why do so many like 6 cly over v8

[Little Red]

I still love the power and sound of a V8, but the simple fact, for me anyway, is that I've been there done that and it was time for a change to something different, something cool, something bringing me back to my early roots of driving. I learned to drive a stick as a kid on a 1965 Ford Econoline van with a 6 Cly 3 on the tree, manual brakes and manual steering. I never forgot how much fun that old van was to drive. So now, years later, when I set out to look for my next Chevy project, I decided to find an old C10 with that same type of driveline. Now that I own one, I have no regrets ...Its a blast to drive!!

[pat 70/71]

I have a friend who bought a 72 chevy it was an old lady's car. she stopped driving the car eleven years ago. My buddy needed the car for the title (for another project) but didn't need or want the motor / auto trans! I'm at his house to help pull the body off the car& I ask him what up with motor? he says ITS A BOAT ANCHER TO ME! I told him I'll take it! heres the good part ,(60,000 original miles) six silly/turbo 350 trans! all I have to do is pull it. how sweet is that.I'm going to change all the gaskets/seals give it a krylon rebuild ( new paint job) and I'm going to put it in my 70 stepper. cheers, Pat

[LockDoc]

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I have 350's, 454's, and a 250. I love my six cylinder long bed "Farm Truck" I am in the process of putting a 292 in it because the 250 is getting a little "tired". It still starts and runs great but it needs gone through so I decided to put the 292 in it.

LockDoc

[Mark B]

I agree with all the others who responded.
I see all the V8's at cruise nights, and many are awesome engine. But I like it when someone walks by my truck, looks at the engine, and begins to explain what a striaght six is to their wife or child. And that they had one just like it years ago. The six is certainly nostalgic. Mine is tied to a 3 on the tree, which is nastalgic too, but not easy for an inexperienced to drive. I hope to swap mine for a TH350. I added a power booster to the brakes this year. With an automatic and power steering to be added next year, I am going to make it into an easier truck to drive.

Mark

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by n2billet

They stop making the master cylinder a few years back but I think Scotts Hot Rod bought all of the remaining stock so you might check with him. I have all the info on that motor if you ever need it......

I'd LOVE to have all the Info on that motor. Can you post it here?
Posted via Mobile Device

[n2billet]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I'd LOVE to have all the Info on that motor. Can you post it here?
Posted via Mobile Device

air cleaner: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350367067966&ssPageName=STRK:MEBOFFX:IT

(I made the bottom plate to fit the carb)

side covers: http://stoveboltengineco.com/index.p...roduct=1222037

(The fins have the same spacing as the Offy Valve Cover)

valve covers:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Chevy-6-Cylinder-Finned-Valve-Covers,6912.html

wire block cover :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vinta...Q5fAccessories

Oil Filter Cover:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Offenhauser-Finned-Oil-Filter-Covers,25554.html
(I had to cut this down in order for it to fit inside the frame.)

I painted the motor Viper Red, I ground the intake and exhaust smooth and had entire system coated. I used chrome button head bolts from http://www.gardner-westcott.com/
This is the motor in a nut shell if you have any more questions please feel free to ask.

[factorystock]

Before HEI, when your had to tune up an engine every 12K, 6 cyl's were the easiest to maintain, and also had a great reputation for reliability and longievity.

[Palf70Step]

I miss mine. The V8 will be nice, but I really wish I had stuck with my 6.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by n2billet

air cleaner: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350367067966&ssPageName=STRK:MEBOFFX:IT

(I made the bottom plate to fit the carb)

side covers: http://stoveboltengineco.com/index.p...roduct=1222037

(The fins have the same spacing as the Offy Valve Cover)

valve covers:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Chevy-6-Cylinder-Finned-Valve-Covers,6912.html

wire block cover :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vinta...Q5fAccessories

Oil Filter Cover:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Offenhauser-Finned-Oil-Filter-Covers,25554.html
(I had to cut this down in order for it to fit inside the frame.)

I painted the motor Viper Red, I ground the intake and exhaust smooth and had entire system coated. I used chrome button head bolts from http://www.gardner-westcott.com/
This is the motor in a nut shell if you have any more questions please feel free to ask.

Man, I'm stoked to have this info for the future. So much I think I will start buying a set of these parts one by one to hoard until a nice six comes my way. Yours was a 250? Originally I thought it was a 292, I even titled my copies of your pictures with that size!

Intake/Exhaust - You only coated the exhaust, right? With what? Ceramic chrome? Other? Please let us know.

Oil filter cover - I don't think I could see it in any of the pictures anyway, but good to know.

Chrome Button Head Bolts - Where? In general in the engine compartment or only on the engine?

I notice you painted (or powder coated?) the power brake booster gloss black. If paint, any issue with brake fluid peeling it? I had not been able to find that master cylinder but probably cause I was looking for a MC cover only. I didn't realize it was a whole billet part. Is the heater housing painted with some sort of speckled paint? It doesn't look the same black as the MC booster.

You did such a nice setup on the polished T-stat housing coupled with the black (paint/powder?) solid pipe. Just nice.

Was the engine rebuilt and painted in pieces, or did you just do a thorough cleaning/degreasing on a running engine and paint it?

HUGE KUDOS on having the eye and the taste to do this SO DAMN NICE.

[n2billet]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Man, I'm stoked to have this info for the future. So much I think I will start buying a set of these parts one by one to hoard until a nice six comes my way. Yours was a 250? Originally I thought it was a 292, I even titled my copies of your pictures with that size!

Intake/Exhaust - You only coated the exhaust, right? With what? Ceramic chrome? Other? Please let us know.

The exhaust was ceramic coated (like HPC)

Oil filter cover - I don't think I could see it in any of the pictures anyway, but good to know.

I'll see if I have a picture to show.

