The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop so whats so good about the 261 engine?

can pick one up for 400. says ran good but smoke was coming out of the draft tube before it was removed from a 62 suburban. are these good motors? better than the 1960 235 i have??

http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/Articles/261-Engine.php

The difference in performance-numbers might not look so impressive. However, the improvement is quite noticeable.

For extra oomph, you could adapt your 1960 235s high-compression head as a replacement for the 261's head.

thats quite interesting thank you.

just ask the "SWEET"

The 261 will give you a larger 'OOOOO' factor. And bragging rights - that you have one.

It's an engine out of a bus

It's worth about 8-9% more power with using higher RPM. Has stronger rods.
It's the biggest you can make a stovebolt without shredding the budget.

a 261 it like a 235 on steroids. Its got that little extra umpf that puts a smile on your face!

makes me really wanna pick it up. question though, i wanna purchase the fenton dual headers, offy dual intake, and get the polished side cover and valve cover....will all this still bolt on a 261?

just got the blocK# 3769717 and head# 3836850. what is this from? and has head been changed?

Those are the numbers for a 1959-62 261 engine. It could be original head and block combination. It should also have the flow-through oil filter with 1/2" NPT threads in the block.

Hoyt

As long as those parts are for the later 235 (not the 216). The valve cover might need adapter bolts (if it is a 2-bolt cover), but most reproduction parts vendors sell these bolt kits.

Foster

Yes all those parts will fit. Check out my webshots page......

The 261 block casting is from 1960-62 and had the front center mount.
The 261 head casting was used from 1954-62.
From 1954-57 the 261 also used head casting 3703570.

There should be some date codes on the block and head.

thanks for the pix. ill finish looking at it later. just bought the 3;55 gear kit for my 51 too. just waiting on the new bearing kit before i tackle it. your pix will come in handy. ill get pix soon, just been working so much lately. basically my truck is just a powder coated frame sitting in my gargage with boxes of goodies for it, just no time......sad

also where did you get your sway bar? thats what im looking for.

The sway bar was a fun bolt on project. I got the sway bar off eBay, took it all apart, got the bushing kit from Carters, painted, re-assembled, and put it on the truck. Make is drive much better.

i just junked my entire 260 engine and 3 speed tranny two days ago. got 54 bucks for it.