Another thread brings a question to mind regarding what good is a 194 engine.

https://www.inliners.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=86415#Post86415

Say you have a 230 or 250 block and a running 194.

Can you put lightweight 283 pistons on the rods (trying to match the weight of a 194 piston), throw the 194 head on, and then have a decent 230 on the cheap?
Seems too simple.
Am I overlooking something?
Thanks for looking.

by the time you bought the 283 pistons, you probably could have just bought a 230 or 250 anyway, so not much point I would think.

For me the good of the 194 is that I didn't pay anything for it, and it came with all the accessories (fan, dizzy, alt, pulleys, brackets, etc) that I didn't have for my 292 engines. The head was just a bonus found today.

Is the crank number 3788424 or 3788423?

Ditto on my 194, got it for free.
230 pistons are the same as a 283, right?
Looking around the web, I'm starting to think 283's don't get much love these days either. So no cheap pistons I guess.
So balancing will be a must. Anyone have a bare 194 piston they can weigh?
Thanks.

Turbo 6:
Who was that question for?

194 head makes for a great compression boost on the 250-292.

292 Wagon,
Early 194s had steel cranks.

Turbo-6,

Sorry, I haven't opened this one up yet.
It was presented as good engine, so I took it home and tucked it away.

I have a standard 194 steel crank.

MBHD

I don't know why you would bother rebuilding a 194 when a 250 bolts right in place.

If you were going to the trouble of a rebuild, buy a 250 crank and at least build a 250, if you cannot find a 292 to build

I had a good running 194. I sold it for $400 to a guy who used it in a hotrod 1928 model A truck. I can imagine in a vehicle that weighs on 1500 lbs, then it could be a fun performer, but for anything 3000+ lbs you simply need more cubes, and especially more stroke.

you can't make a 194 into a 250 I do believe the bore is to small.

Twisted6: You're right.
One time I had the brainstorm of putting a 250 crank in a 194. Fortunately I forgot about that when reality set in.
($$ for pistons) : )

kooky krispy: The original thought was that no one seems to want a 194. There are a bunch of 250s out there.
The 230 and 250 have same bore, the 194 and 230 have same stroke. 194 crank + 250 block = 230.
This assumes you have some of each in usable condition.
I don't think I'd start from scratch to do this.


Pete

Since outside detentions are the same is the cylinder wall thicker in a 194? If so with thick walls and a crank that would seem to have more overlap it might be the best choice for lots of boost. I'm thinking of the old Dick Dotson plan for a 200 ci Studebaker V8 with twin turbos for 85 pounds of boost to make over 900 hp. I don't think he ever built it.

NO if I remember right on one that I cut apart a vary long time ago No it is not any thicker. You would end up pretty much cutting the walls out of it.

That makes sense because one of the main positives with the new six was less weight and if the walls were thicker a 194 block would weigh more than a 250.

If rebuilding, then why not just obtain a 250 crank? They are not hard to find.

To say "no one wants a 194" is not true. I sold a running 194 on the local craigslist for $400. It was running in a van, so I was able to 'test run' it for the buyer before he bought it

I can say nobody wants my rare std/std forged steel 194 crankshaft.

There are people that will buy just about anything, they are born every second, I just have not found one yet.

MBHD

MBHD, I want your crank but it's expensive to ship. What area do you live in? I maybe coming to the LA area for the Grand National Roadster Show in January.

So-Cal.
San Fernando Valley

My friend ships cyl heads all around the world & he says it's not as much as you would think.

Even BBC cast iron cly heads, my friend says those don't even cost that much to ship.

I never looked into it, just took my friends word for it.

MBHD

Turbo-6, what will you do with the 194 crank? Sorry, I know this is an old thread but I am intrigued by this. Thanks.