The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Is there no love for 250s?

Is a I-6 250 c.i.d motor a POS or is it that all the trucks discussed here are older than the '60s. I have a '66 C-10 that, frankly, came stock with alot of the stuff I've read about here. IFS, Coil-sprung smooth riding rear, and enough cab room for two fat women and me, not to mention A/C. Maybe I'm just to young to appreciate a good kick in the kidneys everytime I hit a bump. Seriously, what is the potential for this motor? I haven't found many sources for 6 cyl. hot rodding, besides Clifford. I heard somewhere that these were popular flat-track motors before V-6's took over. There must be goodies for this mill, but where. Thanks.

Nothing wrong with a 250, Tommyd, but if you put them in the older trucks they don't just bolt up. The 235s do. That's why you don't see them discussed much.

Your '66 would be a really modern truck for most of us.

Check the LINKS page for hot rod stuff.
Inliners, for one. joe

I'm putting one in my 52 with a 700r4 behind it (my V8 plans went into the dumpster with the cracked blocks). It is a good engine.

Check out http://www.inliners.org/

and
http://www.motorhood.com/racingpkwy/no7a/sixinfo.html

There is nothing wrong with the 250, just avoid the ones with the "integral" head. A freind of mine put over 200k miles on one in his old nova. He then rebuilt the motor and drove it another 140k before scrapping the car due to rust. Fuel economy was good, usually about 20 mpg in the slo-va. Keep in mind, the 292 is a good truck engine also, very torquey.

the 250 AND the 230's were darn good engines and much loved by Chevrolet folks in the 60's & 70's ~ just take care of it and it'll do you well for many thousands of miles .

a link for you 250 guys - look at his links page. http://www.motorhood.com/racingpkwy/no7a/sixinfo.html

My first car was a 1978 Nova with a 250 in it. Those were the days...used to live for patches of sand or pine straw in the road, so I could get the wheels to spin...

Man-oh-man that motorhood link was cool. Thanks!! To see a truck turning mid-12s with a 6 is very encouraging. This motor has all the torque the poor suspension can handle. I don't have to look for sand or leaves, I have to avoid it. I think the first priority should be getting more grip, then get more grunt. Wait, I still have those drums on all four corners...okay grip, stop & then go. Oh heck let's just go. Thanks for the help. TommyD

Hey Vaughn!

Have you seen what your link above pulls up now...??? :p

http://www.patricksantiquecars.com/

That motorhood link put me in a porno site! Which could easily get me fired!

Anyhow, I met a guy this fall with a 64? Nova with a 250 with dual 4 bbl Holleys, naturally aspirated (and street legal) that was turning 12's. His roadblock was the head, and was looking at cutting and welding a sbc head to get a crossflow head.

The 250 is a good engine, and as stated, its only drawback it that it doesn't bolt in on the older trucks. I've owned 2 of them, along with a 194 and a 230 (same block) and would buy another if I needed one.

And if you are going to ride with 2 fat women, be sure to sit in the middle. Life's too short not to have some fun.

Dam, you're right Fred. Hurry, lets wash our eyes out with soap .

yo Fred!

I thought the 194 and 230 were different blocks from the 250 (same bore, different stroke)? Or is the difference in the camshaft?

I never really messed with 250's & 230's until I bought my '49 2 ton with a 250 this summer.[ Pictured in the gallery ].
Who ever installed it did a clean job & the motor runs great & has a HEI distributor.
The truck is a great workhorse. The only thing I have done to this motor is replace the carb & spark plugs & it is crankin' out the miles with no problem.

Who's Tina?

I don't know, but she sure seems to want us to get to know her....aaaalllll of her.

CAUTION ! ! !
Tina don't know squat about ... WAIT , I take that back ... Tina don't know anything about in-line 6's. I spent $39.95 for nothing ... WAIT , I take THAT back , too !

The 230-292 all have the same bore at 3.875.The 230 has a 3.25 stroke,the 250, 3.53. 230 and 250 share the same block casting. The 292 has a taller block with a 4.125 stroke.I have had a few trucks and vans powered with 250's. The later 250's were kinda sluggish as compared to the less emission equipped early ones. Just pulled the pan off the 292 we dragged in.All is fine with the bottom end, and it looks more rugged than a 235/261 with the 7 main bearings with a big counter weights on the forged crank.The rods and pistons are similar or the same as small block V-8 parts

Both Clifford and Offy offers intakes. Pistons for 307 SBC works well on them, Isky sells a nice cam for truck use, but Clifford seems to have almost everything for these engines. Using a HEI from a later nova is a good move, I have one in my daily driver Opala and it's there for a long time with no hassles. Put a cam, some compression, any 4 bbl intake and a small 450cfm Holley with mec. secondaries and You're going.

Alexandre Garcia