The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk What do you prefer a V8 or a Str8 6 ??

I have a 283 in my 57 GMC, i wish it was a run forever 235 six i just think there so cool.. getten tired looken at the O-so common SBC..what do you prefer?

SBC

A GMC should have a GMC 6.

I have a 59 pontiac 389 bored and stroked to 447 inches with tripower in my 1959 gmc. It's fun to drive and very capable of working. Best of all the motor was a direct bolt in replacement for the 336 that was in there.

My first 59 gmc had a 270 inline 6, and harbors the fondest memories. I prefer the gmc 6 cylinder motors to any chevy v8. That's why my 1940 GMC 3/4 ton long bed will have a GMC 302 straight 6.

Here is an article written by Jim Carter about my 302.
http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/Showcase/the_king.php

I think a GMC should have a GMC 6, unless it is one that was born in Canada. Then the original Chev 6 would be ok.

I had a 59 Apache back in the day with a 235 6 with a single bbl carb super cheap on gas, ran forever with gazilion miles on it and always started on the first step of the butten.. really love that engine it did not have that V8 sound but i could always hear the radio in the cab..

so true........

I vote for the 6 ,stock or fancy they look cool,run great, and at shows they bring a crowd,I can't tell You how many times people have told me it's great seeing a 6 in there.

Pete

Personnaly I prefer a stock like appearance. If it had a straight 6, keep it. If there was a V-8 under the hood, awesome. I think people get too wound up in sticking a crate engine in a truck that it didn't belong.

A real challenge is to take the straight 6 and make it out run a V-8. I'm not saying that my truck is the fastest on the planet, but I bet I could surprise some folks........

I like seeing the grins of folks who go for a ride or take it for a spin.

yeah

i have always loved the sound and performance of an 8, but the straight 6's are just so cool and easy to work on. like fleetsidebed5859 said, they will run forever too. when i first purchased my 51 and toyed with the notion of pulling the engine and replacing it with an 8, i thought my father in law was going to choke me out. he said no matter what, leave the 6. I'm glad i did. i love that engine. we just purchased a 50 deluxe with a 235 in it for my wife. now she has one too!!!!!!!

6's for trucks, bent 8's for cars.

My opinion, there's no replacement for displacement, big block is my favorite choice,
Scott

I have an original 235 in my 54 with dual carbs and fenton headers and it runs great. drove it to Kansas City the last two years and plan on taking it to the east coast this spring. in town gas mileage 12-15, on highway average 20 or better. But you know how you are going to use it and your way is the way to go.

I was born with Big Feet and both of them has lead in them. Spent years around dirt,drag and the like. Loved to spend time in my brothers machine shop.

So, I vote V8 but love the 6's as well.
I NEVER know what I'm putting in one until that time comes and what is available. Somehow, it always seems to be a eight! Shucks, I've never bought one that runs and most of the time it doesn't even have an engine!!

I like the 6's That is what I started driving in the late 50's and early 60's. They worked hard to get the job done. I never had one not get me home.
Jim-

LOL,sounds like me....

A pickup only needs a 6, well unless its a 2 ton with a pickup bed or something.

Truckolet -- amen. 'cept I would say *any* truck only needs six. I have a 426 I6 in my truck


John

426 geeezzz that pistons must be the size of my rims!

Six or eight
as long as it's straight.
Short or long
I love their song
they cruise the best
and outlast the rest.

So Jims and Chevs and Buicks too
will forever be the one's in my groove.

(Burma Shave?)

53moneypit couldn't have said it any better. There is nothing that beats the sound of an inline engine.
Jim

I like the 6 in an AD but the TF needs a small block V-8.

235. Great engine.

Got a 235 in the 54, a 350 in the 58. Love to drive both. If you can't make up your mind, get one of each and double your fun.

I don't care to remain stock. There is a reason manufacturers don't use the engines of 60 years ago today. I'm into building a rod and nothing else. Larger displacement, more horsepower, greater torque V8 all the way.

I struggle to get 300hp from my 350. My dodge truck has 385 from the factory. Detroit is wise to the fact that HP sells regardless of the 12 mpg I get.

How about a straight 4?
That's my choice for the 48.
And have a 140 HP 3 cylinder ready for my 52 1 ton, that'll be fun.

Grigg

nothing beats cubic inches (Cept maybe chrome)

GM atlas engine I thought it might be neat to have the I5 in my 54 3100.

If ya wanna kerep that old boat anchor six in it fine,it is a very reliable engine.But on the other hand if you want performance go for a V/8 and have it geared properly.My 55has a 350 V/8 coupled to a 700R4 tranny,then into a stock 3:90 rear.20 MPG all day long plus it will kick * on the drag strip.To my way of thinking the gearing is the all important aspect of performance.I can cruise down the thruway at 80 MPH,and still gety that 20 MPG.Fix up an old boat anchor six and your top drivable speed will be about 50 MPH.Doesnt sound like much fun to me.

Let's not go spreading false info here. My Suburban with a stock 248 will run 70-75 all day long. I drove it to Phoenix last month.

Where in Ohio do you live? I have family that lives near Columbus. I plan to drive my "boat anchor" to the Vintage Truck show. If you are there, I'll take ya for a ride and show you what's all the fun about.......

My boat anchor is for big boats- - - - -855 cubic inch I-6! Wanna compare torque figures?
Jerry

Six in arow makes them go. What more could you want?

A straight six (235 in my case). What else? Thats why I'm on a forum called 'Stovebolt'.

Had a 235 in mine till the oil pump quit,got a '72 350 in it now. Planning on going smaller when I get my interior and front end finished.

I'd like to see/hear that.

Sixes are cool, 283 in 1955 makes it old school.Stockers or hot rods it's all good, But I still don't understand pan dragers.

Check out any older big rig- - - - -Kenworth, Peterbilt, Freightliner, etc. I'm referring to a Cummins I-6, turbocharged, with anywhere from 290 HP to 350 or so. Over 1,000 FT/LB of torque on most of them!
Jerry