Chevrolet Straight-6 engine
Encyclopedia
The Chevrolet
inline 6
was Chevy's main engine from 1929 (when it replaced their first 4-cylinder engine
, the 171 cubic inch four
), through 1954, and was the base engine starting in 1955 when they added the small block V8
to the lineup. It had finally been completely phased out by 1990 in North America, but Brazil held on to their fuel-injected straight-6 through the 1998 model year. It was replaced by more recently developed V6 and four-cylinder engines. Many popular cars and trucks, including the Chevrolet Camaro
, Chevrolet Impala
, and Chevrolet Suburban
just to name a few, used the inline 6 as the base engine. Chevrolet did not offer another inline 6 until the 2002 GM Atlas engine
's debut in the Chevrolet TrailBlazer
.
cars and trucks, replacing the company's first inline-4
. Richard Grant (Chevrolet marketing executive) insisted that the new design boast overhead valves. Chevrolet had long been known for its "valve-in-head
" four-cylinder engines. William S. Knudsen
's cast-iron wonder was produced through 1936.
trucks for 1935 and 1936.
A balanced crankshaft was introduced for 1932, while a higher (5.2:1) compression ratio upped output to 60 hp. In 1934, a new cylinder head pushed output to 80 hp.
Applications:
s came into common use as the 1/4″ × 20 slotted-head bolts are used at numerous points on the engine (and body) of these cars. The slotted-head bolts are commonly used in the assembly of unwelded wood-burning stoves.
213 L-head engine. For 1937 and 1938, they used Oldsmobile's 230 L-head engine.
s were oiled using an "oil trough" built into the oil pan that had spray nozzles that squirted a stream of oil that the connecting rods (which were equipped with dippers) caught on the fly and supplied the necessary oil for the rod bearings.
The 235 CID version was added to cars in 1950 to complement the new Powerglide
automatic transmission
, and 3.55:1 rear differential. Hydraulic lifters were used in the Powerglide 235 and a fully pressurized lubrication system was introduced in 1953, but only in cars ordered with the "Powerglide" transmission. The 216 CID continued to be standard powerplant for cars with the three-speed manual transmission until 1954, when the 235 CID became the standard powerplant on all Chevrolet passenger cars. Two versions were used in 1954 cars - a solid-lifter version with 123 hp for standard transmissions and the hydraulic-lifter 136 hp version (the Blueflame) for Powerglide use.
The major limitation for performance on the 235 was the design of the intake and exhaust ports. Unlike more modern straight sixes, the 235 had siamesed ports, with three intake ports and four exhaust ports. This meant the adjacent cylinders 2 and 3 and cylinders 4 and 5 shared a single exhaust port between them, whereas cylinders 1 and 6 had their own exhaust ports. Secondly, since there were only three intake ports, each port was divided between a pair of adjacent cylinders: 1 and 2, 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 shared an intake port. The design of the intake manifold also favored the middle port (and therefore the middle two cylinders). This ultimately caused the four end cylinders to receive less mixture, resulting in an unequal and unbalanced work load between the six cylinders.
From 1954 to 1963, the high-pressure 235 engine with mechanical valve lifters was used in some trucks. From 1956 to 1962, all 235 engines used in cars had hydraulic lifters.
It is interesting to note the original 1953 Corvette
engine was the high-pressure 235 engine equipped with mechanical lifters. A 150 hp 235 engine was used in the 1954 Corvette and into 1955 (until they were all sold). The Corvette 235 was equipped with the same slightly higher-lift camshaft as used in the 261 truck engine and used triple side draft, single barrel, Carter Model YH carburetors mated to a PowerGlide transmission and dual exhaust manifold.
The Chevrolet 235-cubic-inch is known as one of the great Chevrolet engines, noted for its power and durability.
Canadian production GMC trucks used the 216 and 235 Chevrolet straight six engines as their base light duty truck powerplant in the late 1940s and early 1950s in Canada, not USA. The 216 was used from 1947 to 1953, and the 235 was used in 1954 light duty trucks only. Medium duty GMC trucks used US built GMC engines in the 248, 270 and up sizes prior to 1954.
