Keep inline?

[64fleetside]

I have the opportunity to purchase a 250 that was pulled to make room for a big block. Said to run well, I trust the guy, and its only $100. My 70 smokes like a late freight, really don't have the cash to go V8 right now. Man I am getting old, thinking of BUYING a six cylinder. Any thoughts? Brian

[cdowns]

a good running 6 for $100 bucks will take you right on down the road if that's what you can afford go for it,the whole object is to have fun !!! i find it's alot more fun drivin than sitten and wishing

[9footfan]

l-6's are tough and very reliable. they are also very easy to maintain and any auto parts store will have all the replacement parts you should ever need. i do recommend electronic ignition though only because points are really obsolete in my opinion. i bought my first 67 about 10 years ago from a guy i knew. it had a 250 l-6 in it that had about 170,000 miles on it and i ran it 65 miles every day for about 4 years after that with only an electronic ignition module failure and regular oil and plug changes. it was an amazingly tough and reliable engine though i prefer the monster torque of the 292 l-6. i always recomend the l-6's. though if you try to sell a truck with an l-6 in it most buyers kinda prefer the v-8 and look at them as inferior though that can be debated. i always like to remind people that the l-6's are the epitome of simple and they really were designed and engineered with the owner in mind as far as maintenance and repair. by the time the 230, 250, 292 line of sixes debuted in 1963 it had been over 25 years since the 216 debuted in 1937 in trucks. these sixes gm had nailed as far as engineering improvements and i don't know of too many people who can say anything bad about the l-6.

[Tx Firefighter]

Inline engines can't be beat!

Ain't no crime- running an inline.

[68C15]

if I wasn't such a testosterone infested freak of nature I would have kept the 250 that was originally in mine. it ran great & had gobs of low end torque. the main reason for the V8 swap for me was the power brake booster clearance issue. it also was a little weak @ 75 while haulig a load. around town & on highway empty it was excelent!
GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[68C15]

BTW check to make sure it has hardened exhaust valve seats & non-integral manifolds. there is a place to get hot rod parts for them. Clifford Performance.

[64fleetside]

This is a 250 from 67-72, a good one w/o integrated head. Guess I will go for it, this truck is a second project I really just need to replace the smoking six- truck has sat for 5 years & has many miles on the six. I am guessing broken rings, it fouls #4 regularly in a few miles. Brian

[Putter]

Dude, that is my story to the tee. I had the original I-6 in mine and it wasn't running as well as it should. I found a replacement 6 on the parts board from a guy (Bowtie468) that was pulling his to make room for the Big Block. Got mine for the same $100 bucks. It's in my truck right now, and I drive it to work everyday. Couldn't be more happy. I will go V-8 some day, but I don't have a tree that grows money yet.

[dtlilly]

Go with the replacement 6 and save your old one for spare parts. The non-integrated heads and manifolds are getting hard to find at the rebuild shops and go for $200 rebuilt.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Sounds like a good deal. Go for it. I got 250,000 miles out of my last 292. About to unleash the next rebuild soon.

[Palf70Step]

Yep what they all said. Hey I have 2.
Sounds like a good deal and it'll keep you going for a good while.

[GMC AMI]

I liked mine except when passing other vehicles when they stepped on the gas. The 6 just could not get by they did this! This problem soon rectified with a 427 muncie 4 speed conversion! WOW the 79 shortfleet was then blowing the doors off from most cars on the road. Plus the fact loaded down
the 6 will drink as much gas as a good 8. The 8 under a load does not have to work as hard as the 6. Just my 2 cents for what it is worth.

[dubie]

The inline 6 will never let you down. I had mine for 6 years asa daily driver, drove it hard and never once changed the oil in it. I even ran it at 60 mph for 40 miles with next to no oil in it and it still ran strong. Some days I wish I would have kept it instead of building a 350.

['68OrangeSunshine]

I changed oil every 2,000 miles and it ran for 25 years.

[inline6Bill]

Go For It !!

If your just looking for a good daily driver, the inline 6 just can't be beat, IMHO. Very reliable, easy to work on, and with a split exhaust manifold or headers they sound wicked

The best place for the exhaust manifolds I prefer is Stovebolt Engine Co. at www.stoveboltengineco.com. The stock exhaust system is like trying to drink beer through a swizzle stick IMHO.

[LUV2XCLR8]

My I-6 Has 475,000 Miles On It, Burns A Qt. Every 3 Days, But Man Is
It Fun To Drive, And It Tows Like A V-8, I Wish She Was Running.