The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Would like an Opinion on the Chevy 250

I have owned them in the past and liked them and thinking of putting one in my 1/2 ton 4x4 pick up. Can it be made within reason to be somewhat torquey without spending big $$$ ? Was going to a 292 but looking for better mileage. I have 3.73 gears with a 700R4. Been thinking of different possibilities before buying an engine. Can get one from Hiperformance, also called S&S with a 7 year 100k warranty for about $1100-1200 balanced. Anybody running one? Opinoins? H.

I once had 2 early Novas, one with a 235 and one with a 250. Biiiiig difference in power. I did't know anything about either, but It felt as if that 250 - to a 17 year-old kid - had been hot-rodded, which it probably hadn't.

I run a 70's 250c.i. in my street rod coupe which is a '39 Packard. I have a mild performance 350 and a 455 Olds Rocket motor sitting in the shop, both are running and will fit in the huge engine desk of the coupe. But then why? All my rodder buddies run 350's, 400's, one 454, and the blue ovals (whatever size they are). It is set up to minic an early 'vett 250 with a Holley 4-bbl with split exhaust, plenty of "bling-bling", painted bright chevy orange, clean as a pin, and sitting very low in the engine deck. At car shows me and my buddies will be sitting around with people looking at the cars. I really dig it when people admire ours ride with all the bad V8's someone will notice the inline and yell at his buddies to come and take a look. They'll say, "That sure is different. I remeber when I was a kid and..."

I really like my 250, it gets lots of looks plus runs great. With a bigger then stock cam, and three carbs, it still gets 18 to 19 mpg! And the price you got isn't to bad for a whole long block. If you go the build it your self route, there are a few easy changes to make for more power. With just a simple bolt in piston change, you can bump the compression to a little over 9.0 to 1 which wreally helps even with the lower octane fuels. Lots of cam choices and just as many intakes and headers. Joe

I love mine as as daily driver. I've had them in the past and they are really great, long lasting engines. It scoots when I need it too, but even in winter, I'm getting 17/18 MPG (and I've found mileage is a strong function of my right foot - I can't race drive it AND get 18-20MPG).

Thanks for the replies. They are a real good engine. Hoping to get one real soon. Going to the trans shop today and check out what is needed to put it to the 700R4 I have in my 87 TBI. H.

I've had several 250's. Good engine, but not as powerful as the 292. I would definitely put in a HEI distributor.

i have a 250 i built in my 63 c20 which has a wrecker bed i also made on it. it has tons of torque. i just pulled some bigger trucks out of a hollow this week. this truck with the 4 speed and low posi rear will put almost anything. the 292's are great too.