Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,108 Posts1,056,231 Members48,436 | | 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: Jan 2008 Posts: 360 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 360 | am building an "origi rod" out of my 46 1/2t pu and want to keep the parts near the 50's like my pop would have built. of course i want a liitle more grunt so i am thinking of a 261 for her. i am between 2 and need some opinions A: '57 COLD COMPRESSION of (1-6)110#,95,115,95,105,110. this engine is very clean, freshly painted, generator,12v, at last run motor smoked "some" (no oil press reading as of yet, motor is inside a basement) or B:'60 operating temp (160 deg) compression (1-6)105#,110,115,110,110,85-90. no answer for low #6. motor is straight from a truck dirty, alternator,12v, oil press of 35 lbs @ low idle, 45-50 lbs @ high idle and "smoked very little"
what might i expect from the the compression when the 57 is heated up? is the compression critical between hot and cold as far as readinng the motor and being able to compare the two?
if it were your truck, what would you do? i am bowing to those of far greater knowledge and experience on this one. however, a '57 sounds like a 50's rod, a '60 just doesn't sound correct. inconsequential i know, but what the hey! thanks
"it's only old if you can't find a use for it; otherwise it's cool and i'll use it."
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | I'd get the '60, overhaul it, and put 'er in. The '60 will have a better oiling system, as it is full flow, meaning all of the oil goes through the filter, instead of bypass like the '57 engine. As far as the year of the engine goes, unless you got someone breaking the codes, no one will know the diff.
Bill Burmeister | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 360 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 360 | can you convert a bypass system to a full flow system?
"it's only old if you can't find a use for it; otherwise it's cool and i'll use it."
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | Bigedpa,here are some links for the info you want. A full pressure oiler Click on tech tips,then full flow conversion full flow conversion Hope this helps .
Last edited by bowtietim; 03/07/2008 4:59 AM.
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: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,733 | The later 261 may have a large oil filter that hangs low on the RH side. If so that would probably cause some installation problems. Hard to say what you have available. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | I had no problem using a 1960 large-truck 261 in my 1954 1/2 ton Chevrolet. The full-flow oil filter canister fit on the intake manifold, but I cannot recall if I put in on the RH (original) side or on the LH side, above the generator.
Tim | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,803 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,803 | If the price is right, grab both of them. 261's will probably be in demand for some time to come, and once you get yours on the road, sell the leftovers. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 360 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 360 | can you tell the difference between a bypass oil syst, and a full flow oil syst by looking at the external filter and plumbing? here is a link to the 2 motors in question. i hope they work http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1958/10783339/19208600/307572728.jpghttp://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1958/10783339/19208600/307572724.jpgthe 57 is the bright green motor, 60 is the dirty blue having read the articles on converting from a BPOS to a FFOS the plumbing looks large enough in volume to be FF on both. but i am just a rookie, thats why i am here.
"it's only old if you can't find a use for it; otherwise it's cool and i'll use it."
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | It looks like the two filter canisters are the same. They also look like they are both full-flow oil filters. And, they both have the 1/2" NPT oil lines used on full-flow engines. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 60 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 60 | LIKE THE MAN SAYS, IF YOU HAVE TWO ENGINS AVAILABLE, BUY THEM BOTH. THEY ARE GETTING HARD TO FIND. AND BY-THE-WAY, WHEN YOU HAVE THEM APART, PUT THE ONE YOU DECIDE TO USE TOGETHER USING AN OLD 235 FRONT MOUNT FRONT ENGINE PLATE, THAT BOLTS TO THE FRONT OF THE BLOCK BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE CAM SHAFT. THIS ENGINE PLATE WILL LET YOU INSTALL FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS LIKE THE 235 HAD ORIGIONALLY, ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DRILL THE HOLES IN IT AT PROPER LOCATION. THERE WERE SOME 235'S THAT WERE BLANK. GO BOY. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 | The oil filter is easy to relocate to the front side of the intake manifold, just get some new hoses made.
Always make sure the valve clearances are to spec before you do a compression check, anyway.
Last edited by 4ontheFloor; 03/09/2008 2:56 AM.
Paint & Body Shop moderator A lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Now that I've seen the pics, both engines are the late 261 with the full flow filtration. I'll agre with the others, grab them both! Another option would be to locate the filter to the inner fender, which is what I did on mine. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2930928350092261295dryLgT
Bill Burmeister | | |
| |