Building an inline 6 Chevy 250 engine
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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
| − | The Chevy inline 6 has been around in one version or another since 1929 until 1988 in domestic vehicles. The | + | The Chevy inline 6 has been around in one version or another since 1929 until 1988 in domestic vehicles. The Chevy straight 6 250 cid engine was brought out in 1966. It has a 0.280" longer stroke (3.53") and the same bore (3.875") as the 230 cid straight 6. It boasts a 7 main bearing bottom end- quite an improvement over the previous generation inline's 4 main bearings. |
==Some things to consider== | ==Some things to consider== | ||
| − | Building a straight 6 250 is not any harder to do than any other inline 6, be it a Ford or Chevy, GMC, etc. Parts aren't as common for the inline 250 as they are for | + | Building a straight 6 250 is not any harder to do than any other inline 6, be it a Ford or Chevy, GMC, etc. Parts aren't as common for the inline 250 as they are for a SBC, but there is info and quite a few suppliers for parts, as well as places that cater to almost nothing but the Chevy inline 6 engines. |
| − | The inline 6 Chevy 250 should not be compared to a SBC engine. | + | The inline 6 Chevy 250 should not be compared to a SBC engine. Besides the obvious differences, they share practically no parts w/the V8 engines. Because of this fact expect it to cost more per horsepower than a Chevy V8. The reward is this is not a "belly button" engine; instead it is considered "old school" and has cred because of what it ''isn't'' as much as for what it '''is'''. |
To the right person, building a 250 Chevy 6 can be just as rewarding as any other engine, and if parts are selected in a coordinated manner and the engine used in a way that accentuates its strong suits- like dependability and good lower RPM torque production for its size- a very satisfying result can be had. | To the right person, building a 250 Chevy 6 can be just as rewarding as any other engine, and if parts are selected in a coordinated manner and the engine used in a way that accentuates its strong suits- like dependability and good lower RPM torque production for its size- a very satisfying result can be had. | ||
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That said, given enough time, effort and cash, an inline Chevy 6 can make >/= 2 HP/ci naturally aspirated and far more than that using a turbocharger. Superchargers can also be used, but the turbo is the preference of many who are going for boost. | That said, given enough time, effort and cash, an inline Chevy 6 can make >/= 2 HP/ci naturally aspirated and far more than that using a turbocharger. Superchargers can also be used, but the turbo is the preference of many who are going for boost. | ||
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| + | ==Engine ID== | ||
| + | [[File:Vin stamp.jpg|thumb|300px|Location of VIN/application code stamping for 1962 and newer engines]] | ||
| + | The deck height of the Chevy 230 and 250 inline 6 engines is shorter than the 292 inline 6 engine. That means the pushrod cover is shorter on those engines than the 292 Chevy 6. | ||
==Cylinder heads== | ==Cylinder heads== | ||
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The Chevy 250 head has a "3-port" intake. That means two ports are siamesed into a single port. This design, while fine for a daily driver or truck, leaves a lot to be desired for high performance work. | The Chevy 250 head has a "3-port" intake. That means two ports are siamesed into a single port. This design, while fine for a daily driver or truck, leaves a lot to be desired for high performance work. | ||
| − | So it comes as no surprise that improving the intake port flow will help power. A big improvement to the Chevy inline 250 cylinder head is to install an intake port "lump". For years, these were one-off, hand made pieces that were quite a chore to fabricate and mount. Some were better than others, and some were worse than nothing. Nowadays, [http://t6racing.org/index.html T6 Racing] and [http://www.12bolt.com/home Autowerks] have designed a lump kit and can supply all the necessary tools and info to install it. It is cast and machined pieces of metal that fit onto the intake port floors to vastly improve flow. | + | So it comes as no surprise that improving the intake port flow will help power. A big improvement to the Chevy inline 250 cylinder head is to install an intake port "lump". For years, these were one-off, hand-made pieces that were quite a chore to fabricate and mount. Some were better than others, and some were worse than nothing. Nowadays, [http://t6racing.org/index.html T6 Racing] and [http://www.12bolt.com/home Autowerks] have designed a lump kit and can supply all the necessary tools and info to install it. It is cast and machined pieces of metal that fit onto the intake port floors to vastly improve flow. |
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==Parts suppliers== | ==Parts suppliers== | ||
| − | *[http://www.stoveboltengineco.com/ | + | *[http://www.stoveboltengineco.com/ Langdon’s Stovebolt Engine Co.] |
*[http://www.cliffordperformance.net/index.html Clifford Performance] | *[http://www.cliffordperformance.net/index.html Clifford Performance] | ||
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