It was optional in Checker Taxi
s beginning in 1965.
Toyota built the 235 under license as the Toyota F engine
from 1955 to 1974.
in 1960 until 1963, when it was discontinued. The 261 USA truck engine had mechanical lifters and was available from 1954 to 1962. In 1963, the 261 truck engine was available in 4x4 Chevrolet trucks (until the engine sold out).
The 235 and 261 truck engines were also used by GMC Truck of Canada (GMC truck 6-cylinder engines were also used in Canada). The 1955-1962 Canadian full-size Pontiac car had an optional 261-cubic-inch engine that had hydraulic lifters. This engine was not sold in the USA, but was very similar to the USA truck 261.
The 261 engines were also used in light trucks and the Chevrolet Veraneio from 1958 to 1979 in Brazil.
pattern.
Manual transmission bellhousings, automatics, and starter motors became interchangeable with both small block and big block Chevrolet V8s.
There were other major differences:
The Gen-3 crankshafts had 7 main bearings (increased from 4).
The 230 reduced stroke to 3.25" from the comparable 235 design's 3.9375".
The combustion chamber changed to a conventional wedge design much like the V8.
The harmonic damper gained cast-in pulley provisions. Air-conditioned vehicles had a stamped-steel pulley bolted up front.
Stamped and stud-mounted rocker arm
s were introduced, similar to the V8, and the ratio was close to the one used in the Chevrolet GEN IV big block (1.75:1 ratio) rather than the shaft-mounted earlier rockers at 1.477:1.
The first use was in the newly introduced 1962 Chevy II
; the following year, Chevrolet passenger cars adopted it (alongside Checker
Marathons since 1965) and used this powerplant until 1977 (1979 for Camaro
s, Nova
s, and full size Chevys
). Chevrolet/GMC trucks, which previously used the stovebolts (235 and 261), also used some members of this family from 1963 through 1984, as did Pontiac
in 1964 and 1965. A 153 cubic inch inline-4 version of this engine was offered in the Chevy II/Nova line through the 1970 model year. After several years of steadily declining sales (just 3,900 units in the 1972 model year
), the straight six was dropped from Chevrolet's full-sized cars for 1973, for the first time since 1928; it would be restored in 1977. (The base six cost about US$334 less than a V8, and weighed some 188 lb (85.3 kg) less.)
By the mid-1970s, the compact V-design (e.g. Buick 231
) led to inline six engines being phased out in passenger cars, but they continued to be installed in trucks and vans until 1988.
Overseas, the third generation of the inline six was mass-produced in Brazil
. It was used in the Chevrolet Opala
from 1969 (230) to 1992 (250). It was already used in light trucks as the A and Chevrolet Veraneio. The Brazilian version of the GMT400
– the Brazilian Chevrolet Silverado – is powered with a 4.1 instead of the Vortec 4300 V6. These inline sixes and their four-cylinder siblings were converted for marine usage by Mercruiser and Volvo Penta
, and also used in stationary applications (such as power generation) and in Clark forklifts.
Applications:
This engine was used on the following vehicles:
This engine was used on the following vehicles:
During the mid-1970s, the Buick 231
and Chevrolet V6-90
(basically a variant of the Chevrolet small block V8) was replacing the Chevrolet 250 for use in passenger cars and light duty trucks/vans. Passenger car use of the 4095 cc engine was discontinued after the 1979 model year for North America (along with the Chevrolet 292), since the six was restricted to light truck usage (the 4.1 was discontinued after 1984 in North America, where the Vortec 4.3 V6 became the base engine). Brazil held on to the 250 (known as the 4.1 there) until 1998 for passenger cars, when the Chevrolet Omega A
was replaced by rebadged Australian Holden
s. It was held in Brazil for up to 2001 in Chevrolet Silverado
when the line was extinct. It would be GM's final inline six until the introduction of the GM Atlas engine
in late 2001.
