Engine questions

[63_C10]

Hello everyone. I've got a 230 inline 6 and have been looking for sites that sell performance parts. I have not had much luck finding much though. Would I be better off swapping for a 292? Thanks!

[Tim64]

Hi,
Try this link (if it works) lots of good info on inline engines.
www.inliners.org
Tim

[baddawg65]

Try the link listed Below L6 performance

[wild one]

Another good site to check out http://www.cliffordperformance.net/ they cater to most I6 makes and displacements.

[Fred T]

Myself, I would get either a 250 or 292 to build. The 292 has a longer stroke and taller deck. But they are also a little harder to find parts for, especially brackets for AC and PS. The advantage of the 250 is there were many more made and they will drop right in where the 230 is.

The 230 was a decent engine, but will take more work to make it like a 250. I look at it as starting with something better and having a running truck while you're working.

Another site is www.stoveboltengineco.com . And an excellent book on building these engines is Chevrolet Inline Six-Cylinder Power Manual by Leo Santucci, available thru the on-line stores and www.inliners.org

[63_C10]

thank you all for your help. i will look into it and decide what i want to do. thanks again!

[Lane]

What size do I have? lol

[283 Man]

looks like 250 6cly. could also be 235 6cly..the one in picture.

[Tim64]

What is the easiest way to tell what ci engine you have? I think mine is a 230, but I'm really not sure.
Tim

[slow66]

The easiest way is check the casting numbers. The Inliners site that Fred T mentioned has a list of them and their displacements.
http://www.inliners.org/casting/numbers.html Good luck

[Fred T]

Originally Posted by Lane

What size do I have? lol

Looks to me like it's short.

[NF65Fleetside]

Take your time and build it up with some nice Offy hop-up parts and chrome accents...I6's can spin the wheels and be pretty fun!

[Lane]

Originally Posted by Fred T

Looks to me like it's short.

True...

But it won't be long before this goes in:

[Tim64]

Hey Guys,
I did some checking on my casting #s and come to find out my 1963 truck has a 1975 250ci engine in it instead of the 230 I thought it had. Guess that's what I get for thinking. I'm not sure if that's a good thing, or a bad thing. What do you guys think?
Thanks,
Tim

[rickf]

It's sort of an indifferent thing. If you are a collector going for factory stock OEM restoration, then you'd want the original engine, so the 250 is a bad thing. If you just want to drive it, the 250 is a terrific engine. The 250 and 230 are nearly identical, many parts interchange. The 250 just has a wee more stroke. As they say, no replacement for displacement, I'd be happy with the 20 extra cubes.

[Fred T]

The 250 is a better engine. One problem with the 230 was piston failure. Dad had a piston replaced under warranty in his 64. I never heard if they had a bad batch of pistons or what. But he did lug the engine, which didnt' help.

On identifying your block, also check the casting date. It's located on the block, on the right side usually near the rear of the engine. It will be along with the conveyer line number. It will be in this format:
CON 2 C228
The conveyer number is meaningless for identifying the block. The dat is coded with month, date, last digit of year. C228 would be March 22 with a year of 68 or 78. Month is calendar order where A=Jan, B=Feb...
This helps if your casting # shows up with multiple applications.

[Tim64]

Fred,
Yeah, my casting number shows years from 66'-84' but when you add in date numbers of CON 2 J275 it bought me to the 1975 conclusion. I think I'm de-coding it right. If not please let me know. Anyway I'm thinking I'm better off having the 250 even if it's a later model.
Thanks,
Tim

[rickf]

Originally Posted by Fred T

The 250 is a better engine. One problem with the 230 was piston failure. Dad had a piston replaced under warranty in his 64. I never heard if they had a bad batch of pistons or what. But he did lug the engine, which didnt' help.

Do you have anything more than that one data point on the piston failure, any others' agree?

My own experience is a 1964 230 that went 250K-plus miles in 42 years(odometer broke in early 90's at 249K, definitely more miles on her than showing).
Engine still ran in 2006 when it was removed (I was given 350V8, couldn't resist.) Only repair on engine was valve job and hydraulic lifters replaced circa 1985.

[Lane]

Um, where are the casting #'s?

[rwgregory]

Lane, the casting numbers are on the right,(passenger side) of the block between the fuel pump and rear of engine, below the lifter covers and above the oil pan rail.

[Fred T]

Tim - J275 translates to Oct 27, probably 1975, but it could be 65. What is the casting #? I might have it in another listing.

Rickf - Just the word from the dealer who said that this wasn't the first one he had to repair.

[Tim64]

Hey Fred,
The casting #366855.
Tim

[Lane]

Originally Posted by rwgregory

Lane, the casting numbers are on the right,(passenger side) of the block between the fuel pump and rear of engine, below the lifter covers and above the oil pan rail.

thanks!