i haven't had any real interest in the 250 i have listed on the classifieds so i was thinking about rebuilding it. where would you guys go for rebuild parts for this engine? the other option is a sbc. maybe a 283 or 327. i'd like to avoid a 350 for no other reason than they're just not unique. i realize that they're cheap and plentiful and, therefore, practical but i like to have something not everyone has. this is kind of my reason behind wanting to keep an inline six in the truck. anyways, what would you guys do? 1. rebuild the spare inline i have? i'd use the new worked head and roller rockers that i just got and put a 4 barrel on it. 2. get a running sbc. what motor would you recomend it you think this is the better option? 283, 327, 350, ect? money is kind of a deciding point here so keep that in mind. there are also bonus points for something out of the ordinary. in the end, i'm looking for a nice daily driveable engine with mileage in the high teens at least. by the way, it's going into a '66 chevy c-10 with a 3 speed. thanks. paul
sbc because they came with them. it will cost you less to build one then redo your 6 . milelage should be close to the same depending on how you drive. the only unique thing to a sbc is how you dress the motor. no one can tell the diffrence between a 283 , 302 , 305 , 307 , 327 , 400 if they all have the same valve covers intake and other external parts
what sbc would you go with? whatever's around and cheap? also, would you recomend keeping the 3 speed or changing that while i'm at it. 4spd or s-10 5spd? paul
all depends on what your plans are for the truck. you can get a goodwrench remann 350 for about 900 but it might come with the later center bolt valve cover heads. s-10 5 speed would be a plus for better highway use
SBC - If you like acceleration, I like mine to move when I hit the gas - not just get all pissy sounding. I would keep the three speed, especially if it is in the tree. Cool points there.
Keep the inline. I run a 250 in my 55 Chevy racer, lots of parts available. Try Cliffords for intakes, headers, side and valve covers. Eagle makes some tuff rods that will hold what ever you throw at them. Still lots of parts at sawps and ebay, just gotta look. A lot of your SBC parts will fit and leave you with spares (2 cylinders worth). You can get good MPG out of it, or modify it to the point that it gets the MPG of a big block. Leo Santucci has a good book on the Chevy six called "Chevrolet Inline Six-Cylinder". He claims, going to the extreame, you can get 2.2 HP for each cubic inch. If your engine originally came in the truck look at the cylinder casting when you take the water pump off. If it's been milled flat, you've got a great block that will take up to a 4" bore, but have it sonic tested first.
thanks for all the repies guys. my gut wants to keep the six in it, i just didn't want to waste tons of money and time with it if the sbc was the sure fire way to go. glad to hear lots of support for the inline. i think i'm gonna tear down the spare motor i've got and run that. paul
I put a 230 six in my 59 El Camino with 3 on the tree, Langdon was a great help with the hop up and split exhaust. You will have as much money in the 6 as you would in the V8, the V8 would make more HP, but the 6 is different and mine runs really cheap on fuel. the sound is worth the price. If I knew how to post a photo, I would show how mine turned out. good luck old spoke
I love both combos..... but the coolest would be a OHC Pontiac IMHO Look for a SBC 307.... most people basically give them away, but they are a DAMN good motor for the money (usually $0-50!) The 283 can sound unbelievable on a free-rev around 8K RPM's or until your valvetrain floats out on the RPM's.....
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