Thanks SNARL, The code above the starter reads CON4 G 11 2. I do not know how to de cipher that? Any help? Mike
Not sure what your number indicates, try looking for another number above the right side motor mount. Here is a link to GM block casting numbers that might help. http://tinyurl.com/88nrtte
Thanks Heathen, That is helpful. Does anyone have a listing of suffix codes for these 261 engines. My id has a (LB) suffix. I would like to know if this tells me if the engine came in this truck? OR is there another way to know if this 261 came in this truck for sure? Mike
Your need to find the block casting number and see if you can match it up to one on these or check with the link http://tinyurl.com/88nrtte I posted before. 261 cu in year engine block block casting numbers 54-55 FIRST SERIES 3702436 54-55 Chev Trk 3703414 55-57 3733950 55-57 Chev Trk 3836340 55-57 Chev Trk 3733340 55-59 Chev Trk 3837012 56 3738813 57 3836340 58-62 Chev Trk 3836340 59 3739365 59-62 Chev Trk 3769717 59-62 Chev Trk 3769925 60-62 3769923
Thanks Firengine, I mentioned in my original post that my casting # was 3769717 and that does tell me the engine is a 1958-1962 261. I thought the suffix (in this case, [LB]) of the ID stamped to the right of the starter tells something about model truck the engine was placed in. I cannot find any info about this suffix anywhere. Thanks all for the help. Mike
I got the same 261 block casting 3769717 and LB suffix out of the 1962 truck it originally came in: 6000 series trucks, 2-Ton H.D.
That is interesting. I found some info on Wiki today that states; "The 261 USA truck engine.......was available from 1954 to 1962. In 1963, the 261 truck engine was available in 4x4 Chevrolet trucks (until the engine sold out). " It seems likely to me that my 261 was one of a bunch of leftover 6000 series 261 engines that they used up in 1963 in k-series pickups. I would love to know how many of these engines there where that indeed went into 1963 4x4's. I am sure that info is lost forever. Thanks guys for the help. Mike
I have no idea, but I do know "anybody" can make an entry into Wikipedia, even me and I don't know much at all. I would say Inlinners International may be the best source of information. I'm sure there is a 4X4 group you can check with.
In fact, runs great. Balanced all internals, 235 head, aftermarket cam and out of a running car replaced by a V8. Several people around here knew the engine well and were surprised he took it out of the car. $1400.00 including all the other stuff mentioned above.
Has to be a long duration/high rpm cam to require 3 carbs. Are those 216 or 235 carbs? Looks like only the center carb was connected.
They are 235's and yes, only the center is running. I will probably not run this set up opting for either 2x1's or the Weber Stovebolt sells.
That's a lot of carburation for a split stock exhaust with all 3 carbs in. I wonder what the cam specs are. I have 2x 216 carbs with Fenton headers on my 261 (bored to 269) with a 254 adv. duration cam and it makes lots of power up to 75 mph with a simple 3 speed and 3.55 rear.
I hope to contact the builder and see if he has paper work on the rebuild. I would also like to have more information on the internals, makes tuning much easier.
Speaking of cams, can someone tell me the stock lift and duration of I) Chevy 261 II) " 235 III) " 216 (?) I saw some specs on an old Isky cam (DP#2), and was surprised that the lift was only .375. (The McGurk in my 216 is .421" lift)
Nice links in your signature, Road Runner. I see your coupe runs straight pipes. Did you have the Porters on it? If so, why remove them? At 14", did they make much difference in sound?
The 216 and early 235 cams had about 170 duration (.050 lift) and around .330 max. valve lift. Mid 50s 235 hydraulic cams had around 185 duration and .400 lift. After 1959 they went down again to the previous earlier specs for more low end torque. Solid 235 cams after the mid 50s used the 261 cam with about 190 duration and around .410 valve lift.
Yes, I decided to part with my dear custom made Porter mufflers and listed them in the classified section yesterday. Even with the short 14" length they are pretty smooth with long tailpipes over the rear axle and straight out under the bumpers. Until you step on it....when they start roaring and growling like a large angry wild cat. They are much louder without tailpipes, but on my coupe I like long pipes out the back and went with straight pipes, since I recently moved further out into the desert. Now it sounds more like a single engine 1930s aircraft.
A stock mechanical cam I pulled out of a low mileage 57 235 truck engine was as you mentioned. My 261 has an Oregon Cams regrind with .430 lift and 215 degrees at .050.Obviously there's other factors with cams but this one idles pretty smooth at 700 rpm and pulls cleanly off idle to 4000 rpm.
Thanks - I had my truck for 17 and my coupe for 5 years now and never owned anything else. I only had the shop manual of my truck for many years, before I realized there are other 'stovebolters' and they are online with information I never could have gotten otherwise. My website's tech tips are a collection of some of the info I learned from personal experience.
ok heres a thought ... sooner or later i'll get it done, but for now im stuck with a borg warner 3 speed on the back of my 261. ( Y.O.M 1961 -factory issue 3 speed ) now fuel prices being what they are i was thinking get the top end revs down for cruzing, reduce consumption, can anyone recommend a decent manual 4-5-6 speed thats going to fit with out too much drama, brusied knuckles, swearing and beer... thanks
i have been watching this thread for awhile.. i finally have my 261 going in my 51... not really much more than stock with a 848 head and a few upgrades and still havent run it on the road or track so not sure how it will really perform..but i know it sounds strong.. had a bit of trouble with it when i first started it.. the oil pressure was over 300psi so had to pull the pan and unstick (really stuck bad) the relief valve in the pump. now at hot idle it is 45psi and at 2500rpm about 60.. i guess that is good.. after a fine tune and balancing the carbs it sounds real nice..just hard to start cold even with both auto chokes closed i still have to "hand" choke it to start when cold. but i can figure it out ..had a bit if trouble with the throttle linkage with all the oil lines in the way so went another way using a ford truck pedal, cable and pulley... dont know how well the original drive train is gonna work out but i think with just putting around most of the time it will be fine for now. link to album. http://s202.photobucket.com/user/rcplumley/library/51 chevy project
I ran a 261 in my 51 chev back in the day. I got a new short block and used the 235 head, split exhaust and single carb. This was in 1954. It beat many 265 V8's off the line when they came out in 1955.this was in Flint Mich. I also had a 261 bored out, high lift cam, corvette exhaust, 3 carbs in a 32 chev coupe. It was bad fast for the day. This was in 1956. I also built a few for other guys.
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