This engine was used on the following vehicles:
By coincidence, engine development manager, Roberto B. Beccardi, was working on this engine hopping up project out of his own initiative, but he did lack impulse from factory and was not obtaining any approval. This impulse came right from these two pilots.
Thus, in July 1974 GM started to offer the 250-S engine as an option for the Opala 4100. It was slightly different from the version that would be launched two years later: the project of the motor was similar to that of the four cylinders units, did not get a vibration damper and the cooling fan came from the standard 2500, with four blades instead of six.
The Opala was now much faster than the Maverick GT and Ford did not waste time. It quickly homologated a version with four barrel carburetor, called "Quadrijet" in Brazil, and have no relationship with GM own Rochester Quadrajet carburator, found on various GM engines. In the racetracks, the accounting determinative factor for winning was pilots skill and pit organization on the track. The rivals walked side-by-side.
The 250-S has 171 Horsepower and 229.7 lb.-ft. at 2,400 rpm.
The '78 Camaro had 105 hp and 190 ft.lbf of torque with the 250.
GMC engines=
GMC
as a marque really only produced a few engine designs, the straight six
, a V8
, and a V6
which was also available as a V12
for a brief period. GMC used many engines from other GM divisions, as noted below.
/pushrod engine in 1939. The 236 CID 236 was the first, lasting through 1955. This is a low-deck engine. The bore was 3-5/8" (3.625") with a 3-13/16" (3.8125") stroke. The connecting rod length was 7.000"
Atlas=
In 2002, GM announced a new family of straight six engines, the Atlas
. Branded by GM under the Vortec
name, the Vortec 4200 or Atlas LL8 is currently the only straight six available to the GM family of vehicles.
See also=
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
inline 6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
was Chevy's main engine from 1929 (when it replaced their first 4-cylinder engine
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, the 171 cubic inch four
Chevrolet Straight-4 engine
The Chevrolet Inline-4 engine one of Chevrolet's first automobile engines was designed by Arthur Mason and introduced in 1913. Exposed pushrods actuated valves in the detachable crossflow cylinder head. Chevrolet referred to its overhead-valve engine as a "valve-in-head" design. This drew...
), through 1954, and was the base engine starting in 1955 when they added the small block V8
Chevrolet Small-Block engine
The Chevrolet small-block engine is a series of automobile V8 engines built by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors using the same basic small engine block...
to the lineup. It had finally been completely phased out by 1990 in North America, but Brazil held on to their fuel-injected straight-6 through the 1998 model year. It was replaced by more recently developed V6 and four-cylinder engines. Many popular cars and trucks, including the Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro is an automobile manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand, classified as a pony car and some versions also as a muscle car. It went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year and was designed as a competing model to the Ford Mustang...
, Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
, and Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
just to name a few, used the inline 6 as the base engine. Chevrolet did not offer another inline 6 until the 2002 GM Atlas engine
GM Atlas engine
Atlas is a name for a family of modern inline piston engines for trucks from General Motors. The series debuted in 2002 with the Oldsmobile Bravada, and is also used in the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Colorado and their GMC twins, the Envoy and Canyon...
's debut in the Chevrolet TrailBlazer
Chevrolet TrailBlazer
The Chevrolet TrailBlazer is a mid-size sport utility vehicle produced by the Chevrolet division of American automaker General Motors.On November 10th, 2011, General Motors officially revealed a second generation of the vehicle to be sold worldwide...
.
"A six for the price of a four"
The first mass-produced GM inline 6 was introduced in 1929 on ChevroletChevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
cars and trucks, replacing the company's first inline-4
Chevrolet Straight-4 engine
The Chevrolet Inline-4 engine one of Chevrolet's first automobile engines was designed by Arthur Mason and introduced in 1913. Exposed pushrods actuated valves in the detachable crossflow cylinder head. Chevrolet referred to its overhead-valve engine as a "valve-in-head" design. This drew...
