General question about the 250 six cylinder:
What are its limitations, down-falls, Achilles'Heel ?
IF & when they "blow-up", what goes ?
Have been running my 1972 C-10 w/ 250 & 3 sp for two years now, and am fairly impressed with the 250. Now has 101,000 miles and still going strong.
Just had to run to Valley Forge yesterday to pick up some lawn furniture, which the wife ordered on-line from "Restoration Hardware", about 120 miles / 2 hours from home.
We were on a tight schedule, so I had my foot to the wood most of the way down; while not confessing to "exceeding the posted speed limit", I will say that the engine was taching between 3,500 & 4,000 RPM for most of that two hour trip.
Drove almost as fast on the way home.
No excessive oil consumption, no knocks or valve taps; no driveline vibrations @ speed (
)...
The girl "just seemed to take it".
Long-term ideas for the truck include engine re-build, front suspension overhaul, and better cab-mount repair.
Am thinking about "building" the 250, perhaps going headers & duals, cam, and small 4-barrel, some porting & polishing.
Since my truck feels like it has around 3.73 gearing, this engine is going to continue to operate in the 3,500-4,000 rpm range when the truck is on the highway.
Is this a "time-bomb", or are the 230 / 250 engines "happy" in this RPM band?
(I know this is too much to ask from a stock 235)
When a 250 blows-up, what goes? Thrown rods, spun bearings, what?
(Most engines seem to have a "typical" flaw that finally takes 'em out....)
I really don't want to drop a V-8 into this truck...I'd rather soup the 250 a little, or just rebuild bone stock.
But also want to know if I should limit my cruising speed to 55 for the engine's sake...I know how "John Law" feels about that question!
(Am specifically considering the 250 six from '66 - '72; not going to fool with any "smog motors" or the "integral intake" version.)
Thanks,
Frank McMullen
