best straight 6 for power

[billye1982]

First thing first, I am a BBC guy. I LOVE me some big block, however, when I finally build my keeper 64-66 SWB I think (maybe, I still haven't decided lol), I want to build a bad straight 6. Maybe even go as far as a turbo or super charger. With that being said, do cubic inches mater just like they do in a V8? Do I want a 250 or a 292?

[vin63]

There are a couple of factors to help figure out what you prefer. The I6s build quite a bit of torque in the lower RPM range, which a lot of people like and feel immediately, and it obviously helped with the truck in pulling and hauling duties. There is another group of people who are mainly concerned with peak horsepower in the upper RPM ranges. Just like in a lot of build ups, the bigger the displacement, often the more difficult it is to reach higher RPMs on a budget…and with the I6, that can be a limiting factor pretty quickly.

[cooperhw]

I'll chime in put in a plug for the 292 I-6. Guy I know put a big turbo on his that was new and left over from his material hauling operation he sold.
That little dude scoots and it has handled the boost pressure for at least 10 years so far.

[LVPhotos]

I love my Cummins 6. That's a diesel joke. I would like to see a 6 like the one in mom's Trailblazer. Torque and freeway speed. Sure there are a few in junk yards. It's 4.2 around 256 cui.

[blown240]

My buddy put about 8K into a 235. Its backed with a T5. It has a 4bbl, and a bunch of hot rod parts. Its pretty fast, but without a turbo, or supercharger, its still not as quick as an SBC with the same $$$ into it.

BUT! it sounds amazing, and cruises the freeway at 90mph no problem.

[TJ's Chevy]

The street 250 is capable of making 310 hp without induction and a street 292 is capable of 340 hp without induction. The 250 will be cheaper and parts are slightly easier to find, but the 292 will always make more torque. The inline 6 is a great engine and alot of people under estimate it...so when asking some questions I only recommend taking advise from 6 cylinder enthusiasts cause we've actually done it and alot haven't. Not to say they're info won't be true, but some seem bias about hotrodding the 6. Anyway...back to the point. I just hotrodded a custom 292 (See picture below) Here's all the specs...

Head work:
Lump ports
1.94 intake valves
1.60 exhaust valves
Roller rockers
Z/28 high lift valve spring
.030 shaved
Magnafluxed and cleaned.

Block work:
.040 over bore.
Custom Ross racing pistons .040 over. 551 grams (200 grams lighter then stock) 18 cc dish ( vs 30 cc stock) yields 9.5.1 compression.
Stock rods balanced and fitted with ARP 350 sbc studs.
Crankshaft balanced and ground.
Clevite rod, main, and cam bearings.
Cam: Comp Ultra Pro Magnum 268 advertised duration 218 @ .50 .496 lift on a 110 lobe center.
Aluminum cam and crank gears.
Stock melling oil pump.
Block has been magnafluxed, balanced, and zero decked.
Gaskets are all Felpro.

And I think that covers it..the rest you can see in the picture. So all in all...As far as Machine work went, I have about $5000 into it, BUT here's ONE HUGE factor...This engine still has ALL American made parts...no cheap china crap. My HP and Torque specs are 320 hp and 340 torque...and the beautiful thing is that since I'm only at 9.5.1 compression there's plenty of room for another 8 pounds of boost which would put me somewhere around 450 hp and 500 torque...rough estimate, but easily possible. See...the 6 cylinder is a great power plant...but you have to talk to the guys who have done it. I'd consider buying the Inliner's Power Manual. Great book and quite handy on my build...any further questions...PM me or join Inliner's. org for good advice.

[billye1982]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

The street 250 is capable of making 310 hp without induction and a street 292 is capable of 340 hp without induction. The 250 will be cheaper and parts are slightly easier to find, but the 292 will always make more torque. The inline 6 is a great engine and alot of people under estimate it...so when asking some questions I only recommend taking advise from 6 cylinder enthusiasts cause we've actually done it and alot haven't. Not to say they're info won't be true, but some seem bias about hotrodding the 6. Anyway...back to the point. I just hotrodded a custom 292 (See picture below) Here's all the specs...

Head work:
Lump ports
1.94 intake valves
1.60 exhaust valves
Roller rockers
Z/28 high lift valve spring
.030 shaved
Magnafluxed and cleaned.

