why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

:chevy:just wanna hear some of your thoughts on the i6 im more of the hot rod type and wanna put all the power under the hood i can but i see a lot of people that dont like 6 cyl coming out and v8 droped in other than being original why would you wanna keep the 6 mpgs cant be much better and the power just isnt there plus no v8 sound.:devil:

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

Those could be two of the main reasons. I just think the I6 and 3 on the tree are cool.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I have them both 2/ v8s 1/six silly Imo, people like the six because its not a v8. its even more simple to play with and great fun to drive. mine has three on the tree and I love the fact that it can be driven anywhere we need to go. and the sound as bad as some say it is is music to my ears. cheers, Pat

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

i have both a v8 and an 6cyl. i dont mind my 6cyl at all. the only thing i dont like about it is having to wait for parts. like i needed a water pump not to long ago, took 3 days to get it when the v8 stuff is always in stock. thats why its not great for a daily driver in my opinion. mines soon to be a fuel injected 350 hopefully

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

It is a matter of taste and opinions....

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

Does THIS answer your question?

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I love my 6, it'l probally out last me.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

:metal:Holy Cow Dan!!! That is Stunning! :metal:







.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

The 292 is a great little motor, in my opinion. Tons of torque at practically no rpms, there's a reason UPS used them in their fleet vehicle for years. V8s are nice and all, but everyone has one, it's nice to have a unique motor. I agree they're not drastically more economical, but that's what the 250's for. ;)

The next truck I get, if not a 4x4, will hopefully be a 6-banger.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I like both. I like stock sixes for their simplicity, cost, and reliability. They make adequate power and good low-end torque. They've taken me all over hell's half-acre and never let me down. As easy as a small-block is to work on, I find a straight six even easier.

I hot-rodded one 250. It made good power, but for the price I could have made more with a V8.

My formula now is keep the sixes fairly stock for cheap, good cruising and use V8s for power...

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

one word maby? simplicity !

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I love my 292. Tons of power down low. I could drop a 350 in my 67, but it is not necessary.

People can do whatever they want. My opinion is why mess with something that works??? When I was younger I would do things just because I could, man I wasted a lot of money and time on things that didn't give me much of a different end result. If it's a daily driver, leave the 6 in. If it's a weekend driver, or custom show vehicle, then put whatever in there that gets you to your end goal.

When I am at a show I love looking at those dressed up 6's. I have seen thousands of dressed up V8's, but only a handful of 6's.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I agree with the 6 folks. There's nothing like an I6 and 3 on the tree to keep you engaged in the driving experience. To me, a V8/auto is like driving your living room, where's the fun in that?

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

It is all what you like or just want. if it were a motorcycle you would be asking about a parrell or a v in the twins. I like the fact that i get torque right off at no rpms. I love a manual tranny and in my 2wd trucks unless i would want to pull a trailer regular i do not need a 4 speed with a granny gear. the trouble and dollars to swap out a 3 speed for a 4 speed is not worth it to me. I had a v8 3 on the tree 4x4 that did anything i asked it to do. And you could have a 3rd passenger or 4th without the shifter in the way. The six and three combo is lighter and if you do not kill it does get a god 5 or more mpg. In a 4x4 I have also found that i like a step side truck. Can step right out of the cab and into the back without getting your feet muddy. It is all in what you like or want.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I have two trucks, a '71 with a 454 and a '67 with a L6 250. They are both unique compared to a 350.

Both have the granny 4 speeds.

I like both of them, but for different reasons. The L6 250 is just a cruiser and the 454 is a tire smoker. It depends how I feel which one I drive.

If I could only have one it would be '67 swb stepper with the 250.

I am getting up in years and I no longer feel a need for speed. I will leave that to the younger people.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

Add another vote for the 6. There are certain times and places where a 6 just feels right. It's kind of hard to explain, but you will know it when you see it.

