The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Straight Six or V-Eight?

should i leave the weak sister 6 banger in my 66 GMC or pop in a V-8?

A V-8 is a bellybutton motor because everyone has one. Go to any show and 19 out of 20 cars have V-8s. To me they are getting boring. Of course they have their rightful place as a cheap and efficient way to get more hp. But, a zoomed up 6 is MUCH more interesting and will earn you cool points in my book. And with the right drivetrain, they can be made to work as a driver in todays traffic. What 6 do you have? I always thought a built up inline 302 would be way cool. That's a legendary motor.

I agree, if you are going to swap don't go with a V8, everyone has one. I find that I hardly look at the v8 swapped AD trucks at shows. Many of the swaps are fairly crude and ugly. I would rather look at a dirty looking original 6 cylinder than a butchered V8 in most cases.

If you need to swap try something different, like a diesel. You can make more power than a stock and even mild gas engine if you please and with better fuel economy.

About that bellybutton comment. I think that is kinda funny, and true. But it made me think about a cow we had that did not have a bellybutton. It got infected and was removed.
So not everyone has one....

Somehow cows being part of everyone isn't quite the way I see the world.

But to the question at hand, why go to the trouble to swap? If you don't have a good answer, then there is no reason to swap. If you have a good answer, it probably also helps you decide which motor to run.

My brother had a '62 Chevy pickup years ago with a 455 Buick. That was an exciting ride but maybe not real practical.

I dunno man.. I got to tell ya I don't have a bit of problem with the splash oil 6's and i've in the past had fantastic experiences with the later 261 inline 6.. a real workhorse.

The words i'd use to describe my 6's would be anything but 'weak'.. my splashoil 235 in my 46 2 ton has enough low end grunt to change the rotation of the earth.

But a lot of that has to do with gearing, and it's geared lower than that dude from the Oak Ridge Boys can sing "Ohhhmmmbobba bow bow".

The trade off with that kind of low end torque is you give up high end speed (my top speed is in the 50-ish range)

But in a 66 we're talking about a much more modern 6 and gearing.. but keep in mind, if your rear and tranny is geared low, you could put a 454 big block in front of it with a blower hanging out of the hood, and you still ain't going to go any faster than what you can go now.

So stick with the 6 or go V8.. the up side is engines like 350's are a dime a dozen, and parts are cheap and easy to find. You'll likely loose low end grunt if you swap out the rear and or tranny, but if you're not pulling stumps with your truck, then that doesn't matter.

The I6's are definitely easier on gas than a 350 V8, and so long as the engines aren't just beat, have ample power for daily driving, light towing, and general purpose truck use.

So if you want a 100mph tire smoking hot rod.. go V8 and a slushbox.. if you want a truck to use as a daily driver, and aren't worried about running low 9's at the track, go with a rebuilt I6.

I think the ultimate hotrodded stovebolt I've been around was the pit truck for a sports car race team I was once associated with. It was a 55 1st. with a Ferrari v-12 engine, a Colloti 5-speed trans, and a Jaguar XK-150 rear axle. Of course, it ran like a Fzzzaz, and handled like a stovebolt! Not the best combination in the world, but it was a real head-turner in the late 1960's!
Jerry

Hey Ole,

Reading all the responses, you now know that the only one who can answer your question is you. Everyone has their own opinion about that question. It's your truck, what do you want to use it for? That is the question you need to ask yourself.

As for me, I have pulled out and discarded inline sixes over the years in favor of the V-8s. In other words, been there, done that. I am having way too much fun with the sixes. I have a V-8 in my Silverado for daily commuting, I will stick with the inlines for my fun trucks.

Whichever way you decide to go, we are glad to have you on board.

Welcome to the "Bolt"

John

why not?

but, pertaining to the question. I am going with a V8 for practicality. I was set on an I6, but decided to save it for another project. I needed an engine I could get any part for over the counter anywhere. I need an engine that has to much power for my teenage foot. I needed an engine with a little 'bling'. and I need all of that cheap. (I guess I use that term 'need' loosly)
I'd don't look at V8's at car shows like those above, I6's are way cooler. Their is a member on here that lives a few minutes from here who has a 235 all 'pimped out' (maybe I should be wearingbaggy clothes, and driving a civic with a boom box :rolleyes: ), and it is just plain old cool and original (compared to the other classics crusing around).

anyways, it basically depends on what you want to do with the truck.

Good Luck.

The V-8 will bolt right into the 66, no butchering ect.. you might want to upgrade to a V-8 Radiator too tho... My old 66 GMC had everything from a 250 I6 to an LS6 454 over the years... that 454 would literally roast a set of retreads a week... I put the most miles on a 307 while i had it.

THIS is what you need...
http://www.6066gmcguy.org/TwinSix.htm

But that one weighs 1,200 pounds.
I briefly thought about swapping one of those 702's in something, but they are to long to fit in anything but a big truck. A friend of mine has a few, and they are impressive.

My vote is for a built up inline 6 or how about one of those new 256 inline sixes they use in the new Chevy SUV's.........

But then there's nothing like the sound of a small block Chevy/GMC with a dual exhaust.
Bob T

The inline sixes are very cool, but have you seen what it costs to rebuild them?

I'm installing a 350 in my truck, but instead of a butcher job I'll be using a mounting kit designed for the truck.

While I use the truck I'll be finding and building an inline engine. Mabey for this truck, mabey for another.
Ultimately thats the engine I want.

Small blocks are bellybutton engines and they are boring, but they are also one of the best engines ever built. With their own unique history.

I love straight sixes, especially in AD trucks
but if I had a truck that could have originally
came with a V8 the first thing I would do is yank that six out.