. Richard Grant (Chevrolet marketing executive) insisted that the new design boast overhead valves. Chevrolet had long been known for its "valve-in-head
Flathead engine
A flathead engine is an internal combustion engine with valves placed in the engine block beside the piston, instead of in the cylinder head, as in an overhead valve engine...
" four-cylinder engines. William S. Knudsen
William S. Knudsen
William Signius Knudsen was a leading automotive industry executive. His experience and success as a key senior manager in the operations sides of Ford Motor Company and later General Motors led the Franklin Roosevelt Administration to commission him as a Lieutenant General in the United States...
's cast-iron wonder was produced through 1936.
194
It was 194 CID in size and produced 50 hp. This engine used a forged steel crankshaft with three bearings and cast iron pistons. Bore and stroke was 3.3125 in (84.14 mm) by 3.75 in (95.25 mm). The 194 was shared with Chevrolet and GMCGMC (General Motors division)
GMC is a manufacturer of trucks, vans, military vehicles, and SUVs marketed in North America and the Middle East by General Motors Company. In January 2007, GMC was GM's second-largest-selling North American vehicle division after Chevrolet, ahead of Pontiac....
trucks for 1935 and 1936.
A balanced crankshaft was introduced for 1932, while a higher (5.2:1) compression ratio upped output to 60 hp. In 1934, a new cylinder head pushed output to 80 hp.
Applications:
- 1929 Chevrolet Series AC International (Only $10 more than 1928s four-cylinder)
- 1930 Chevrolet Series AD Universal
181
A 181 CID version was used by Chevrolet and GMC trucks in 1935 and 1936.207
207 CID variant was used by Chevrolet and GMC trucks in 1934, 1935 and 1936.Why were they called stovebolts?
This name stoveboltStovebolt
The terminology and the slang usage of Stovebolt refers to three different things:1) A bolt with a slotted head, used in the assembly of wood-burning stoves constructed from sheet metal....
s came into common use as the 1/4″ × 20 slotted-head bolts are used at numerous points on the engine (and body) of these cars. The slotted-head bolts are commonly used in the assembly of unwelded wood-burning stoves.
Oldsmobile's flathead straight six in Chevy and GMC trucks
In 1935 and 1936, GMC and Chevrolet used an OldsmobileOldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
213 L-head engine. For 1937 and 1938, they used Oldsmobile's 230 L-head engine.
Second generation
The next-generation Chevrolet inline 6 was introduced in 1937 and phased out in 1963 in the US, and 1979 in Brazil.216
This engine had a 216 CID displacement with a 3.500” (88.90 mm) bore and a 3.750” (95.25 mm) stroke. A four-bearing crankshaft was added, along with 6.5:1 compression pistons, for 85 hp. A new cylinder head in 1941 bumped output to 90 hp, and 6.6:1 compression gave the 1949 model 92 hp. This generation did not use a fully pressurized oiling system. The connecting rodConnecting rod
In a reciprocating piston engine, the connecting rod or conrod connects the piston to the crank or crankshaft. Together with the crank, they form a simple mechanism that converts linear motion into rotating motion....
s were oiled using an "oil trough" built into the oil pan that had spray nozzles that squirted a stream of oil that the connecting rods (which were equipped with dippers) caught on the fly and supplied the necessary oil for the rod bearings.
235
In 1941, a 235.5-cubic-inch version of the 216 engine was introduced for use in large trucks. Both the bore (3.5625” or 90.49 mm) and stroke (3.9375” or 100.01 mm) were increased over the 216. This engine also had a "dipper system" as described above, in reference to the oiling system, as in the 216.The 235 CID version was added to cars in 1950 to complement the new Powerglide
Powerglide
The Powerglide is a two-speed automatic transmission designed by General Motors. It was available primarily on Chevrolet from January, 1950 through 1973, although some Pontiac models also used this automatic transmission, extensively on models produced for the Canadian market with Chevrolet...
automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
, and 3.55:1 rear differential. Hydraulic lifters were used in the Powerglide 235 and a fully pressurized lubrication system was introduced in 1953, but only in cars ordered with the "Powerglide" transmission. The 216 CID continued to be standard powerplant for cars with the three-speed manual transmission until 1954, when the 235 CID became the standard powerplant on all Chevrolet passenger cars. Two versions were used in 1954 cars - a solid-lifter version with 123 hp for standard transmissions and the hydraulic-lifter 136 hp version (the Blueflame) for Powerglide use.
