Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 250 in a '51?

I'm considering buying a '51 chevy. A big factor of the choice is how quickly I will be able to get it on the road.

Wondering what all would be involved with swapping the 216 with a 250. What bolts up? What needs to be modified? Can I use the stock trans? Will the Langdon/chassis engineering mounts work and make this easy? Any information that would help me make this decision would be great. Thanks.

I am going through those pains right now on a 50, The 250 is slightly longer than the 216, when you tuck the motor in go as far back as possile, You will have to run an elctric fan on the front of the radiator. The 216 bell housing will not fit the 250 and depending on transmissions the trans cross member will have to be modified. Sticking with a stick or the turbo 350 or the 200R4/700R4 is certainly easier than a turbo 400 as the pan is certainly longer. Motor mounts that you will get from anyone will more than like have to be modified to work. The 250 is probally easier to put in than a sbc but overall the easiest swap is the later model 235 or 261 motors. The 235/261 has a long water pump and there are modifeid long ones shortened that can be had that work.

Mike Kirby said to me once,
I do not know why some people are still trying to hop up these old 235 Heavy series engines when there are the 230-250 & 292 available.

The newer series (194,215,230,250,2920 engines can make much more power & are much lighter.

MBHD

To whom it may concern: Has anybody said anything about how to shorten these long pumps? They can usually be bought on ebay for
$35+- and shorten very easy and the new shallower pulleys are plentyful. If anyone interested I,ll start a new forum. 1 OL REDNECK

Was the '51 still a torque tube car or had they switched to open drive shaft by then? That is going to have to play into my consideration as I do not want to spend too much time on this.

'51 was still a torque tube driveline. Early camaro-nova & 4 wheel drive s-10 rearends fit nicely. 1 OL REDNECK

I'm in the process of putting a 261" in my '48 Fleetline. If your putting a cruser together your driveline will be fine if it is in good shape. If your going to be dropping the clutch & ect. regularly you would want to go to a updated drive train. With the truck bellhousing a newer 3 or 4 speed will bolt up to your 235"-261". Then a rearend and your ready to abuse it some. I OL REDNECK

In the process of swapping rearends it is also a good idea of upgrading the stock rear suspension, the springs are not that strong and will not handle any real tourqe, rearends can be had on Ebay for $200+, that is where I got one out of a 68 Camaro and it even had posi. New leaf springs & hangers packages are about $500. Automatics range anywhere from $150+ depending on condition. The easiest swap as I stated earlier is the 235/261 prefferably you want a 55 and up 235 as these engines had a pressurized oil system, some of the 53-54 powerglide models with the 235 had a pressurized oil system but are a little harder to find.

On a note of the waterpump for the 235's, it is my understanding that the only thing done on these is to move the mounting point of where the pulley goes closer to the pump and cut the excess shaft.

A good sight for info on the 49-54 is http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showforum.php?fid/30/keyword/1949-1954_Chevys/ There are a lot of experienced people on these cars.

True, I use a 20 ton press, support the rear of the pump SHAFT. I use the shallower pulley from a power steering 6. Measure difference in depth of the 2 pulleys. Made 2 sracers of this width to place between the snout of casting and pulley mounting flange.Push flange back to the spacer and cut of shaft. I have used this meathod 5 times so far and all have turned out fine. Probally not the only way--just my way. 1 OL REDNECK

I wished this day would come where someone else will be doing this swap. I put a 250 off a 70 Camaro on my 1950 Chevy Deluxe car. Mine had the 216 engine. It's true, the 250 is a lot longer so you will have to push it as far back as you can.
I got my motor mounts from Chasis Engineering. I used a 60's Chevy pickup tranny to keep my steering stock. I'm using a Nova driveline and a Regal rear end. It's been hell but she's running now. You will have to go with another type of tranny mount or fabricate one your self. Good luck, and please feel free to ask me anything.

As you can see it's a close fit. There's little room between the radiator and fan.

Lookin good!! 1 OL REDNECK