Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines block difference between 230 and 250

Is there any difference between the 230 block and the 250 block besides the dipstick location. Just got an extra 230 engine and wondering if it can be used with 250 by swapping crank and pistons.

The 230 and 250 Both have it In the same location. The 194 on the other may vary well not. Because the chevyII had a center
sump pick-up Some 230s also had a center sump. and if I remember right all 250 were rear sump

You can make a 250 out of a 230 block by simply installing in 250 crank & pistons. Often the same blocks were used (same casting number) for both 230 & 250.

Of course, the pistons have to be correct for the bore size. I.E. any overbore, etc.

Took it apart today and it had a center sump, and already had 60 over 307 pistons in it. Crank was definitely a 230 crank. Kind of feeble looking compared to a 250 crank.

You say it has 307 pistons on a 230 crank?? are you sure? If so then those pistons will be sitting pretty low in the bore.

307 are used in a 250. 283 pistons are used in a 230. If you were to put 283 piston in on a 250 crank they would stick out the top of the block close to a 1/4.

Well they were flat top pistons that had 4 valve reliefs in them. Looked like 307 pistons to me. But I could be wrong. I didn't check to see how low in the bore they were as I was taking it apart. the rod is same exact length as the 250 rods, the guy I got the engine from said he had rebuilt it at some time in the past. Several rings were cracked and broken and something had gone through the engine as there were dents in the tops of at least half the pistons like a small piece of metal went through and got pounded on the piston top a bunch of times. I only bought it for the head but the block seems in good shape barely any ridge on the cylinders. I just ordered a 250 crank and will see how the pistons fit and if they come out the top. After looking at some images of 283 pistons I guess they could be that as they look very similar to the 307 tops.