Tricked-out Chevy six cylinder engines

[LILRED66]

Most of the trucks in my collection of 4-5-6 Chevy Trucks, have V8 engines. I would like to see some pictures of tricked-out or stocker six cylinders. Anybody out there have some good shots showing details? If so, post them so we can enjoy them.

[jchav62]

Here's a few from my files...
I'm doing a 250 with a Clifford Intake and long tube headers on the 65...

[greg64]

This was my 77's 250 with multi-port EFI. Something of a "franken-truck" it is.

The MPFI didn't work as well as I thought it would (for a reason I now know). Turned out that TBI was better for these engines.

For you guys running 6s, make sure you retire your points. Either switch to the later HEI (easy) or use a Pertronix. Makes a huge difference, especially if your mixture is a bit lean at times.

[thekid54]

Here's mine while I was putting it back in (235 in my '62):

[jchav62]

Beautiful!

[greg64]

thekid, you did a nice job on that engine! Like those Fentons.

[slow66]

Mines not pretty but here is a pic of mine from a year or so ago.
thekid54, that is a super clean engine I like it . I do miss the oil bath cleaner now, I wish I never go rid of it after seeing one agian.
greg64, what was bad about the MPI, Ive been thinking about FI.

[greg64]

Hey slow66,

What power brake booster are you using? Was it a bolt-up? I certainly recognize the master cylinder.

For any others that are interested in hearing why MPI doesn't work on a Chevy 6, follow along. These 6 cylinders all have an intake port design called "siamese", where cyls 1&2 share a runner, as do 3&4 and 5&6. This goes right into the head, so the two intake valves are effectively side by side, drawing on the same runner. So what's the big deal? The valves are open an equal amount of time, so no problem, right? Well, no, because of the firing order which is 1-5-3-6-2-4. Obviously, any fuel injected (even at the port) can only really enter the cylinder when the valve is open. And any fuel injection system will have the injectors open up to 80% of the available time (when wide open). But, the valves are really only about 25% of the time, so the fuel just puddles on the backside of the valve. In SB chevys, this is no problem, because when the valve does eventually open, the fuel enters the cylinder, just as intended.

Okay, lets look at that firing order again (1-5-3-6-2-4). Notice how the space (and thus the time) is not equal between 1 and 2 (and also 5 and 6)? 1 fires, then 3 other cylinders fire, then 2 fires, then 1 other cylinder fires. What this means in terms of fuel is that #2 gets 2/3 of the fuel, and #1 gets 1/3 of the fuel. Not exactly an ideal mixture.

This doesn't happen with a carb, because all air contains fuel, so the cylinder breathes when it wants, and gets the same air/fuel mixture.

In my case, I was stumped by why #1 and #6 were always lean, and #2 and #5 were always rich (leading to bad stumbling at times).

Should have thought about this earlier, but then one day I discovered this link: http://www.starchak.ca/efi/siamese.htm
which explains the whole thing with far more mathematics than I want to get into here. They even propose a few solutions, but I would chalk them up as impractical.

Anyway, fed up with the MPI (and not yet knowing the explanation of why it didn't work), I switched the throttle body over to a GM TBI (real cheap and reliable, these things). Well, that cleaned the problem up right away, and had some side benefits: easier installation, less wiring ratsnest, cheaper, looks more like stock (if that matters to you).

I'm kind of thinking (but never tried) that a dual TBI on a dual 4bbl manifold would be the ultimate because it would cut down the runner length for the fuel and it would make the manifold more symmetrical for more even air/fuel distribution.

[baddawg65]

1965 K20 in progress 292.

[slepysal]

here is mine not prerty but runs sweet !

[greg64]

For you guys that like over-the-top, these pictures are of Brazilian drag cars. Something like 1000HP, and I'm sure they were doing under 10s quarters. Quite the hairdryers, eh?

[Hillbilly Deluxe 65]

reminds me of my weedeater motor lol

[LILRED66]

Thanks for all the bolters that took the time to post photos of their rigs. I dig the potential and unique look of the six cylinder motors. It makes me what to do a 292 build. Those turbo-charged rigs are over the top.