The major limitation for performance on the 235 was the design of the intake and exhaust ports. Unlike more modern straight sixes, the 235 had siamesed ports, with three intake ports and four exhaust ports. This meant the adjacent cylinders 2 and 3 and cylinders 4 and 5 shared a single exhaust port between them, whereas cylinders 1 and 6 had their own exhaust ports. Secondly, since there were only three intake ports, each port was divided between a pair of adjacent cylinders: 1 and 2, 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 shared an intake port. The design of the intake manifold also favored the middle port (and therefore the middle two cylinders). This ultimately caused the four end cylinders to receive less mixture, resulting in an unequal and unbalanced work load between the six cylinders.
From 1954 to 1963, the high-pressure 235 engine with mechanical valve lifters was used in some trucks. From 1956 to 1962, all 235 engines used in cars had hydraulic lifters.
It is interesting to note the original 1953 Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette C1
The Chevrolet Corvette is the first generation of the sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced late in the 1953 model year and produced through 1962. It is commonly referred to as the "solid-axle" generation, as the independent rear suspension didn't appear until the 1963...
engine was the high-pressure 235 engine equipped with mechanical lifters. A 150 hp 235 engine was used in the 1954 Corvette and into 1955 (until they were all sold). The Corvette 235 was equipped with the same slightly higher-lift camshaft as used in the 261 truck engine and used triple side draft, single barrel, Carter Model YH carburetors mated to a PowerGlide transmission and dual exhaust manifold.
The Chevrolet 235-cubic-inch is known as one of the great Chevrolet engines, noted for its power and durability.
Canadian production GMC trucks used the 216 and 235 Chevrolet straight six engines as their base light duty truck powerplant in the late 1940s and early 1950s in Canada, not USA. The 216 was used from 1947 to 1953, and the 235 was used in 1954 light duty trucks only. Medium duty GMC trucks used US built GMC engines in the 248, 270 and up sizes prior to 1954.
It was optional in Checker Taxi
Checker Taxi
Checker Taxi was an American taxi company. It used the Checker Taxi Cab produced by the Checker Motors Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Both Checker Taxi and its parent company Checker Motors Corporation were owned by Morris Markin....
s beginning in 1965.
Toyota built the 235 under license as the Toyota F engine
Toyota F engine
The Toyota F series engine was a series of OHV inline-6 cylinder engines produced by Toyota between 1955-1992. They are known for their high amount of torque at low RPM, massive cast iron blocks and heads and also their high reliability. The F Engine had one of the longest production runs of any...
from 1955 to 1974.
261
In 1954, a 261 CID truck engine was introduced as an optional Jobmaster engine for heavy-duty trucks. This engine was very similar to the 235 engine, except for a different block casting with a larger piston bore of 3.750” or 95.25 mm, two extra coolant holes (in the block and head) between three paired (siamesed) cylinders, and a slightly higher lift camshaft. This engine was offered as a step up from the 235 starting in 1954. It was offered in parallel with the GMC V6 engineGMC V6 engine
GMC Truck produced a unique 60° V6 engine from 1960 through 1978. The engine was available in 305, 351, 401 and 478-cubic-inch versions. In late production there was also a version with enlarged crankshaft journals. GMC also made a 60° V8 with twin balance shafts using the same general layout as...
in 1960 until 1963, when it was discontinued. The 261 USA truck engine had mechanical lifters and was available from 1954 to 1962. In 1963, the 261 truck engine was available in 4x4 Chevrolet trucks (until the engine sold out).