I just bought a 1963 SWB and it has a 230 engine that does smoke quite a bit. I am considering rebiulding the 230, installing a different inline 6 (230,250 or 292) or installing a small block. If my 230 was in good running order could I drive my truck at interstate speeds (ca 75-80 mph)? Is the 230 stronger than the previous 235 engine (high Torque version)? I have had the truck since Wednesday and a link with pictures is below. Does anyone know of a good engine rebuilder in Northern Colorado or Western Nebraska?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/labrat88/

LabRat, a 250 or a 292 would pretty much be a bolt in for your truck. The inline drag race guys really seem to like the 250. The 292 is a torque beast. Either one of them are relativley cheap to rebuild and easy to find.

Bigmacdaddy,
Your truck looks great. I am really leaning towards keeping some sort of inline 6. Does the 230 have any redeeming features? I am pretty sure that my motor is the original. Will your 235 run with traffic at highway speeds. In Colorado it is difficult to go anywhere without using I-25 and I am concerned about keeping up.
Labrat88

I can drive 80 mph all day long if I'd like. Much more comfy at 65. The radials and the O.D. are the magic. Other than headers, dual exhaust and HEI, my 235 is stock. It's still a little weak on the really steep hills and sure it would be worse at your altitude. I'm currently having built a 261 stroker that will be significantly stronger than my motor. I'm doing it because I can retain the stock "look" of my original motor, it's a bolt in, and I REALLY like the look up a hopped up 6. I could have bolted in a new fuel injected 350 crate motor for less than 1/2 the price of what I'm doing.
Even a stock 292 would be a good work motor for your truck. Hop one up a little and get an auxillary tranny or a 700R and you have the best of all worlds. You really gotta consider upgrading the gearing, tires, braking, steering, and suspension if you want it to perform like a modern truck. The engine should be the last thing that you do. Just my 2 cents.

LEAVE THE SIX IN A DO WHAT IS NEEDED TO SOUP IT UP. RON

I'm with Grigg -- if you want more power AND have it stick out from the masses, go Diesel! From what I understand, a Cummins 4BT would be an easy install in your truck (if you don't mind a little vibration...)

Unless it's a nice original V-8 (like Wrenchbender's -- he has a beautiful truck! Especially his tail lights Almost as cool as Revoh's rear bumper. In fact, if you put Revoh's bumper and Wrenchbender's taillights on the same truck, it would be ... um ... magical... yeah)

Where was I? Oh yeah, keep the six and hop it up. LOTS of performance goodies for that motor to make it smoke all your buddies with their V-8's. See our links page for vendors. Also, go to the Inliner's site (also in our Links page) for good advice on how to make that 6 banger sing.

GREAT comment, Fumblin! You could change the rotation of the Earth IF you get get good enough traction!



Oh, and welcome to the Stovebolt site! I guess you know now that you essentially walked up to the potbellied stove and kicked all the chairs of the dozing old guys with a question like that Good -- they need it!

Thanks for stopping by! Keep the great questions coming!

John

Asking for advice about six vs V-8 on this site is something akin to going to a Pepsi enthusiasts site and asking if you should take up drinking Coke

Agree that V-8's are something that "everbody" has, but on the other hand, there is a reason for that.

I'd say that by simply posing that question, you are not predisposed to an inline engine, so ask yourself what you want out of it.

I love Stovebolt sixes as much as the next guy, but even if you hop one up, you'll still be blown off by the next guy with a stock 350.
(Yeah, I know someone will say they had a hopped up 235 and won Modified Eliminator at the 1968 Winternationals, but realistically, the best you can do is maybe whip a small stock V-8). Put the same effort into the small stock V-8 and you'll go faster. Flame me if you wish, but that's a cold hard fact.

If you like the sound and feel of a six (and I truly do), have at it. But be prepared to pay more per developed horsepower. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Or put the same speed mods in the V-8 and you will go even faster for less money.

Thanks guys, now i'm completely confused....

I'd go 8. You don't save a tremendous amount of gas with the 6, if you keep your foot out of the 8. It is a bolt-in using the proper original type equipment. 8s are more punchy, just feel like they wanna go, you'll have more HP and they do sound great with dual exhaust out the back..maybe flowmasters. You can also get more carb using the 8 (more cylinders to handle it) and get a nice vacuum secondary 4b, more power to run PS, or AC down the road. I just think the 8 is a better driver day to day.

If you are just just going to show it, then get the wildest thing you can stuff between the fenders, it won't matter much in terms of driveability.

You know that you can get about 500 hp out of one of those old 6's, if you are not worried about the money. That would be so cool at any show you went to.

There are at least twice as many opinions available as Stovebolters.

Why do you ask about a change? Why do you call the 6 a 'weak sister'?

You already know your own answer.

I had the same dilemma with my '62 dually. The old 235 really smokes and I wasn't sure if it was the best choice for what I wanted to do with the truck which is haul loads. After talking with lots of people I decided to keep the 235 and do a complete rebuild. Should have it installed in the next few weeks, can't wait...

6

I have a 55 1st series, my Grandfather bought it new, Where can I find more info on this truck or how to get more HP out of my 235

Why not add to this interesting and diverse thread me-thinks. Since an opinion is like ... well you know ... everyone has them ... I'll share mine.

Love the sixes. My opinion only of course, but they are simply the different way to go these days it seems. Parts are hard to find because no one makes them new anymore, but I've always been a fan of the old tri-power setups for performance (you know 3 two barrels with a barrel per cylinder). The symetry of the inline engine with everything on a straight axis appeals to the architect in me.

My opinion of course. What you do with your truck is up to how you want to show it, drive it, and ultimately maintain and pay for it.

Good luck! This has been a fun discussion to read!

Jonathan