[aggie91]

I did the 6 cyl thing about 18yrs ago, Clifford Intake, Holly Carb (later an Edelbrock), Comp High Engery 280 Cam, Long Tube Headman Headers, Dual Exhaust, Extremely Detailed. All in my 1965 Chev PU. I will see if I can scan in some old photos of that thing. It was different, but a lot of fun, got all kinds of questions and comments at the local cruise and shows. Sounded like a pissed off bumble bee at high rpms..

[thekid54]

Originally Posted by greg64

thekid, you did a nice job on that engine! Like those Fentons.

Thanks! I'm also running a Pertronix like you recommended.

[MikeN]

Sweet photos guys, thanks for sharing. I love this old school stuff.

[thekid54]

Originally Posted by slow66

Mines not pretty but here is a pic of mine from a year or so ago.
thekid54, that is a super clean engine I like it . I do miss the oil bath cleaner now, I wish I never go rid of it after seeing one agian.
greg64, what was bad about the MPI, Ive been thinking about FI.

Thanks! Unfortunatley, I couldn't use the oil-bath air cleaner. My frame is Z'd 3" and I didn't have enough clearance under the hood.

[slepysal]

Originally Posted by thekid54

Thanks! I'm also running a Pertronix like you recommended.

Man that is one of the easiest kits to install !

[thekid54]

Originally Posted by slepysal

Man that is one of the easiest kits to install !

Yep, and no more adjusting points!

[283 Man]

Originally Posted by slow66

Mines not pretty but here is a pic of mine from a year or so ago.
thekid54, that is a super clean engine I like it . I do miss the oil bath cleaner now, I wish I never go rid of it after seeing one agian.
greg64, what was bad about the MPI, Ive been thinking about FI.

Is that my old 250?you bought off meslow66????

[Dinos63]

i got a 61 old school truck i am going to do a six cylinder build with soon , two projects away! nice engines

[slow66]

283 Man - Not yet Mort, its still in the garage. Got some plans though, its bored 30 over and plan to button it up this yr sometime with the FI. that is the untouched engine in the pic. Ya know i put in the OD and 4.11s last fall right, its even more fun to drive now.
greg64 - the booster was boosted from a 95 blazerSS, bolts flat to the fire wall, had to make a couple mods and the M-cylinder is 1 inch bore unit for the same application. thanks for the info i will do some reading from your link, do you visit the inlines site?
thekid54 - whatcha gonna do with the oil bath?
thanks for sharing all your inlines folks

[protrash64]

Bunch of cool pics on this thread....nice lookin' engines. If you guys havent seen it yet, the Truck of the Month was sportin' a nice lookin' 6 also. I think its still posted on the home page.

[greg64]

Originally Posted by slow66

greg64 - the booster was boosted from a 95 blazerSS, bolts flat to the fire wall, had to make a couple mods and the M-cylinder is 1 inch bore unit for the same application. thanks for the info i will do some reading from your link, do you visit the inlines site?

Thanks for the info. I used to be quite active on the inliners site when I was working on the EFI. Just read stuff from there mostly now.

They are good engines, but until a proper aluminum head is made for these things, I'm not going to dabble further. A 292 should be able to make 300HP and even more torque, but it's impossible with a stock head (without extensive mods). There may yet be a rainbow, because these guys: http://www.classicinlines.com/home.asp are working on it.

Almost makes me want to dabble with the big-block GMC V6s.....

[Heater63]

I LOVE IT! as I am planning to keep an I6 in mine.

Thanks for the pictures everyone.

Greg64, check out Santucci's book on hot rodding the 6, including building an aluminum head out of small block heads!

also, if your talking racing heads, check out Al Weiss in Wichita Falls , TX (used to wrench for Eddie Hill's Top Fueler). His highly modified 292 head made 2002 NHRA Comp Eliminator record, see at:

www.autoshopracing.net

Weiss' car is a unique combination of a '34 Chevy Roadster with a straight 6 Chevy providing the power through an automatic transmission, which puts him in the E/EA category. The class is limited to an OEM production cast iron head, which Weiss points out is the key to his combination.

"Truth be told, there is probably a couple of years worth of work in that head," stated Weiss. "We've done so much welding, porting, polishing, and machining on it, its really a one of a kind piece. I can honestly tell you, it was so much work, if something happens to this head, I don't think I would do another one."