GMsea, here in Brazil GM never offered us a V8, but did some iline 4 and six. The first ones were the 261, that were around up to 1976, in trucks and PU trucks. Also, from 1968 on they started producing an Opel Rekord with US powerplants, the 153 from the Novas and 230 and 250. Later we had a 151, it was a 153 with a 4" bore and 3" stroke, but using a 6.000" rod. It was much smoother than the 153. Also got better lileage and more power. In 1990, GM did some modifications on the 151 and the 250, from that year on they both have a 1 piece rear main seal, (the seal is the same as the ones used on Mk V 502 and 454 big block engines)and the 250 started using the 6.000' rod. So they became even more pleasant, the ultra short piston with thinner rings offering the possibility of dropping a 292 crank in a 250 block using normal parts.
The 181 is a cool engine, and in a small car or truck may provide a nice job. It's basically a 153/151 block, but has 1 piece rear main seal, the longer stroke 3,58" crank uses the same mains at 2.300", but the rod is 2.100", the bore is 4".The head is way different in the casting, has raised runners floors, and there is a wall all the way to the valves, not a commom plennun like the others inline chevies. I think that if properly modified a 181 may became an interesting engine.
Alexandre Garcia
