250 CID Straight Six

[ed2552]

Hey guys, it's been a while! Been plenty busy between school, work and summer plans.

So here's what I got:
Put quite a bit of time in the 67 C20 this spring/summer. So far I've replaced:
Front brakes (New shoes, cyls and lines, turned drums packed bearings)
Master Cylinder
New 16" Wheels and 265/75 Firestone Tires
New Water pump
Been replacing gaskets on the engine to quell oil leaks (been greatly minimized)
Cleaned up the cab and body.

So my plan this spring was to tear it all apart this fall and install a crate 350 and all the trimmings. However, I feel I owe it to the straight six to get out of it what I can first. If I don't like it, I can go through the hassle and expense of going to the V8.

Here's my rationale: To put in a V8, it would be well over $5k by the time I was done, as I'd do it right with all new parts, radiator, clutch, crate engine, all the wiring I'd need, belts, hoses, alternator, etc. For half that I can have a 240 HP Straight 6 that will look cool, sound nice and have a good bit more power, and be definitely different.

I was looking at doing this:
Cam, Header and 4 BBL intake from Clifford Performance (unless somewhere can lead me to a better place). $1300
Holley Truck Avenger Carb: $500(?)
Pull the engine, get the head re-worked with new hardened exhaust valve seats for unleaded gas and stiffer springs, seal the rest up, stab the cam and get it all clean and shiny - $800
New clutch (maintenance) - $500
Other odds and ends to make it a nice weekend cruiser and drive it around in the summer - $300

So I'm looking at around another $3k for a cool old truck with many more miles in her. Then we throw in some money for paint and body and have a very nice truck for somewhere around $10k, including $1,200 purchase and everything till now. Feel free to pick apart my list, tell me I'm an idiot for spending money on a Six, or whatever, but keep it respectful, lol. I'm open to any feedback.

Thanks for the (Very Long!) read, glad to be back on here a little more.

Also, a link to my build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=467853

[ed2552]

Anyone?!

[68 IRON]

Wow! I think you hit the nail on the head!!! Ya, you do owe it to yourself to see what you can get out of the "6". You know it will last for a long time after the build. The cool factor is there also...no one expects to see a "6" under the hood, all dressed up for action, when you open it. I like the "8's" but there is something about the "6" that makes me smile....they're fun!
Now get to work

[502ms]

Originally Posted by ed2552

Anyone?!

I understand your dilemma. I have a 72 C1500 with the 250, and it is a totally fun truck to drive. Yet, I want o pull that out and put in a monster v8. I just love the cool factor of the 3 on the tree....we shall see
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[ed2552]

Thanks! Here is what I was thinking for cam/header/intake:

Intake: http://www.cliffordperformance.net/M...gory_Code=C250
Cam: http://www.cliffordperformance.net/M...gory_Code=C250
Header: http://www.cliffordperformance.net/M...gory_Code=C250

Cap that off with a re-worked head and some gasket-matching along with a 2.25" exhaust the whole way out with a nice muffler, and she should sound good and run like a scalded cat.

[PanelDeland]

I'm keeping my 6 just because it's a bit different.I can't think of the last time I saw a 350 built different from any other I've ever seen.
The plan you have is sound but unless you're farming out the work I doubt you'll have $500 in a clutch.Looking around and wtching for a deal may net you a set of headers and intake a bit cheaper.Many are bought and then not used due to a V8 swap.

Most use a 390 Holley or a 500 Quad for the 250 or 292.There is also a Injection designed for a Jeep that can be retrofitted.There should be a thread on 6's with a pic and a few details.Might be as cheap as the carb/intake and could net you a few more MPG's.

[ed2552]

I was rounding way up on the clutch price so I'm not surprised, lol. Thanks for the info everyone. We'll see what we end up with!

[Dano69c10]

ED2552

Your truck is perfect as is. Drive it and enjoy!

[ed2552]

I appreciate that Dano, but I can't leave well enough alone, lol. I do enjoy it now, but a little more snap when I get on it is always nice. It doesn't help that my DD is a 3800 Supercharged, LOL.

