Engine Decisions

[ChrisDollins]

Just sitting here while it's cold outside, and wanting to talk engines. I can't seem to make up my mind on what to do engine-wise with the old truck. Trying to find the right balance between money, power, and coolness.

The 250 that is in it works well and runs good, but it doesn't quite have the power or sound I'm after. I will keep the engine for something else I drag home. I do have a 283 that was in my Dad's 55 that I have heard run. I've thought about cleaning it up, throwing a set of trick flow aluminum heads with the 56cc chambers to bump compression up to around 9.75. Then put a good size roller cam (looking at Comp XR288HR-10), white powder coated headers, intake with the oil fill, and a 650 holley in the dichromate color for a kind of vintage hot rod look. Finish it off with some Offy finned valvecovers. The only thing is with spending all of that money, I'm thinking maybe a BBC would be cooler... lol.

Most of my hotrodding has been with the LS engines. When I was younger my DD was a 2000 Z28 with MS3 cam, 4500 converter, spooled 4.30's and no a/c or radio with Corbeau forza's, no back seats and on et streets most of the time. I've thought about going with a similar setup, but with a T56. But it doesn't have the old-school coolness to it.

Really wanting a set of chrome cragar s/s bigs-n-littles with bias ply tires, and have to have a different exhaust note to pull it off lol.

What are some of yalls ideas, or thoughts?

Chris

[62 Barnfind]

Either way is cool. I am partial to the tricked out six (probably because I have one). I seem to get more attention with the cool six than the guys do with the v8s. You can put a t5 to that 250 and add two carbs with a dress up kit and it might give you what you need. No way will it have the V8 power, but power will increase and it will have the cool look. It comes down to what you want to do. Great power and cool of little more power and cool. The six will give you the old school coolness! I spun a bearing in June in my 235 and I had the same problem. Do I want to convert to a V8 or keep the six. I chose to keep the six and hot rod it a little. I added two carter carbs, Offy intake, oversized cam and bored over 30. I came out great and I'm glad it did it! I still need to add duel exhaust and install my 3 speed overdrive. The only think I wished I did was switch to a auto so it would be easier to drive around town. But the three speed is fine. I can run 75 down the highway now. Good luck on you decision and I hope this helps!

[ChrisDollins]

Originally Posted by 62 Barnfind

I chose to keep the six and hot rod it a little. I added two carter carbs, Offy intake, oversized cam and bored over 30. I came out great and I'm glad it did it!

That sounds like a really cool engine! I have thought about doing a few things to the 250, and that was my original plan, but I just really miss the big cam V8 sound. I would love to bolt on an offy intake and multi carb setup with split headers and a cam on the I6, but would rather it be in something else I think. I really like the 60's drag car look and would like to keep the engine in that era too. Otherwise I would go the lq9 route. I like the 283, especially since I already have it, just hard for me to spend the money on that small of an engine.

Chris

[1972RedNeck]

Hopped up 292. Everybody has a built V8.

[ChrisDollins]

Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck

Hopped up 292. Everybody has a built V8.

Hopped up 292 or any I6 is really cool. Mine is a 250 though. That's true, there are a lot of SBC's but that's why you have to do a few little things to change it up. Have some cool old school parts to set it apart from all of the center bolt goodwrench 350's. But what the engine is in, and the whole package is what really matters as well.

Chris

[Gargoyle]

Another option if the 283 runs well is to drop it in as is with a set of OG manifolds or maybe shorty headers and a nice free flowing muffler like the Dynomax super turbos. That's what I run in my '62 and I'm happy with it, runs great and sounds healthy.

[62 Barnfind]

The 283 will be cool also. Especially if you paint it gray and dress it up to look like it was original.

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Originally Posted by 62 Barnfind

The 283 will be cool also. Especially if you paint it gray and dress it up to look like it was original.

I agree. Not to many people running 283's anymore and original looking would be awesome.

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by Classic v6 GMC's

I agree. Not to many people running 283's anymore and original looking would be awesome.

But it also wouldn't bee too hard to make a 383 look like an original 283...

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck

But it also wouldn't bee too hard to make a 383 look like an original 283...

True

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck

But it also wouldn't bee too hard to make a 383 look like an original 283...

Still wouldn't be the same though and it kinda defeats the purpose.

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Still wouldn't be the same though and it kinda defeats the purpose.

.030 over 283 block with a 3.75" stroker crank makes a 359...

[T.W.Dustin]

Put a T5 behind the old school 283 :-) I love 292s and have 2 '64s with them, but my first 60-66 was a '62 with a 283 4 speed. Loved that truck!!!

[TJ's Chevy]

250 is a good motor to build up. Cheaper and revs quicker than the 292. 307 V8 flat top pistons will work in a 250. Wanna nice tone for that 6 banger? How about this? lol Hopped up 250 in a 4000 pound chevelle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NU7n3kOWe8

The 283 would be sweet to. More original to that year and at least the cubic inch is different than the 350. lol More unique.

[ChrisDollins]

I like the factory appearing 283. Noone runs a 283 anymore it seems. Kinda why I thought a cammed up 283 would be cool too. The engine has some style of ramhorn manifold on it. I have an offy 4 brl intake for it. I like the script valve covers as well. Maybe skip the heads and just have these milled to bump compression. Even if it gets pulled later for something else, I'll probably keep it to put into something else. But there is a 396 short block on Craigslist tempting me.. lol

Chris

[62 Barnfind]

396 would be cool also!

[The Rocknrod]

This guy has some cool stuff for 6 cylinders, check out the turbo on the bottom of the page:
http://www.12bolt.com/

[Chevy Fleetside]

I have decided to keep my 283. Need to remove it and change the bearings and do valve seals along with a new cam and gaskets all around. It has some pretty good power right now but oil pressure drops at idle.

[ChrisDollins]

I like a factory disguised engine. I've seen a couple with a good set of heads and decent intake with factory valvecovers painted up like factory. Maybe a modded breather to look factory, but be a pretty healthy engine when started up. Just kinda neat. But this truck has a kind of 60's hot rod flair, and about to add more, so the factory look isn't really what I'm after. There's a similar thread here in this forum about this topic, I didn't notice until this one was moved.