I agree. I think 6's are cool, especially with some speed parts, but in a smaller car. Your car NEEDS a V8.
i'd go with the six if it were me. i think a six "all dressed up" is a lot better looking than a dressed up small block. just my 2 cents... matt
my 59 came with a tired 235 & powerglide. it was slow. I love 235s, but that's a heavy car, plus, due to the shape of the hood and placement of the engine, I couldn't use a dual intake making any sort of hop up difficult. I'd go with a v8.
hell, i pulled the 235 out of my '54 & put in a 350. only way i could be happier is with MORE CUBES!!!!! (572 here i come!)
Or you could really make people scratch their heads and put a flat head in it. It might not go as fast as the six, but man will people say WTF.
can anyone recommend(sp?) a good site for 235 speed parts? Clifford is the simplest way to go in my opinion. http://www.cliffordperformance.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?
I never said it would be easy but with a 4x4 oil pan and some creative shoehorning very doable and just imagine the comments after you open the hood.. Dawg
I would go with the six if it is in good shape ....even drop a few speed parts on it.......save the 350 ......if the six doesn't do it for you start looking for parts for it........
Uhhh... numbers matching in '61, I don't think so, it's merely got the correct date codes... VIN numbers on the engine didn't come until later... and 348/409 or the six....
if it was mine i'd put a 350 in it and drive the crap out of it. to me that's not really the kind of car you lift the hood on at a show anyways
You want something different? Do it my way and turbocharge the six. I guarantee you'll cause a stir. It doesn't need to get expensive. My 190" Stude makes 230 hp, 289 ft lbs torque.....enough to move that size car. A big GMC 6 would be cool.
I have two 61 chevys well one's the ol' ladys.I have a 6 banger,3 on the tree and she has a late model souped up roller motor in hers with a 350 turbo.I wouldn't take my 6 banger out for nothing but when I want to have some fun I drive hers.the 6 is cool but it doesn't move like a nice v8.nothing feels better than to hear the cherry bombs crack open and to get whip lash when the shift kit works and you go into second.I'd stick with the 350 or 400 small block in it and dress it up to look like an old souped up 283 built back in the mid 60's.finned valve covers low profile 2x4 intake small helmet breathers ect ect
For different there is always the V12's, you know, GMC, Allison, Merlin, Packard (PT Boat). I'm kind of based though. I am in the process of gathering parts to turbo a 228 GMC, so for a practical 'different' engine I would turbo the 6.
292 6 banger..... efi'd and blown (turbo'd or otherwise) btw guys, just how "heavy" do ya think a 61 chevy is?
I wouldn't put a crate anything in it. Hopped up 6's are cool. From there it depends on what you want. Just want to cruise, use the 6. You already have it. If you are wanting a little more power I'd go with a 60's 283-348. That would actually likely make the car worth more than all stock 6. If you want all out power, 409 but get the checkbook out.
period correct, I'd go with the 348, probably built with multiple carbs If you're just looking for something different and powerful, why not a Pontiac 455. Yeah, it'll cost more but it won't look like every other chevy on the lot with the sbc in it. and numbers matching could be cool also. you could retain the originality for future value while making an interesting, unusual rod.
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