Thread: were to go now???

Tweet

OK heres the deal guys and gals and whoever is left. I’m looking to swap out my motor in my 53 Chevy currently it's the inline 6 flaty every one thinks I should just go to a 350 as is par for the course. which i don’t mind and if all else fails i will more than likely go with if i cant get a better(more fun) idea so hears my ?? for you all what might i go with instead I seem to have stalled out in this area thought about possibly a mid 50's cadi or GMC but want to stay in a smaller block size I’m just not looking to shoehorn in anything so what are some ideas i might start looking at and for ?? Anything will help get my synapse firing so it's all appreciated Thanks.

P.S. Sorry about the spelling me turn wrench not spell:HMMM

Small block Chevy is just about as compact as you can get in a V-8, but for talking purposes, a Caddy is not much bigger. There is apparently enough room in that hole, though, for a big block, if you relocate the steering box. Getting parts for a Chevy swap of either size is quite easy; for other make engines, not so easy. My own personal thoughts for this particular type car (earlyChevy) run to a stovebolt, because I just think the sound of a nice set of six cylinder pipes fits my memory and idea of this car. I'd try to find a good 235 or 261, or a later 250 or 292, and sweeten it up. With the early engine, it should be a direct bolt in; the later one will likely need some mount work, but that would be needed for swap to a V-8, so no harm.

Some food for thought, eh?

Drop a six out of a Trail Blazer in it, i thought hard about doing that to mine.

Ditto on the Vortec 4200 I-6 from the Trailblazer. These can be had reasonably with low mileage from your local salvage yard. Tell them you want the engine and trans with the wiring, computer and all the accessory drives (PS, Alt., A/C compressor, etc.). You can usually get the whole deal for around $2500.

'53 Chevy with a 6 cyl flathead?

Hee, hee, Henry Rifle, I thought the same thing, but didn't say anything. It's sort of like to a lot of folks, any engine is a "V" something. A guy I used to know always referred to my '93 Cherokee as a V-6, even after I showed him that it was not. To some, any old engine is a "flattie". I think there is some sort of psychological term for that sort of thing, not Freudian, but some other feller's "name-ian".

I say if you wanna go small block then 327. If you want a fast small block then stroked 383 or a 400. Either that or get a Chevy inline 6 250 motor or something and fix that up with fuel injection and noone around you would have something like that and you can still smoke small blocks when built right. www.inliners.org is a great site. A bit of those guys drag racing inline 6's and know a ton of pros and cons and can help you out.
Those would be my choices. A Caddi will cost you more money in the end.

thanks every one for the advice and imput I still havent made a dission yet but i'll be happy to let you know when i do

Originally posted by Henry Rifle
'53 Chevy with a 6 cyl flathead?

Exzactly what I was thinking

The 1953-4 Corvette had a 235 c.i. inline six, all trimmed out with bunches of chrome and running three (Weber?) side draft carburetors. It was just about the neatest looking installation you could see at that time..... and maybe at this time too.

If I had a sharp '49-54 daily ride, that's the way I'd go. Maybe not a 235, but a straight six. It looks good, it sounds unique (especially with one or two steel-pack Smithys), and it's a far less expensive project than most other engine options.

For a young guy, that's usually important.

"three (Weber?) side draft carburetors"

Nope, Carter YF single barrel sidedrafts

I stand corrected.

Big Tracks

Big Tracks is on the RIGHT track IMO. I say a 250 though. 235 are still nice but might as well get a 250 at least. Again, www.inliners.org is a great place to find out what inline has the best potential.

You should be able to find a 292 straight six from a chebbie pickup that would retain the nostalgia of a straight six but have upgraded torque. It, of course, is of the later 194/230/250/292 family but still looks similar to the 216/235 engines of yore.

The 292 should be similar length as the older 235 and has the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the V8 stuff so your late model transmission choices are wide open.

Robot hit it right on. 292. That IMO would be awsome!