Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 261?

I have a 235 lined up for my 51 chev. pickup but was thinking that I may want to swap to a 261 in the future. What years were these engines made? What vehicles were they in? Thanks for your help.

Breifly: trucks, '62 and earlier.

The 261 was used in 60 series trucks only, from 54-62. The 58-62 versions are the best as they have full flow oiling instead of just bypass oiling.

Thanks for the help!

The 261 was made from 1954 to 1962.I have also read that they were used in first series 1963 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton 4x4s.This is according to the Hollander Exchange manual use by wrecking yards.Also according to 1962 Chevy truck ads they they were put in pickups for the first time this year.The 1954 and first series 1955 261s will bolt right in your pickup.1956 to 1962 will need a custom short water pump offered by lots of early Chevy parts dealers.I like the 1956 and up engines because they do not use shims on the main bearings like 1954 and both early and late 1955 models.On the 1956 and newer engines you can change the main bearings without dropping the crankshaft.
EvilDr235

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Two types of people drive old cars.Rich people because they want to and poor people because they have to.
Remember EvilDr235 has a cure for Your sixness.

261's were also used in Canadian Pontiacs. '57-'60 for sure,maybe others...

According to my book here,the 261 Stratto six was used in Canadian Pontiacs from 1955 to 1962 and GMC trucks according to my gasket catalogs.I have two 261 valve covers from Canadian Pontiacs.They are slightly taller than their U.S.cousins and have no name stamped on them.Anybody on this message board from Canada? Do any of the Chevy 235 or 261 valve covers have a name stamped on them ? It would be cool to have a 235-261 valve cover with Pontiac or GMC stamped on it.
EvilDr235

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Two types of people drive old cars.Rich people because they want to and poor people because they have to.
Remember EvilDr235 has a cure for Your sixness.

I pulled my 261 out of a '62 suburban, the owner claimed it was original.

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1950 Chevy pickup with '62 261, 4 speed.

HI...I pulled my 261 from a 1961 Canadian Pontiac and the valve cover is blank. It is possible the early years (55-57) were stamped because the covers for the v-thingies (265, 283) had PONTIAC in block letters. My 1954 Canadian GMC uses a Chevrolet cab and the dash is also unstamped. Interesting......

Canuck,both my Canadian valve covers are slightly taller than their U.S.cousins.They are also a little bit different from each other.They both have the oil fill caps at the front.I had a couple of Inliner members come down to Washington state from Canada about 12 years ago and we did some swapping for some U.S.valve covers with the Chevrolet script on them.I showed off my six cylinder hot rod parts collection and photocopyed some stuff for them.
EvilDr235

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Two types of people drive old cars.Rich people because they want to and poor people because they have to.
Remember EvilDr235 has a cure for Your sixness.

Gentlemen;

2 cents more. My 261" came from a l962 Chevy school bus.

I also learned some time back you could 'special order' one for a pick up "way back then."

Good luck, John M., #3370.



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Do all of the Canadian motors only use the bypass type oil filter? Do any of the late 261s used in trucks use the fullflow filter system? I have read that the Canadian Pontiacs with 261 engines had decals on the valve covers that said Stratto Six.I have a magazine article on the Canadian Pontiacs.I need to dig it out of the cabnet and read it again.I have a 1962 261 engine i will be rebuilding for my 56 Chevy 210 sedan when time permits.Too many hobbies.
EvilDr235

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Two types of people drive old cars.Rich people because they want to and poor people because they have to.
Remember EvilDr235 has a cure for Your sixness.

Canadian 261's were all bypass with hydro lifters.
Only the '58-up Chevy truck ones were full flow. They can be identified by the pair of 1/2" NPT fittings used to hook up to a special canister filter assembly. The Chevy 261's were all solid lifters.

All my 261s have been the late model ones with the fullflow filters.Mine have been 1961 and 1962 engines.Mine also had the option of bypass filter or fullflow filter.Not all of the fullflow engines may have this feature.This is a quote from a 1961 Chevrolet master parts catalog(Important:by-pass plug over front lower case connection must be driven in 5/8 of a inch when fullflow filter is used.Must be flush when by-pass type or no filter is used.)This information is located in catalog group #1.835----This is important to check when rebuilding your engine or installing a used one.If the plug is in the in position and you try using the by-pass filter,you will burn up the motor from lack of oil.
EvilDr235

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Two types of people drive old cars.Rich people because they want to and poor people because they have to.
Remember EvilDr235 has a cure for Your sixness.

Just for grins I have a 56 and 57 out of 1 1/2T dump trucks and a 58 out of a 1 1/2T flat bed. All three have the dowel for bypass or full flow. All three are drilled for full pressure oiling.

What are the date codes and the stamped codes behind the dist.?
You may have replacement engines...