Editing Using an inline 6 Chevy Stovebolt engine
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
== Why a Stovebolt Chevy is a reasonable engine choice == | == Why a Stovebolt Chevy is a reasonable engine choice == | ||
− | Flip open the center fold poster of your favorite hot rod magazine and take a look at the engine. More than likely you'll be staring at a Small Block Chevy, a 428 Cobra Jet, a HEMI or a high dollar crate engine. Truth is, most young guns can't afford those kind of mills, and that's | + | |
+ | Flip open the center fold poster of your favorite hot rod magazine and take a look at the engine. More than likely you'll be staring at a Small Block Chevy, a 428 Cobra Jet, a HEMI or a high dollar crate engine. Truth is, most young guns can't afford those kind of mills, and that's ok, because you don't need a wild engine to have an outstanding hot rod. | ||
Right about now you may be thinking that a simple Small Block Chevy will do the trick and might work well with your budget, and while that may be true, I would like to remind you of the countless of thousands of hot rods that are running one as well. If you want your ride to stand out, and you're on a budget, it will be hard to make the engine differentiate your hot rod from others. That's where a stock motor comes into the equation. By saving yourself some money by going with a rebuilt and hopped up stocker, you can use the saved money for a better paint job, gauges, interior etc. Truth is, in the corporate world of hot rodding where almost everything in engine choice has been done before, you may need $8k to have an engine that separates your ride from the rest. By going with the stock stovebolt, you don't need the $8k to stand out. | Right about now you may be thinking that a simple Small Block Chevy will do the trick and might work well with your budget, and while that may be true, I would like to remind you of the countless of thousands of hot rods that are running one as well. If you want your ride to stand out, and you're on a budget, it will be hard to make the engine differentiate your hot rod from others. That's where a stock motor comes into the equation. By saving yourself some money by going with a rebuilt and hopped up stocker, you can use the saved money for a better paint job, gauges, interior etc. Truth is, in the corporate world of hot rodding where almost everything in engine choice has been done before, you may need $8k to have an engine that separates your ride from the rest. By going with the stock stovebolt, you don't need the $8k to stand out. | ||
Line 7: | Line 8: | ||
− | + | ---- | |
− | Generally, a "stovebolt" is any pre- | + | |
+ | '''What is a Stovebolt?''' | ||
+ | Generally, a "stovebolt" is any pre-1973 Chevy inline 6 cylinder. However, what classifies as a stovebolt or not is considered a gray area by many. The term is thrown around loosely in the hot-rodding community, generally referring to the early inline sixes. | ||
As you can probably imagine, these engines were never named "stovebolt" from the factory, they gained that monicker later on. | As you can probably imagine, these engines were never named "stovebolt" from the factory, they gained that monicker later on. | ||
Line 15: | Line 18: | ||
Nowadays, a Stovebolt Chevy engine is any inline six engine with 216/235/261 cubic inch displacement. | Nowadays, a Stovebolt Chevy engine is any inline six engine with 216/235/261 cubic inch displacement. | ||
− | -''The 216 c.i. came out in 1937 and was produced up until 1953. If you | + | -''The 216 c.i. came out in 1937 and was produced up until 1953. If you aquire any Chevy car or truck within this timeline that has an inline 6 under the hood, chances are it will be a 216 (important when ordering parts). The drawback to the 216's are that they did not use pressurized oiling, and had babbitt bearings. |
− | -''The 235 c.i. came out in | + | -''The 235 c.i. came out in 1950 (along with the new powerglide automatic transmission and it was produced until 1962. It featured pressurized oiling system (introduced in '53, pre-53 were sill babbitt bearing) and hydraulic lifters. |
− | -''The 261 c.i. was produced from 1954 through | + | -''The 261 c.i. was produced from 1954 through 1962 and it also featured hydraulic lifters. |
− | |||
− | + | ---- | |
+ | |||
+ | '''Why choose a Stovebolt?''' | ||
There are many reasons why choosing a stovebolt may be the best option for you. Here are a few: | There are many reasons why choosing a stovebolt may be the best option for you. Here are a few: | ||
- They're cheap. Most people throw them away after swapping an SBC (easy swap) into the large engine compartments of 37-62 Chevy cars and trucks. | - They're cheap. Most people throw them away after swapping an SBC (easy swap) into the large engine compartments of 37-62 Chevy cars and trucks. | ||
Line 34: | Line 38: | ||
- Mild or Wild. Pick your poison and start building, there are infinite options. | - Mild or Wild. Pick your poison and start building, there are infinite options. | ||
− | + | ---- | |
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Source== | ||
+ | This article was originally written by Nightfire, for the launch of Youngrodders.com. Moved here into the Crankshaft Coalition Wiki in anticipation of the launch. |