The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 or 250

I have a 1954 235 and T5 in a 41 pickup. The motor runs OK, but it is getting tired. Instead of rebuilding it, how much trouble would it be to swap in a 250. I'm thinking motor mounts and exhaust would need changed. Would my bell housing work? I'm sure I can find a 250 locally if it is not to much trouble to switch.

A search just answered some questions. It sounds like it is not a simple swap.

If you have reasonable mechanical skills and access to a welder you should have no problem. Simpler swaps are out there, 261 for instance. There is a Tech Tip on how to do that one.

Not 250, get a 292

You can get a brand spanking new 250 with hardened seats, manifolds, water pump, spark plugs and HEI for $2500. You just have to deal with the EPA a bit...
http://www.donhardyengines.com/specials.htm

Obviously, your dollar, but the extra displacement "feels" better than most speed equipment. Lots of $$ to get a 250 to do the same.

What are the EPA extra steps you have to deal with?

I'm a big fan of the 292.

How do you define "tired"? Have you done a compression check? Is it burning a lot of oil? If it is time for a rebuild, why not just have your 235 rebuilt?

The 250 and 292 are a different animal then the 235. That being said, the later motors share quite a bit of design and engineering attributes with the V8 chevy, are lighter, and frankly a more improved design with higher power/torque capabilities. Both the 250 and 292 use the same bellhouing bolt pattern as the V8 which is helpful in swapping them in. That and parts are easier to come by. But they are not a drop in swap by any means. So its a trade off, easier way is to rebuild or replace what you have with the same thing, and live with the lower power, or the more complicated is the later model 250 swap with the improved power..

Industrial/agricultural engines don't have to meet the same emission standards as road-driven engines. Some people care about that- - - -others don't. Hotrodders who change carburetors, camshafts, and exhaust systems without getting their engines EPA-certified fit into the "I don't care" category. A lot of those regulations are there just to keep a bunch of bureaucrats employed! Just be aware that for every engine that fails to meet emission standards there's a possible $5,000.00 fine and 5 years in jail for the guy doing the modifications.
Jerry

In Indiana you only have to meet the standards of the year of manufacture of the vehicle regardless of modifications. For my 53 it's no emissions, seat belts or turn signals. When I lived in SoCal in the 70's it was the same way.

MikeE the EPA allows GM to continue to make and sell the 250 (the inline 6 GM chose to continue with as I understand) and replacement parts as long as those engines are used as stationary engines. Stationary engines are those used for things like irrigation, emergency power generation, water pump engines...things like that. Not to bore you, but since it was introduced the 235 was the favorite irrigation engine. It was dependable, produced plenty of power at lower rpms, was affordable and easy to service. Two years ago driving through northeast Arkansas I saw a couple still being used.

The EPA has hoops to jump through regarding gasoline powered stationary engines and you would need to look at their site, etc and contact them for clarification. I have no idea if it is true, but I've been told if you can meet the vehicle emission standards the EPA requires they'll grant you an exception to use one of these in a vehicle. You'd need to talk to them. It might be the restrictions would be too difficult/costly, but possibly not...I don't know.

But $2,500 can very easily be spent on rebuilding an old 250. Just a thought.

When I owned a shop in central California in the 70's and dealt with CARB on a regular basis, the year of manufacture of the engine, not the chassis was the determining factor for emissions compliance. The feds were a bunch of pansies compared to the state guys! They even had a foxy blonde mechanical engineer in a miniskirt, driving a Corvette and ambushing shop owners, requesting illegal modifications!
Jerry

California is a different world. None of my trucks are California legal and I have no desire of running my trucks out to California. I retrofit trucks that were born with EGR engines without EGR. The law reads it is illegal to remove emission equipment but it is silent on installing an engine equipped with the emissions of its build date. 2003 was the last yea the N14 was installed in New trucks. However, glider kits are still being built with the N14 with the emissions it had between 1998 and 2003.

https://www.fitzgeraldgliderkits.com/cummins-n14-engine/

I don't see the point of putting a 250 or 292 in a truck that had a 235. The 250 and 292 are later engineering, but a good 235 or a 261 that will bolt in will be in keeping with the rest of the vehicle. If you want more power, I would consider a GMC 270 for 302. All they require is moving the radiator forward a couple of inches and modifying a front motor mount.