Ray

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I had a 72 2wd half ton on the tail end of college. 250/3 on the tree. Manual steering, manual brakes, factory no stereo truck "dark yellow" (school buses are about the same color). It had been rebuilt just before I bought the truck, but the first 3 cyls had no compression. We pulled the head and when I caught the pistons as my dad tapped them up outta the block the rings all fell apart in my hand. We mic'ed them, and they were waaay thin. The back 3 checked out fine, so somewhere somebody else must have gotten the other half of this rebuild. New rings back in, put it all back together, and it ran great-well as great as a 250/3 can. It averaged 13mpg no matter how it was driven or loaded. I hated the lack of PS/PB, and the linkage was shot making shifting an art form. I built the 305 out of my mom's old 78 Impala using stock pistons/rods/crank/block just all cleaned up, tossed on an Edelbrock intake and Carter 625 carb, mated the engine to a th350, and using all the crossmember type stuff from a parts truck, everything went right in. Installed some headers, soon figured out the factory 4.11 rearend was too low geared for the slushomatic, swapped out for a 3.07 rearend from the parts truck, and then it ran great again. Still only got 13mpg but it sounded great, had the power options I wanted, and was way more powerful. Made me wish I had gone with a bigger small block, but the 305 is what I had. ...why oh why did I listen to the girlfriend at the time. :(

Despite the coil rear, I really miss this old truck:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1.../ErixTruck.jpg

Erik

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

Also I've seen a belly button.350's in these trucks are nearly as common.I'm a fan of the 350 for a V8 due to the availability,interchangeability,price for parts and ease of servicing.But there's just something about a 6 that screams truck.Maybe that's why I like the steppers better than a fleet.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I should have said in posting those pictures that engine is NOT mine! It was in a '68 short fleetside owned by member "n2billet". Someone already dropped me a PM because of those pictures. I did not mean to mislead anyone into thinking it was mine...I wish it were. It's awesome. All I remember from his description was he degreased, rinsed, degreased, rinsed, etc to get it super clean then ground the intake smooth and painted it body color along with the distributor cap. I have never been able to fin that master cylinder cover..and I have searched. Anyway, enjoy everyone. One day I WILL have a straight six and I'll keep it and make it a clone of that one.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

(as the picture above shows) the inline 6 i think is the most beautiful engine i have ever seen you can't make a V-8 that sharp. and everybody has one, its good to be different i have a v8 in my truck now but i do regret pulling out that 250 ALOT of the time i will always STOP and look at an inline no matter how dirty or how pretty but i will walk past most v-8s because i have seen it a thousand times

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I will always give an i6 a glance because of my yellow truck experience. But if its stock looking without some curb appeal, I move along-the 250 was a horrible engine for the 3 on the tree open diff 4.11 one wheeler peeler my truck once was.

Now the aftermarket intakes/valve covers/headers, sure can make me wish I still had the 250 and the truck (come to think of it, I think the 250 is still tarped up in Dad's barn).

Erik

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

for me it's the NOSTALGIA FEEL ! of the six cylinder 3 on the tree combo , I learned to drive on Dads 1969 short stepside with that same combo , it's just COOL !

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1200339058

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

They stop making the master cylinder a few years back but I think Scotts Hot Rod bought all of the remaining stock so you might check with him. I have all the info on that motor if you ever need it.....anyway, here's my "new" 6 banger in my son's 71 step side. I have a V8 in my other truck but the 6 cylinders always seem to get the "dare to be different" crowd.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

their awesome thats why!!
ive got some vids of a 292 with open headers and dual cherry bombs make a unique sound, that usually gets it more attention then a v8 exh. because no one could figure out what the motor was.
yeah they can be more expensive to hop up, but if your patient u can find used perf. parts cheap, ive got shorty headers on mine and i found 2 1bbl carbs that were used on a dual carb set up that im installing this winter. does it make as much hp as a v8? nope,.. but ive won every tow/tug a war contest so far(even beat a 4x4 92 cummins!), these motors make torque loooow!!
but it all depends what are u looking for?

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

kyull had a 67 w a 300hp+ 250 cool little truck even won the burnout contest last year at the all truck nationals in kc!

i dont think i could live without the sound of a v-8. as far as looks its hard to beat any engine covred in finned aluminum and vintage speed equipment.

the ls is a good mix of v8 sound, power, mielage, and different.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I still love the power and sound of a V8, but the simple fact, for me anyway, is that I've been there done that and it was time for a change to something different, something cool, something bringing me back to my early roots of driving. I learned to drive a stick as a kid on a 1965 Ford Econoline van with a 6 Cly 3 on the tree, manual brakes and manual steering. I never forgot how much fun that old van was to drive. So now, years later, when I set out to look for my next Chevy project, I decided to find an old C10 with that same type of driveline. Now that I own one, I have no regrets ...Its a blast to drive!! :chevy:

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I have a friend who bought a 72 chevy it was an old lady's car. she stopped driving the car eleven years ago. My buddy needed the car for the title (for another project) but didn't need or want the motor / auto trans! I'm at his house to help pull the body off the car& I ask him what up with motor? he says ITS A BOAT ANCHER TO ME! I told him I'll take it! heres the good part ,(60,000 original miles) six silly/turbo 350 trans! all I have to do is pull it. how sweet is that.I'm going to change all the gaskets/seals give it a krylon rebuild ( new paint job) and I'm going to put it in my 70 stepper. cheers, Pat

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

-
I have 350's, 454's, and a 250. I love my six cylinder long bed "Farm Truck" I am in the process of putting a 292 in it because the 250 is getting a little "tired". It still starts and runs great but it needs gone through so I decided to put the 292 in it.