Chrome Button Head Bolts - Where? In general in the engine compartment or only on the engine?

I used them all over the engine and compartment (hood hinges, core support, etc)

I notice you painted (or powder coated?) the power brake booster gloss black. If paint, any issue with brake fluid peeling it? I had not been able to find that master cylinder but probably cause I was looking for a MC cover only. I didn't realize it was a whole billet part. Is the heater housing painted with some sort of speckled paint? It doesn't look the same black as the MC booster.

I painted the booster and didn't have any problems peeling. On the heater housing I just cleaned it the best I could and bolted it back up. I used both semi-flat black and gloss black on the parts to give the engine compartment some contrast.

You did such a nice setup on the polished T-stat housing coupled with the black (paint/powder?) solid pipe. Just nice.

The T-stat is a Billet Specialties and I made/painted the radiator hoses.

Was the engine rebuilt and painted in pieces, or did you just do a thorough cleaning/degreasing on a running engine and paint it?

The engine ran great so I just re-sealed it and painted it mostly together.

HUGE KUDOS on having the eye and the taste to do this SO DAMN NICE.

Thank you, sir.

[Erik V]

How many cubes is the Mercruiser boat application i6 Chevy? Label reads "165hp". We have one in our 1975 Starcraft Islander. Top speed a whopping 38mph, but its a blast. I'll snap some pics of it when I remember the camera goes with me on the boat.

Erik

[Mt Man Chad]

Six bangers.......why not?
Quiet, torque & smooth running engines that run forever!

[jayman68]

Originally Posted by Erik V

How many cubes is the Mercruiser boat application i6 Chevy? Label reads "165hp". We have one in our 1975 Starcraft Islander. Top speed a whopping 38mph, but its a blast. I'll snap some pics of it when I remember the camera goes with me on the boat.

Erik

Mercruiser used the 250 and the 292 in their marine application. I think the 165 was the 250 but I'm not sure, I will check tomarrow. They are a good engine, work great in a boat.

[Erik V]

Originally Posted by jayman68

Mercruiser used the 250 and the 292 in their marine application. I think the 165 was the 250 but I'm not sure, I will check tomarrow. They are a good engine, work great in a boat.

No clue why I didnt google it up first. Googlefu says 250ci. I thought it felt about as fast on water as my 72 2wd did on dry land. Sounds great, and loves the lead additive+92 octane we run in it.

Just put a quick vid I had from early summer on photobucket.

Erik
(I guess despite swapping the i6 out of the 72 years ago, still an i6 owner)

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by n2billet

Thank you, sir.

No, Thank YOU for taking the time to be free with the information and of course for having the vision and the taste to put together such a beautiful and inspirational engine. For guys without the cash for a crate engine or a big dollar build, this six goes to show you can do a lot with just some inspiration.
Best, Dan

[jayman68]

Originally Posted by Erik V

No clue why I didnt google it up first. Googlefu says 250ci. I thought it felt about as fast on water as my 72 2wd did on dry land. Sounds great, and loves the lead additive+92 octane we run it in.
Just put a quick vid I had from early summer on photobucket.

Erik
(I guess despite swapping the i6 out of the 72 years ago, still an i6 owner)

cool vid. It does sound good, nice and smooth.

[RichardJ]

I like my six, but I don't see anything to like about a three speed on the column. I didn't like them in the '60 and they haven't gotten an better.

Nothing says Old Chevy Truck more than a Straight Six.

[Erik V]

a friend of mine bought a 1950 Pontiac Silver Streak. Has a straight 8 in it. Sounds like an old tractor at idle, flathead, 140 something hp, but 220 something tqs. Pretty fun 99% original car.

Had a 292 came along before I built the V8 for my 72 lwb, I think I'd have kept it a 6. Oh well, I hope that truck has found a good home.

Erik

[Hair]

I think its an age thing. When I was younger (16-35) I wanted a 454 with a blower and nitrous in everything I owned. Now that I'm older, I realize that stuff like a neat looking original I6 is cool, because it's different and it makes the statement: "I don't need some big, fast, expensive, loud, rod slinging, two ton, space taking, hard to work on, piece of doody under my hood to be a cool dude... I can do it with an I6."
And I don't care what anyone says about how easy it is to drop a V8 in, because it will never be easier than just cleaning-up and leaving the I6 in there. I like the I6 because it makes my truck seem more nostalgic and just being old is cool in itself. I'm not into "updating" old cars to new tech with the digital meters and EFI and all that garbage either. IMO, nice wheels and a good stance, that's all an older vehicle needs to be cool. If I want to be fast, I'll drive my 67 Firebird with the "hot rodded" 455 that I built in my 20's. If I want to be cool, I'll drive my truck, which I'm still working on. Well... I'm still working on the Firebird too, but y'all know what I mean.

[Shaky]

The folks at the Owls Head museum in Maine thought they were a good idea.

[LandonL]

Originally Posted by Shaky

The folks at the Owls Head museum in Maine thought they were a good idea.

I'm buying one of these to put out at shows once my truck is complete!

You can buy them from about two places on the internet.

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by LandonL

I'm buying one of these to put out at shows once my truck is complete!

You can buy them from about two places on the internet.

I was considering a tattoo...

[LandonL]

Even better haha

[GRX]

Damn! Didn't button my new plug wires up tight & they burned on the manifolds.

Oh wait ... it's an I6.

It's a shame the carb, intake, and distributor need to be removed to replace that stuck lifter.

Oh wait ... it's an I6.

[292farmer]

^^^lol good one hows about adjusting the rockers, while the motors running in the walmart parking lot those that don't squirm waiting to see the motor or me blow up, stare in amazement don't forget how easy a fuel pump change is took me at least 10 to 15mins if the pushrod would cooperate on a v8 took 2 mins on my 292!