The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 235/261 Head

I have a '60 261 engine I pulled out of a 60 series truck. I am toying with the idea of putting a weiand blower on this engine to go in my '57 stepside. I do not want to go the
V-8 route. Everyone, and there dog, puts a 350/350 in there truck, and to me thats just not to original. I think the hot six approach would be very cool and very period for the truck and would make for a nice street rod. My stepside had a 235 w/848 head in it, but its hopelessly tired. The blower/6 combo would give great torque and the power of a V-8, but be unique.

I am new here, but have visited this site many times. This site is very informative and helpful and very different from many other sites that I have visited. Alot of shared information and it seems like most of the postings are trying to help. I hope that I may get some of that positive and informed imput on this topic.

What I would like to know is this: Does anyone still make a 12 port head to fit this engine? I've seen pictures of a Wayne, and that looks to be just the ticket. The stock Chevy head, even the 848 casting, leave alot to be desired. Siamesed ports, poor airflow, heavy valves/rockers and the seat areas are all negatives and do not aid performance. You could port on one of these heads for a month, and still be wanting more performance/airflow!

Would I be farther ahead to go with a 302? Can I get a 12 port for that engine? I do not know anything about this engine (302), except that I have read about it several times here on the board. Thanks for any and all responses. :confused: :confused:

Tim, if you have the money, go with the 302. Even with the stock head it will make alot more power than the 261 engine in a similar state of tune.The blower is something to think about because of the expense and length complications that may be a problem in the engine compartment.Maybe some one here or one www.inliners.org can give you actual experience on the set up.

blower motor hummm i likes de sound of that and i thinks maybe 7 mains like a 302 with a good stock head will breath just fine with the air stuffed in would be clean mean torque machine. and turbos don't do a bad job and leaves more horses not having to drive a blower and dem folks don't let de 12 port heads go cheap [jim you there?]

[ 02-02-2002: Message edited by: bullfoot ]

To my knowledge no one is repoping the Wayne head for the 235/261 engine. Arias pistons is repoping the 12 port for the 302 GMC. I've only seen 1 Wayne head in person and a couple in pictures. Also the 302 GMC is only 4 mains (sorry Bullfoot). Deppe (sp) is making some water coled heads for the 292 Chevy, and making good horsepower out of them. If $$$$ is not a problem look at them. Hope this helps.
Dennis

The Wayne heads are now collector's items. I did a web search for them a while back and found a website that listed where most of them are. With the 848 head professionally ported & shaved, full race cam, cast Fenton headers and dual two carbs you can get a bit over 200 hp out of a 261. The 302 stock gets you that much, and is a good engine to start with. But be prepared to have a bottomless wallet to get your parts. The 292 does have 7 mains and is also a good engine. there is a book that covers rodding the 292 family, Chevrolet Inline Six-Cylinder Power Manual by Leo Santucci. I recently bought one from Amazon, they can also be found at the Inliners web page

TIM . . . BLOW THAT BABY!!!! Forget about a 12 port head if you are going to be stuffing it with a compressor. Siamesed ports give you more staging volume and more even flow than you would get with dedicated runners and some argue the properly prepared siamese head flows better in certain conditions anyway due to the smoother flow of air rather associated with 2 cylinders pulling rather than the start / stop associated with only one pull every two revs of the motor. (not my words . . . but those of guys who get into the 10's in the 1/4 mile with siamesed heads)

[censored] Larrowe makes a cast intake for a 236/261 that allows bolt on of a Weiand blower or a B&M or a 4/6-71 blower - $400 for the casting ready to bolt onto your head, but you have to do the final machining (drilling mounting bolts) for your particular blower and make your own gasket or pay them $ to do it for you. Front bearings on these motors dont really like the side load to drive the belt but nothing is free when adding power to a 6.

Another book you need to look at is "Supercharged" by Corky Bell. Get it at Amazon.

After you read this book (and Leo Santuccis book Fred mentioned - not for your motor, but for the principles) you will be much better prepared to select the right cam, carb setup, timing setup, etc.

Have fun!!

Thanks Guy's, for the informed responces. This is a great site. Sorry, I did not repost sooner, but with all the usual things going on you know, like kids, honey-doos and work and stuff. Probably not telling you guy's anything new, but you know how it is trying to work in time for your favorite projects, in and around the day to day schedule.

Sounds like time to retreat and regroup on my initial plans. Better to do further study and comparisions as you suggest, so as to get it right the first time. I will pick up both those books for research. Going to rethink this 261 idea. Maybe it would be better to go with a 292 or the 302, with longer stroke and more inches as you suggested. I don't have a preference on either size, as I have never worked on them. The 292 is newer, so it would be more likely to have more parts available. But the 302 would probably be more nostalgic. Cost is really not an object since I been saving my funds, and am prepared to spring four or five grand on the engine. (I knew there was a good reason my wife has that high paying job)

I just know I would prefer to stick with a six to be unique. Would appreciate any imput on choosing either 292 or 302. Positives and negatives on both, as far as chassis mounting, flywheel/clutch,
blower or turbo and why?, and FI or carbs. I plan on going with a Saginaw or Muncie 4 speed. I just love that "snap your head back" take off!

Thanks Again.

Tim,
If you added your location in your header, perhaps someone here is in your vicinity, could help with ideas, parts?

Ed

I hope he's finished with this project by now, his last post before your's was 14 years ago.

HELLO, Tim ..... are you there?

Probably not - he last posted on 06/02/02