LockDoc

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I agree with all the others who responded.
I see all the V8's at cruise nights, and many are awesome engine. But I like it when someone walks by my truck, looks at the engine, and begins to explain what a striaght six is to their wife or child. And that they had one just like it years ago. The six is certainly nostalgic. Mine is tied to a 3 on the tree, which is nastalgic too, but not easy for an inexperienced to drive. I hope to swap mine for a TH350. I added a power booster to the brakes this year. With an automatic and power steering to be added next year, I am going to make it into an easier truck to drive.

Mark

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I'd LOVE to have all the Info on that motor. Can you post it here?
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

air cleaner: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350367067966&ssPageName=STRK:MEBOFFX:IT

(I made the bottom plate to fit the carb)

side covers: http://stoveboltengineco.com/index.p...roduct=1222037

(The fins have the same spacing as the Offy Valve Cover)

valve covers:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Chevy-6-Cylinder-Finned-Valve-Covers,6912.html

wire block cover :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vinta...Q5fAccessories

Oil Filter Cover:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Offenhauser-Finned-Oil-Filter-Covers,25554.html
(I had to cut this down in order for it to fit inside the frame.)

I painted the motor Viper Red, I ground the intake and exhaust smooth and had entire system coated. I used chrome button head bolts from http://www.gardner-westcott.com/
This is the motor in a nut shell if you have any more questions please feel free to ask.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

Before HEI, when your had to tune up an engine every 12K, 6 cyl's were the easiest to maintain, and also had a great reputation for reliability and longievity.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

I miss mine. The V8 will be nice, but I really wish I had stuck with my 6.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

Man, I'm stoked to have this info for the future. So much I think I will start buying a set of these parts one by one to hoard until a nice six comes my way. Yours was a 250? Originally I thought it was a 292, I even titled my copies of your pictures with that size!

Intake/Exhaust - You only coated the exhaust, right? With what? Ceramic chrome? Other? Please let us know.

Oil filter cover - I don't think I could see it in any of the pictures anyway, but good to know.

Chrome Button Head Bolts - Where? In general in the engine compartment or only on the engine?

I notice you painted (or powder coated?) the power brake booster gloss black. If paint, any issue with brake fluid peeling it? I had not been able to find that master cylinder but probably cause I was looking for a MC cover only. I didn't realize it was a whole billet part. Is the heater housing painted with some sort of speckled paint? It doesn't look the same black as the MC booster.

You did such a nice setup on the polished T-stat housing coupled with the black (paint/powder?) solid pipe. Just nice.

Was the engine rebuilt and painted in pieces, or did you just do a thorough cleaning/degreasing on a running engine and paint it?

HUGE KUDOS on having the eye and the taste to do this SO DAMN NICE.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

How many cubes is the Mercruiser boat application i6 Chevy? Label reads "165hp". We have one in our 1975 Starcraft Islander. Top speed a whopping 38mph, but its a blast. I'll snap some pics of it when I remember the camera goes with me on the boat.

Erik

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

Six bangers.......why not?
Quiet, torque & smooth running engines that run forever!

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

Mercruiser used the 250 and the 292 in their marine application. I think the 165 was the 250 but I'm not sure, I will check tomarrow. They are a good engine, work great in a boat.

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

No clue why I didnt google it up first. Googlefu says 250ci. I thought it felt about as fast on water as my 72 2wd did on dry land. ;) Sounds great, and loves the lead additive+92 octane we run in it.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...g202010156.jpg Just put a quick vid I had from early summer on photobucket.

Erik
(I guess despite swapping the i6 out of the 72 years ago, still an i6 owner)

Re: why do so many like 6 cly over v8
 

No, Thank YOU for taking the time to be free with the information and of course for having the vision and the taste to put together such a beautiful and inspirational engine. For guys without the cash for a crate engine or a big dollar build, this six goes to show you can do a lot with just some inspiration.
Best, Dan