Found the right carb, too, the 470 CFM Truck Avenger. Should be just right, since I'm not planning on towing and it's designed for low and mid-range power.

[Dano69c10]

Originally Posted by ed2552

I appreciate that Dano, but I can't leave well enough alone, lol. I do enjoy it now, but a little more snap when I get on it is always nice. It doesn't help that my DD is a 3800 Supercharged, LOL.

Found the right carb, too, the 470 CFM Truck Avenger. Should be just right, since I'm not planning on towing and it's designed for low and mid-range power.

Just like Hubscrub said;
I also regret taking out my 250, 3spd, 3 on the tree, and replacing them with a 350/th-350. I should have run that engine/tranny until it couldn't be rebuilt any more, then did the switch. I could have put the money saved to better use on the truck.

['68OrangeSunshine]

I'm running a '68 C/10 Stepside with a 292 L6 bored out .030 over, Clifford headers, Offy intake and 4 Bbl Edelbrock 1404 500 CFM. Also Pertronix Ignitor II ignition.

[pritch]

Six in a row makes them go!

[Hubscrub]

Sometimes two of the biggest things i regret about my 71 is removing the 250 and the three on the tree. it has a 350 bored 0.60 and a 700r4 now.

[68 IRON]

For the 292, 500 sounds perfect and the 250 I was thinkin' 4-500. My 327 runs a 400 on it...its in a Jeep but it really jumps with it. With a 6 it should do great! I'm lookin' forward to this build....please get pics of the process. Are you gonna paint it fancy or plain? What color? I like a bright red surrounded by satin black (looks like a smoldering hot coal under the hood)!

[68 IRON]

Oh ya,...Howdy Pritch! Can you show a pic of your engine?

[pritch]

Originally Posted by 68 IRON

Oh ya,...Howdy Pritch! Can you show a pic of your engine?

I haven't got the call from the machinist yet. I've been counting the minutes 'till I can start building!

[ed2552]

I'm assuming you mean the 400 and 500 as CFM for the carb.

My plans is Chevy orange on the block, head, etc with a chrome finned VC with orange between the fins, and leaving the intake plain aluminum, with a black header and everything else in the engine bay OE colors, satin black or whatever. I also want to go to at least a dual core radiator with an electric or at least a clutched fan.

Another question: Are there different gears available for the HO52 rear or are we stuck doing a Gear Vendors for better mileage?

[Roadmarks]

In all the above I saw no mention of replacing the distributor with an HEI. This is the single BEST mod for and L6, period! Next, find an SBC fan shroud and put an electric fan from a Grand Cherokee in it. Loose the original fan. Those two things together will give you a "seat of the pants" punch you can feel and probably better gas mileage, too! If you are determined to spend your hard earned $$$, try http://www.stoveboltengineco.com/ You'll get more for each $ and deal with a guy who really LIKES the L6s!

BTW, the longtube 250/292 headers have a funny, tinny ring to them where Tom Langdon's cast iron headers don't.

[ed2552]

Thanks for the link to Stovebolt. I have heard of them before, but they never came to mind when I was looking for parts.

[68 IRON]

Ed your choice of colors is gonna look great. Be sure to post pics of the build (if you can) and all the way to completion. On the headers, I've heard the "true" header does work for higher performance and does have a more tinny sound (sharper rap) when accelerating. And Langdons are more throaty with slight performance advantages. They also are shorter for the better "pipe-tucked" tayloring of exhaust pipe.

Keep it goin' and remember PICS!!!

[ed2552]

Thanks man. I'll definitely try my best to keep up on the pics, I only have 2 cameras and a Droid Incredible, LOL. We'll see if/when this all happens, lol.

['72customdeluxe]

E-fans, hei, and an alternator upgrade will make a big difference. Headers have suckEd to keep sealed for me, except on lsx engines with mls gaskets. I would consider an aftermarket split manifold for the sound and a good flow upgrade.
You could have a 6.0 in for well under your 5k figure though. Skip the sbc. That 250 should run nicely.
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