Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,036 Posts1,055,458 Members48,422 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | I need to know which one of these draft tubes is the correct one for my 1954 261 engine ? I think it is the short one , but not sure ! See link to draft tubes. Thanks,Tim road draft tubes
1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 44 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2005 Posts: 44 | use the long one and cut it off
Hello, Welcome to America
press '1' for English
Puess '2' to disconnect until you learn to speak English
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | Sorry, but that don't answer my question.why ruin a nos draft tube ?
1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 452 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 452 | If they both fit, use the one that just hangs below the frame. One will either almost hit the ground, or not make it past the oil pan and mess up the engine.....
Good luck.
Current fleet (subject to change w/o notice) \'49 GMC 3/4-Ton , 60 Austin Healey Frog-eye Sprite (some assembly required), 2011 Dodge Avenger, 2015 Jeep Cherokee. No, they don't all run. My other ride is a (B737)no, (B767)no, A320.... Update... was Embraer E190, now Boeing B787. Knowledge is a wonderful thing, but ignorance means you don't know you can't do something.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,299 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,299 | My 54 235 has the shorter one. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | All my 54s have the shorter one.
The 261 in one of my 54s has the shorter one but I might have changed it 30 years ago. Many of the original 261s came with PCV systems - neither of the draft tubes you show are for a PCV system. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | Tim, I did'nt know that the 1954 261 had a pcv system.My 1954 shop manual shows the draft tube,just don't show enough of it.Keep in mind that this is the early 261 engine.
1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Tim, 1954 261 PCV system. A PCV system was an option available on all 1954 235 Thriftmaster and 261 Loadmaster engines. A PCV system was standard on a Jobmaster 261 in 1954. Tim | | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | wow,my 1954 shop manual does'nt show that illustration. Did the car or the truck get the first 261 ? The road draft tube looks modified and sits up tall,compared to down low.Mine had the road draft tube and no pcv hook ups.
Tim,what harmonic balancers will interchange with the 1954 261 engine ? Will a 1955-1962 narrow pulley harmonic balancer work with no problems ? I believe they are from a 235 engine ?
1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Tim,
I think that the narrow pulley was used on from 1953-1962.
In the USA, the 261 truck engine was only available in trucks (and only with mechanical lifters). In Canada, the 261 engine was available in Canadian-built Pontiacs (with hydraulic lifters).
Tim | | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | Thanks for the info guys.
1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 | My '62 261 has the shorter style. The longer one matches the one I had on my 216.
Paint & Body Shop moderator
A lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. | | |
|
|
