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V8 or straight 6 (big gmc)?

4K views 27 replies 8 participants last post by  stefanP 
#1 ·
Been really thinking about what I want to put in my 41 chevy 2dr sedan project.Small block V8 is typical(ya I know).But I also like to do things off beat.I like the idea of the big GMC 302 6cylinder.I found one but the engine is on the other side of the country.Woundering if it's worth the price to have a engine and tranny shipped plus the asking price of the engine.Thanxs for looking.
stefanP
 
#2 ·
Hmmm, :mwink: I'm on "the other side of the country" how about telling me who has it so I can make the decision for you. :evil:

Honestly, we would need to know how much you are paying for it and the shipping cost and probably even then only you can say whether it's worth it or not. All I know is I have ran odd ball motors all my life, and I love them. I love showing someone a motor that often have never seen before, it's fun to open the hood.

The GMC 302 is the legendary inline six, the ultimate in vintage six speed and a bunch of very cool intakes and parts were made. It will cost you a lot more to rebuild and to buy these intakes or what not because they are so in demand.

But if you have the bucks it's well worth it, I have spent more on every motor I have ever done but it was always worth it in my opinion.

Brian
 
#3 · (Edited)
I'd use the banger in a heartbeat. I've told the story before of seeing my first actual hot rod at about age 13/14. My dad took me over to a friend of his who had a '40 Chevy coupe with a 302 GMC six in it. The motor mounted a GMC 6-71 on a home-made intake and had 5 (count 'em....FIVE) Stromberg 97's sittin' on top of it. Everything was polished or chromed and my eyes just literally bugged out of my head. I can still see that image in my mind, just like it happened yesterday. This was in Dayton, Ohio about 1955/1956. Maybe some of you old timers remember the car.

I talked to Mert Littlefield one time at the drags about the car. He said that for a street ride, a 4-71 would work better. You could make your own intake manifold and mount a 4-71 from one of the suppliers like Blower Drive Service. In my opinion, that's the best way to make a small displacement motor go fast, is with a blower. It will also be more tractable than building a naturally-aspirated, high-compression, hard to tune motor.
 
#5 · (Edited)
#6 ·
At the last little local car show there were a few inliners International guys one of them had a 30's Buick with a straight eight and a new cast intake I forget what it was now, two fours as I remember. But it was a beautiful manifold that he now sells, there were two people there with them.

Brian
 
#10 ·
Here you go guys.HAVE AT IT!!!! 1954 GMC 302 Inline 6 cylinder w/ 350 trans
Thanxs for all the advise.I really apprciate it.
stefaP
I have a few buddy's in az.. that might ake a look to see if it is what they sad.. rebuild running/etc that will fit on a skid.. once you take and unbolt the trans.. and would be cheaper to ship than drive out and drive back..
but 3800.. is a a little much for an old ball engine that might not have people trip'n over themselves to get..
I'm not up on the inlines but whats the difference of the gmc 302 and the chevy 292?? the bore size the stroke..
if you want a done engine.. that a way to go.. I'd call and ask to see reciepts from the rebuild..
but at the same time if a 292 looks the same.. you can get those local for peanuts.. and I'd be willing to be you could find a 302 if you had to have it.. and build it for half that 3800+shipping..
to find it. you will need to get off the net and drive to junkyards.. hit up the local old car clubs.. they'll know what j/y's have older stuff..
hit the B.S.A.A.C. WEB SITE AND PUT A note that you are looking and what j/y's deal with older stuff..
if you can get it for 3000.oo and then ship it for 500 or under and it's what they say.. it's an easy way to go.. you could drive out and back in a w-end.. and blow the 500.oo on gas.. I'd at least have someone check it out.. and see reciepts with dates ..
good luck..

fyi also hit up the local machine shop that the guys at the clubs use. they might know where one is sitting local.. or where they'd head(j/y) if they needed a older core
 
#11 ·
Ya checked into the drive.About 2500 miles one way from Ct.Thats a long ride.I'm gonna do some checking on the cost of shipping to see if it's worth it.I also found to stock 302's on ebay.But there both in trucks that are in Maine.:eek: Iwould most likely have to remove myself:thumbup: .I'll keep you all updated.
stefanP
 
#12 ·
Ya checked into the drive.About 2500 miles one way from Ct.Thats a long ride.I'm gonna do some checking on the cost of shipping to see if it's worth it.I also found to stock 302's on ebay.But there both in trucks that are in Maine.:eek: Iwould most likely have to remove myself:thumbup: .I'll keep you all updated.
stefanP
thats not hard.. fuel line, linkage, and a few bolts.. bang out..
 
#16 ·
Well I found a couple more leads.Plus I purchased two books on hopping up thew inline 6 engines.Also I found a buick straight 8 in the woods for about 40 yrs or more.But it is on state property and I would need to find out how to obtain the engine.(It's still in the car).So we are kinda moving forward.I try to keep this thread updated.Today I will post pictures of my progress on my first street rod.Check my journal later today.Thanxs for everything.
stefanP
 
#18 · (Edited)
You know what's even funnier is all these big engines put into"hotrods/street rods" and you know the person will never use all the power.So why waste the money? If you can build a engine and use all it's potencial power and have fun,isn't the name of the game? Plus the best part is when people give you that puzzeled look at your creation.
stefanP
 
#22 ·
and the sound !

In the 50's when I was in high school, I split My own chevy 6 manifold, Installed GMC rockers for higher lift, a GMC carb and beat all the Ford Flatheads and the split Exhaust has that distinct rap sound, no mufflers, the ranch was 40 miles from town, We stuffed house fiberglass insulation in the tailpipes held in place with a nail in town.
 
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