More power from my inline 6

[BigRed63]

I have a 63 c10 with an 250 inline 6, and when I get to a hill I loose power, I have to floor it to keep it at 60. My question is what can I do to increase my power while on a budget? It would be nice to be able to increase my speed while going uphill when a vehicle is behind me.

[TJ's Chevy]

Floored to keep at 60? How steep is the hill?

What is your initial timing set at?

What's your tire size and gearing?

Couple fairly cheap upgrades would be an HEI and a 2 barrel carb. I would start with bumping to timing to 10 or 12 initial. Many times people are not getting the full benefit of power due to the timing being retarded so much. Heck I had my 292 at 16 initial but back it to 12 to stay safe. haha I would start with advancing the timing.

The one barrel is small and only good for low end power anyway. The Ultimate thing to do would be an offy 4 barrel intake with a modded holley 4 barrel carb converted to a 3 barrel and headers. Your mileage would increase and so would the power. But you'd be looking at a good $500.

[vin63]

How healthy is your L6 (have you had a compression test on each cylinder done lately)? Before throwing money at it, I would make sure your engine isn't in need of more major repairs first.

Originally Posted by BigRed63

I have a 63 c10 with an 250 inline 6, and when I get to a hill I loose power, I have to floor it to keep it at 60. My question is what can I do to increase my power while on a budget? It would be nice to be able to increase my speed while going uphill when a vehicle is behind me.

[vince1]

Agreed, do the compression test, but it is a small engine and won't lug like the 292 so you'll just have to rev more in the lower gears.

HEI made a big difference to mine too but that just says there was something wrong with the old points distributor. Yes it likes a little more timing.

I don't know if a carb from a 292 would help. Your 250 carb is probably only a 1 9/16' bore and I think the 292 is 1 5/8". Both sit over the same 1 5/8" hole in the manifold. Please correct me if am wrong on this.

[BigRed63]

It does have a holey 350 2 barrel carb and an hei put on from the previous owner from an 84 Silverado. Thanks Vin, compression test sounds like a good idea

[KVB]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

The one barrel is small and only good for low end power anyway. The Ultimate thing to do would be an offy 4 barrel intake with a modded holley 4 barrel carb converted to a 3 barrel and headers. Your mileage would increase and so would the power. But you'd be looking at a good $500.

TJ, I am planning on this very change, already have the offenhauser manifold and a holley 600cfm, that I will modify with Tom Lowes 3 barrel kit.

My question is what is the orientation of the four barrel. Parallel to the engine, primaries facing engine, away from engine?

Thanks

[shp4man]

My truck is a longbed C10 with a 250 engine and 3.73 gears. It climbs hills at 60 really well, no flooring needed. My guess is the timing is off on your motor or something. Could be carb or carb linkage adjustment?

[BigRed63]

Is the timing something I can do myself, and how do I tell what it is currently set at?

[WOLFMANmike]

depending on who you bought your truck from .. if it was like an old father son project or belonged to a over protective DAD .. check for a screw in the floor under the gas peddle to prevent full throttle . ive seen this many times and they forget to tell the new buyer .. that is after you check all the other stuff others told you about ... also Headers are a huge jump in performance for any engine that you will feel in your seat . that and timing

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by KVB

TJ, I am planning on this very change, already have the offenhauser manifold and a holley 600cfm, that I will modify with Tom Lowes 3 barrel kit.

My question is what is the orientation of the four barrel. Parallel to the engine, primaries facing engine, away from engine?

Thanks

With the offy the primaries will be facing towards the engine. I prefer the clifford so I can face the primaries towards the front of the truck, but that manifold is rather spendy now a days.

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by BigRed63

Is the timing something I can do myself, and how do I tell what it is currently set at?

You'll need a timing light and you'll need to clean off the balancer so you can see the timing mark and then clean off the timing pointer so you can see the numbers.

[Bears63]

On the timing, take a piece of white chalk and rub it into the timing groove on the balancer. It makes it much easier to see.

[mehoff400]

i just did the 3 barrel conversion

[WOLFMANmike]

Originally Posted by mehoff400

i just did the 3 barrel conversion

Intresting set up there .... i have to ask tho . How is it that the althread is not getting stuck on the threads causeing your throttle to stick open against that trans kick down bracket ? Im sure i should see it ... but somehow im missing it . Its prob just my eyes lol

[BigRed63]

Ok, I know where some of my power issue is coming from. The throttle cable is loose, has about an inch of play, I will need to get a new bracket to hold it to the carb. I checked my spark plugs and a couple look fouled. I am currently having someone look at my engine because after my trany swap, I noticed a "whining" sound when the rpm gets to 2000 and it's not the trany.

[KVB]

Originally Posted by mehoff400

i just did the 3 barrel conversion

Where did you get the linkage shown in your pic?

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by BigRed63

Ok, I know where some of my power issue is coming from. The throttle cable is loose, has about an inch of play, I will need to get a new bracket to hold it to the carb. I checked my spark plugs and a couple look fouled. I am currently having someone look at my engine because after my trany swap, I noticed a "whining" sound when the rpm gets to 2000 and it's not the trany.

If only a couple are fouled that could mean other problems to, do they look oil fouled or fuel fouled? What cylinders did the fouled plugs come out of?

[BigRed63]

Two in the rear, one had a little oil on the ceramic but not where it sparks

[txinliner]

I have a 230 in my 65 I added an offenhauser intake with a holley 390 carb and hei with 10 degrees of initial timing and 28 total this set upruns like a small v8 and no problems with hills