The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop hoping up the 250

I got a 1981 Chevy pickup with a 250. 4.1 for a donor for a 36 pickup. I wont 200 to 250 hp out of it and I wont to use it for a dally driver. It has eltronic ignition on it and is currently set up to run propane. what is the best way to get this power and where do I get the parts?

Lots of others will chime in, plan to spend money.

Try this site:

http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=9

200 -250 hp ? What is so special about those numbers? Why not 500? If you want that kind of power, start with a 292, dollar per horse power will be less for the bigger engine and more torque will come with it for free.

Raise the compression, bigger camshaft, bigger carburetor, bigger intake, port the head for more air flow, headers and bigger exhaust pipe, loose the propane, and raise the drivable rpm range. One other option is a turbo charger, quick and easy horse power. Plan on spending a lot of money, 6 cylinders are not cheap to build!

Head over to ( inliners.org ) for more information, chat with Tom Lowe, he will get you where you want to go.

Joe

One HP per cubic inch with the 250 is not impossible, just difficult and very expensive. You can forget about using that HP figure and "daily driver" in the same paragraph. Very high compression, a roller cam, major cylinder head modifications, and a pretty exotic fuel system such as three side draft Weber carbs or fuel injection will be pretty much required, as well as split headers and dual exhausts, and a redline RPM of 6,000 or more. Bring a wheelbarrow for the dollars!
Jerry

I know a 250 in a car has 155 hp stock. the truck engine should have a bigger cam I would think. Joe H I am very familiar with turbo,s and superchargers. I would be moor inclined to use a supercharger for a daily driver. I was thinking a header and port matching. 4 barl intake, all roller. What I need are cam specks and compressing ratios to give a bit of lumpiness but with good derivability with a 700R4 Trans

I suggest contacting Ton Lowe on the Inliners.org forum. He has done the study about getting power out of the 250, with dyno numbers to back it up.

regards,
Leon

Tom Lowe on Inliners.org is the one to talk to. A few years back they did a hugh dyno thrash with a 292 and 250 swapping every cam and intake they could get. Ask for the results and some turbo information. He runs a turbo 292 all the time. At one point someone on the same site gathered all the 250 292 cam spec's that were and still are available and posted them in a nice organized spread sheet. Try and find that for reference.

Joe

Buy this book:
Santucci book

Thanks guys that is what i was looking for!
any one know the hp of a 81 truck 250?

250 hp out of a 250 cu.in. is asking alot. its gonna be spensive as the hilbillys say here ! just use 307 flat top pistons, show special attention to cylinder head I/E port & polish, lumps, 194/160 valves and a 292 exh manifold or headers, 390 cfm holley, aluminum intake. about the best you can do without going deep in debt.
jmo
bob

p/s find a early model cyl head with split exh. man. and intake.