The 235 and 261 truck engines were also used by GMC Truck of Canada (GMC truck 6-cylinder engines were also used in Canada). The 1955-1962 Canadian full-size Pontiac car had an optional 261-cubic-inch engine that had hydraulic lifters. This engine was not sold in the USA, but was very similar to the USA truck 261.
The 261 engines were also used in light trucks and the Chevrolet Veraneio from 1958 to 1979 in Brazil.
Third generation
Chevrolet's third-generation inline six was introduced in 1962 (two years after rival Chrysler introduced its Slant Six), and was produced through 1988. Although the exterior dimensions were similar to the previous stovebolts, this generation was lighter and had a different cast-in bell housingBell housing
"Bell housing" is a colloquial/slang term for the portion of the transmission that covers the flywheel and the clutch or torque converter of the transmission on vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. This housing is bolted to the engine block and derives its name from the bell-like...
pattern.
Manual transmission bellhousings, automatics, and starter motors became interchangeable with both small block and big block Chevrolet V8s.
There were other major differences:
The Gen-3 crankshafts had 7 main bearings (increased from 4).
The 230 reduced stroke to 3.25" from the comparable 235 design's 3.9375".
The combustion chamber changed to a conventional wedge design much like the V8.
The harmonic damper gained cast-in pulley provisions. Air-conditioned vehicles had a stamped-steel pulley bolted up front.
Stamped and stud-mounted rocker arm
Rocker arm
Generally referred to within the internal combustion engine of automotive, marine, motorcycle and reciprocating aviation engines, the rocker arm is a reciprocating lever that conveys radial movement from the cam lobe into linear movement at the poppet valve to open it...
s were introduced, similar to the V8, and the ratio was close to the one used in the Chevrolet GEN IV big block (1.75:1 ratio) rather than the shaft-mounted earlier rockers at 1.477:1.
The first use was in the newly introduced 1962 Chevy II
Chevrolet Nova
The Chevrolet Chevy II/Nova is a compact automobile manufactured by the Chevrolet division of General Motors produced in four generations for the 1962 through 1979 model years. Nova was the top model in the Chevy II lineup through 1968. The Chevy II nameplate was dropped, Nova becoming the...
; the following year, Chevrolet passenger cars adopted it (alongside Checker
Checker
Checker may refer to:*Checker Motors Corporation, an automotive industry subcontractor that was once the builder of the Checker taxicab and the Superba and Marathon automobiles...
Marathons since 1965) and used this powerplant until 1977 (1979 for Camaro
Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro is an automobile manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand, classified as a pony car and some versions also as a muscle car. It went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year and was designed as a competing model to the Ford Mustang...
s, Nova
Chevrolet Nova
The Chevrolet Chevy II/Nova is a compact automobile manufactured by the Chevrolet division of General Motors produced in four generations for the 1962 through 1979 model years. Nova was the top model in the Chevy II lineup through 1968. The Chevy II nameplate was dropped, Nova becoming the...
s, and full size Chevys
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
). Chevrolet/GMC trucks, which previously used the stovebolts (235 and 261), also used some members of this family from 1963 through 1984, as did Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
in 1964 and 1965. A 153 cubic inch inline-4 version of this engine was offered in the Chevy II/Nova line through the 1970 model year. After several years of steadily declining sales (just 3,900 units in the 1972 model year
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
), the straight six was dropped from Chevrolet's full-sized cars for 1973, for the first time since 1928; it would be restored in 1977. (The base six cost about US$334 less than a V8, and weighed some 188 lb (85.3 kg) less.)
By the mid-1970s, the compact V-design (e.g. Buick 231
Buick V6 engine
The Buick V6, initially marketed as Fireball at its introduction in 1962, was a large V6 engine used by General Motors. The block is made of cast iron and all use two-valve-per-cylinder iron heads, actuated by pushrods....
) led to inline six engines being phased out in passenger cars, but they continued to be installed in trucks and vans until 1988.
