First truck need ideas people

[77chevyinline6]

This is my first truck 77 chevy inline 6 2wd 125000 miles the only things i have done to it so far is billet grille glasspack exhaust pyle shaft style radio(i didnt want to ruin my dash) a 400w amp and 2 12 inch subs. im debating whether to lower it or not but the biggest issue is the motor. i havent decided whether to beef up the inline 6 or do a small block v8 swap like a 305 i drive this truck everyday so i cant do a big block due to gas milage. do any of yall have any inline 6s? whats your mpg and how fast is it? because mine drinks gas and it pretty slow

[J Knight]

Great lookin truck. Find a good stock 350 to put in it.
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[77chevyinline6]

thats what i was thinking, but its a 3 on the tree would i have to switch transmissions also? and thanks i like yours alot what size drop is that?

[sethv]

I think the bellhousing and everything are the same so you could put a 350 and keep the 3 on the tree.

[77chevyinline6]

Thats what i would rather do because i mean you know 3 on the trees are just too much fun

[notyo_cheez]

Get a 4bbl Offenhauser intake and 390 cfm carb from jcwhitney.com, keep the 6.

Nice truck, wish mine was that clean.

[77chevyinline6]

how many mpg do you think i would get with that setup?

[notyo_cheez]

Not sure but it won't be nearly as much as a V8. The I6 and 2bbl 305 were within 2-3 mpg on EPA estimate window stickers back in the day if I'm not mistaken, and I probably am mistaken if someone will correct me?

If you're using a lot of fuel might want to look at a few things, like a tune-up and check your fuel pump? Check your oil and smell the dipstick. You might be leaking a little if you smell gas...

[77chevyinline6]

thanks ill do that, i need as much mpg as i can cause right now im using a tank of gas a week just going to school and back about 10 miles a day

[Stepper86]

Keep the six, they are cool. I have a 305 in mine, sure it runs okey for what it is and sounds like a v8 should. But mpg/performance........ no, not worth it in my opinion.

[77chevyinline6]

yeah i like the 6 too because no body has them

[MCCLELLAN103]

That thing is clean just leave it alone and drive it

[77chevyinline6]

whats wierd about this truck though its the motor is not original nor is the windsheild im starting to wonder if its been wrecked?

[ivorton74]

i say just keep the six...i think they are pretty kool. if u want more power some headers and exhaust would free some horses. also switch to a 4bbl carb will work too for power but you're look to improve fuel economy so maybe just stick with the 2bbl. love ur truck btw and the 3 on the tree is kool.

[77chevyinline6]

it has a factory one barrel in order to get a 2 or 4 bbl you have to get a aftermarket intake, and to get headers you have to get a aftermarket intake on a inline 6 because the manifolds heat up the carb when its cold or something like that

[undr8ed]

I've got a 250L and 3-on-the-tree... I rebuilt the carb and got as much vacuum I could playing with the distributor. It's not going to win many races, but it should be right around 18mpg +/- but I'm also running 225 tires, so my rpm's are probably a little higher than they would be with a stock tire.

There are a TON of things you can do to get more from that engine. I say keep it

[77chevyinline6]

yeah itb be easier to just do stuff to the motor but how many mpg would i loose with a mild cam?

[undr8ed]

Cheap
Fast
Reliable

You only get to pick 2 lol

You could cam, lump port the head, 2 or 4 barrel it, find a 292 to do the same with, but in the end, it's all gonna be $$$ If you work to fine tune the one you have, you can build another to drop in when you're ready. That would probably be your least expensive way to go about it...

Of course, it all depends on what you want in the end.......

[77chevyinline6]

i need it to be fast and somewhat good on gas because its my daily driver

[gGMC DOG]

take a look at this site. may give you some ideas of what you can do to that 6 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...=242039&page=8

[77chevyinline6]

thanks man

[BIG10]

Very clean truck. I like it. Keep the 6. It's never going to be "fast", but with a tune up and some carb maintenance it should get you to school just fine. If you want fast AND mpg you're looking in the wrong place, you need a super turbo-injected fuel-charged import with a very large wing. Your truck is cool enough as it is, it doesn't need to be fast.

[77chevyinline6]

lol thats hilarious man^

[andrewmp6]

A diesel swap can be fast and still get good mpg for a truck.I have owned a import or two fast ones are hard on fuel trust me lol.

[D13]

Option 1 - drive that thing to Michigan and give it to me.
Option 2 - Carefully inspect the motor to see if it's an integral head (the head and the intake are one casting). Easy way to tell, the head bolts run up and down, if there are not bolts and clamps runnning cross car to hold on the intake, it's integral head. There are NO itake and carb packages available for this, you would need to replace the head to upgrade. In that case, see option 1, or just give it a mild tune up and be happy. You should be able to get 18+MPG (warning - MPG is directly related to right foot pressure).
Option 3 - put in a mild cam and new lifters, get the velves done at the same time. A little more HP, no real change in mileage. Would run ~$400 if you do it yourself.
Option 4- Change to non-integral head, add intake and small 4bbl carb. Power up MPG down. ~$1000
Option 5 - option 4 + option 3 = much more fun to drive but ~$1500
Option 6 - check your rear end ratio, either with the SPID or by checking the rear. Most likely it's 2.73. You could swap in a 3.08 and and add an overdrive trans, either a late model 5 speed or an A-833. 5 speed gets you better MPG and performance. ~$800
Option 7 - all of the above, 20MPG and fun to drive, ~$3000 (you did rebuild the motor too, right?)
Option 8 - stick in the 350. ~$1500 for a basic swap, need to upgrade radiator, be sure you get ALL the brackets. MPG goes down ~3-5 if you can keep your foot out of it (good luck with that). If you swap in the 5 speed too then you might get back close to stock, except it'll be so much funt that your fott will be on the floor again....

ps sending you a PM, wonder if you could do me a favor...
Don't even think about the diesel unless someone gives you a complete running truck. EVERYTHING needs to be swapped except the trans and I don't think you'll like a 3 speed manual diesel.