of 4 leaf clovers for a pillow?You lucky ******. Good luck.Have fun.Be safe. Leo
i think that might be a 53 235 not a 261, look at the numbers in front of the distributor and match those up. the LAQ usally means 53 235 and those had captain bars too.
samba54, I hope that's not true. I couldn't find info on LAQ3731(or I)8. Stovebolt website does show different prefixes for 261, but says only 261's had captains bars. Guess I need more research. That or pull head & measure bore. I've had '62 & '60 235's without bars. Never had 1st year 235 full pressure.
****!! Samba54 is correct. Inliner's shows the LAQ as '53 235. I'm so bummed! Not even gonna try to get it running. Gonna sell it. Here goes 336 V8!!
Back in my younger years(40 years ago) I had a 55 candian pontiac which have the 261 as the stock 6. I had put a updated 283 in it and my father and I put the 261 in his 50 chev pickup which had a tired 6 in it. With a homemade floor shift that "never" missed the second gear shift due to the valve spring that moved the pin when shifting to second, it went pretty good. The 261 was a low milage motor. The truck served my dad and myself for quite a number of years. easy to do and well worth it.
The 235 makes a nice motor. Check Langdons stovebolt engine co. web page, Kanter or just seach 235 Chevy engine. This is the 54 235 I'm putting in my 48 GMC, the 54 is a full pressure oil system, I believe the 53 was not. Mel
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