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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,034 Posts1,055,546 Members48,425 | | 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!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 63 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 63 | but now I've more questions. Are valve rotators worth keeping? What about the double thermostat? Thanks
'53 BelAir 261 3spd/OD 4dr '54 3100 235 3spd '79 C30 with a '51 235-'57Bellhousing-'67SM420-14bolt dually '89 V3500 350/465/205 SRW CC One Chevy just isn't enough.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | I like valve rotators. I see nothing wrong with them unless you are planing on turning some high RPMs, in that case there heavier weight could cause valve float.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 63 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 63 | Thanks Dave, Hey, are you the one selling the water-pump adapter plates on ebay?
'53 BelAir 261 3spd/OD 4dr '54 3100 235 3spd '79 C30 with a '51 235-'57Bellhousing-'67SM420-14bolt dually '89 V3500 350/465/205 SRW CC One Chevy just isn't enough.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 |
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 63 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 63 | I'm pretty sure I'll be getting one of those soon. Just gotta find the right engine to put it on first.
'53 BelAir 261 3spd/OD 4dr '54 3100 235 3spd '79 C30 with a '51 235-'57Bellhousing-'67SM420-14bolt dually '89 V3500 350/465/205 SRW CC One Chevy just isn't enough.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | Nothing better than a 261!
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | As far as your 261 thermostat question, I would not worry about using one if the engine is only going to see light duty use. Another thing, 261 thermostats are getting hard to find.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | The thermostat or the housing is hard to find ? 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: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | The thermostat or the housing is hard to find ? Both, if you are referring to the 261 special thermostat. It is a non-standard-design thermostat (no one has posted a source of a replacement - a while back, someone posted a name for the special design) and I think it goes in a special housing (that will allow for the larger thermostat-height). Regular 235 thermostat housings will work on a 261 but I think that they will not allow an original thermostat to fit inside. An original 261 housing will, I think, allow a normal 235 thermostat inside. Also, the thermostat housing (and water pump) that came on one of my 261s (1960 from a large school bus) have an extra hose connector on the thermostat housing and on the water pump. I guess that they might have been used with a rear heater in the bus? | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 | The 261 in my truck came from a 1960 school bus. It had two heater hose connections....one off the thermostat housing and one off the water pump, then it also had a bypass hose that went from the thermostat housing to the water pump.
And I love the 261. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 63 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 63 | This engine has two hoses coming out of the thermostat housing. Normal looking bottom half, top half has a hose coming out the pass. side then another half-sphere lump on top of it where the rad. hose comes out.
Oil filter mounting flange is part of the lid, looks to be aluminum and has three ports 1-in & 2-out. Is this a good one?
Carb. is not one I've seen before. 1V with the bowl forward like a carter but not rectangular, more rounded "D" shaped. Quite a few plumbing fittings coming off of the intake vacuum port.
It's a 3rd party sell so exact info is sparse, says it's got 10k on a rebuild. For what that's worth; I got burned last time I fell for that on my '58 engine.
'53 BelAir 261 3spd/OD 4dr '54 3100 235 3spd '79 C30 with a '51 235-'57Bellhousing-'67SM420-14bolt dually '89 V3500 350/465/205 SRW CC One Chevy just isn't enough.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 63 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 63 |
'53 BelAir 261 3spd/OD 4dr '54 3100 235 3spd '79 C30 with a '51 235-'57Bellhousing-'67SM420-14bolt dually '89 V3500 350/465/205 SRW CC One Chevy just isn't enough.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,554 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,554 | What is the rod directly above the steering column with a cleavice end on it? 1941 Chevy"First rebuild - complete!"Follow the story in the DITY1941 GMC resting peacefully 1946/1947 Chevy Street rod on s10 frame complete 1945 GMC panel truck in line for restoration 1941 Plymouth stock complete 1941 GMC COE in restoration processRead his Project Journal1941 Chevy Coe uncertain future resting now
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