Block work:
.040 over bore.
Custom Ross racing pistons .040 over. 551 grams (200 grams lighter then stock) 18 cc dish ( vs 30 cc stock) yields 9.5.1 compression.
Stock rods balanced and fitted with ARP 350 sbc studs.
Crankshaft balanced and ground.
Clevite rod, main, and cam bearings.
Cam: Comp Ultra Pro Magnum 268 advertised duration 218 @ .50 .496 lift on a 110 lobe center.
Aluminum cam and crank gears.
Stock melling oil pump.
Block has been magnafluxed, balanced, and zero decked.
Gaskets are all Felpro.

And I think that covers it..the rest you can see in the picture. So all in all...As far as Machine work went, I have about $5000 into it, BUT here's ONE HUGE factor...This engine still has ALL American made parts...no cheap china crap. My HP and Torque specs are 320 hp and 340 torque...and the beautiful thing is that since I'm only at 9.5.1 compression there's plenty of room for another 8 pounds of boost which would put me somewhere around 450 hp and 500 torque...rough estimate, but easily possible. See...the 6 cylinder is a great power plant...but you have to talk to the guys who have done it. I'd consider buying the Inliner's Power Manual. Great book and quite handy on my build...any further questions...PM me or join Inliner's. org for good advice.

Now that is one cool motor! I don't know if I will want to build one or not, but seeing that it can be done will help me decide. I will for sure get a book, I love reading and may go over and check out the website.

[TJ's Chevy]

Thanks! Here's a link to a Power manual on ebay....hundreds of them pop up and some super cheap. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVROLET-IN...63c4cb&vxp=mtr

[OldGMJon]

[QUOTE=TJ's Chevy;7004794]The street 250 is capable of making 310 hp without induction and a street 292 is capable of 340 hp without induction. The 250 will be cheaper and parts are slightly easier to find, but the 292 will always make more torque. The inline 6 is a great engine and alot of people under estimate it...so when asking some questions I only recommend taking advise from 6 cylinder enthusiasts cause we've actually done it and alot haven't. Not to say they're info won't be true, but some seem bias about hotrodding the 6. Anyway...back to the point. I just hotrodded a custom 292 (See picture below) Here's all the specs...

Hhhmmmmm!

[HemiChallenger71]

Originally Posted by LVPhotos

I love my Cummins 6. That's a diesel joke. I would like to see a 6 like the one in mom's Trailblazer. Torque and freeway speed. Sure there are a few in junk yards. It's 4.2 around 256 cui.

x2 4.2!

[chevy_mike]

The 4.2 would be a great swap.

As for the 250/292, yes they can be built to make some good numbers BUT it will always be more $$$ to do so. They are just not common like SBC. I was faced with what to do when I had to pull apart my 250 in my Chevy II wagon. In the end I kept the 6 in the car because you don't see them often but I could have made way more power with a SBC and been into it about the same cost.

T.J.'s build had him at $5000. Crate ZZ4 costs less and gives better numbers. Downside is when you open the hood, it's just another SBC.

[61_FL_Apache]

There's no replacement for displacement!!

[TJ's Chevy]

And there's another factor...Not everyone has to go with a $600 set of pistons like I did...People also don't realize that a stock 250/292 can take 8 pounds of boost easily. Why? Because you have 7 main bearings. A stock 292 on 8 pounds of boost will make at least 345 hp....that's more than a stock 350. And the cost to do the turbo setup is cheaper than a 290/350. Not to mention a whole heck and a half more unique and cooler. lol But...still there are limits..and that would be RPM...4000 would be your top...But add a new cam and turbo pistons and all that just changed.

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by LVPhotos

I love my Cummins 6. That's a diesel joke.

I was going to seriously mention the 6BT. If you want power, the 5.9 Cummins can make over 1000HP on fuel only - and still be driven around.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by LVPhotos

I love my Cummins 6. That's a diesel joke. I would like to see a 6 like the one in mom's Trailblazer. Torque and freeway speed. Sure there are a few in junk yards. It's 4.2 around 256 cui.

I came here to say this. seriously, you will have 300hp box stock plus overdrive for under a grand. get the column and harness and gauges from the trailblazer and dont tell it that it is in an old truck, it will never know.

[63burban]

Inline six has more torque than RPM, small block has more RPM than torque. If you keep that in mind when you add a trans and rear end, you can utilize the best assets of your particular engine.