Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Chevy 153

It's been a while,my 250 took a back seat to a Buick 350ci.But I was able to score a '70 Nova 4 cyl. engine.I'm assuming that it is a 153 since I have been looking for one of these engines for at least 20 years.I have never seen one before, I read about them,seen pictures of them but I never was able to see one.For twenty years I've been looking and last week there was one advertised in the local Trading Post paper,it was a good hour or so from me so I had friend at work that lives nearby look at it and buy it.I don't know what I'll do with it but I'm going to build it sometime in the future and right now I need all the info on this engine as I can get.What parts from a 250 will interchange?,can I still use 283/307 pistons?Rods?Cams?Any links to other people using these engines on other cars or rods and any information in general will be greatly apreciated.I'll have to say that this little engine looks better in person than in any picture I ever saw.I've got some ideas already .Thank you all.Hector.

The 153 is essentially 2/3 of a 230 inch 6 cylinder. It shares a lot of the internal parts with the 230 / 250 such as bearings, timing gears, oil pump, con rods. The bore is same as a 230 so whatever works for pistons in a 230 works in the 153. Valve gear is the same as the 6's except for obviously the camshaft. Externally it uses the same timing cover, water pump, thermostat neck and housing and all that, and on the back end it uses the same flywheels, starters, bellhousings, etc as the 230 / 250 and the internally balanced small block V8 Chevys. The little 4 banger is a lot happier with the smaller diameter flywheel and 10.4 inch clutch assembly than with the larger flywheel.

The engine was used well into recent years as a marine version ofered by Mercruiser so rebuild parts are available that way as well as through automotive sources. A 181 inch marine version is out there too and for a couple of years they came with an 8 port head and around 10 to 1 compression. The 8 port head is not a good flow and there is very little room to do a port job without ruining the head.
A marina will no doubt be more expensinve to buy from but if that is the only place you can get parts then grin and bear it.

I'm in the process of negotiating for a 153 myself for a bare bones T bucket type car I want to build. Years back I had a 153 and foolishly scrapped it in favor of engines with a few more cylinders.

You can use the 283 pistons in it. and the list Mike G posted.

I've owned and built several 153 chevy II engines and, if put together right, they will take a lot of abuse. I presently have a 181 ci Mercruiser engine in my Model A with a 4-speed tranny. Since the Mercruiser head was cracked, I installed a 153 head w/larger valves and mild pocket porting. I built my own intake and headers, got two new carter/holleys from Tom Langdon, had a cam grinder make me a cam (specifically for my use) and am very happy with it. I'll send photos to anyone who wants to see it.

drop me a line at drh@digital-link.net as i've never been able to post a photo on this site.

Thanks for the replies,sorry it took me a while to aknowledge that.Sounds good to me.Dennis I'll be very interested on any info. and pictures that you may want to share with me,I'll be sending you an email sometime this week.Thanks to all.

hectic, if you didn't get a response, try again. if i don't recognize a sender i usually delete it (since i get so much junk) be sure to put 'chevy 153/181' as subject.