Overseas, the third generation of the inline six was mass-produced in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. It was used in the Chevrolet Opala
Chevrolet Opala
The Chevrolet Opala was a mid-size car sold by General Motors do Brasil from 1969 to 1992. It was derived from the German Opel Rekord and Commodore, but used GM USA sourced engines, two four-cylinder engines: the Chevrolet 153 4-cylinder from Chevy II/Nova which later got a new crankshaft and...
from 1969 (230) to 1992 (250). It was already used in light trucks as the A and Chevrolet Veraneio. The Brazilian version of the GMT400
GMT400
The GMT 400 and similar GMT 480 is the platform for the 1988-1998 full-size pickup truck platform. The GMT 410, GMT 420, GMT 425, and GMT 430 were used for full-size SUVs from 1991 to 2000. This was the first GMT designation for the C and K full-size trucks and SUV's.GMT 400 frames were built by...
– the Brazilian Chevrolet Silverado – is powered with a 4.1 instead of the Vortec 4300 V6. These inline sixes and their four-cylinder siblings were converted for marine usage by Mercruiser and Volvo Penta
Volvo Penta
Volvo Penta was founded in 1907 in conjunction with the production of the first marine engine, B1. The Penta company soon became an established internal combustion engine manufacturer, which in 1927 delivered the engine to Volvo's first passenger car....
, and also used in stationary applications (such as power generation) and in Clark forklifts.
194
The 194 CID 194 was shared between Chevrolet and GMC trucks.Applications:
- 1962-1967 Chevy IIChevrolet NovaThe Chevrolet Chevy II/Nova is a compact automobile manufactured by the Chevrolet division of General Motors produced in four generations for the 1962 through 1979 model years. Nova was the top model in the Chevy II lineup through 1968. The Chevy II nameplate was dropped, Nova becoming the...
- 1962-1974 Chevrolet 400Chevrolet 400The Chevrolet 400 was a compact car made by General Motors of Argentina from 1962 to 1974. With this car General Motors responded to the proposal made by Ford and Chrysler, when both brought the country's first compact cars: the Ford Falcon and Valiant II....
(Argentina) - 1962-1974 Chevrolet 400 Special (Argentina)
- 1968-1974 Chevrolet 400 Rally Sport (Argentina)
- 1964-1967 Chevrolet ChevelleChevrolet ChevelleThe Chevrolet Chevelle is a mid-sized automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in three generations for the 1964 through 1977 model years. Part of the GM A-Body platform, the Chevelle was one of Chevrolet's most successful nameplates. Body styles include coupes, sedans,...
- 1965-1966 Studebaker Commander, Daytona ('66 only), Cruiser and WagonaireStudebaker LarkThe Studebaker Lark is a "compact car" which was produced by Studebaker from 1959 to 1966.From its introduction in early 1959 until 1962, the Lark was a product of the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. In mid-1962, the company dropped "Packard" from its name and reverted to its pre-1954 name, the...
(built by McKinnon Industries in Canada)
230
The 230 replaced 235 CID. It was also used by Chevrolet and GMC trucks, primarily the half-tons. It produced 140 hp. The 230 had a firing order of 1-5-3-6-2-4 rotating clockwise.This engine was used on the following vehicles:
- 1963-1965 Chevrolet & Chevelle
- 1965-1968 Checker MarathonChecker MarathonThe Checker Marathon was an automobile produced by the Checker Motors Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan, between 1961 and 1982.Marathons were produced in both four-door sedan and four-door station wagon forms, and the rare eight-door, 12-seater "Aerobus" wagon....
- 1965 Chevrolet El CaminoChevrolet El CaminoThe Chevrolet El Camino is a coupe utility vehicle produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors for the 1959–1960 model years in response to the success of its rival, Ford Ranchero. Production resumed for the 1964–1977 model years based on the Chevelle platform, and continued for the...
- 1966-1970 Chevrolet NovaChevrolet NovaThe Chevrolet Chevy II/Nova is a compact automobile manufactured by the Chevrolet division of General Motors produced in four generations for the 1962 through 1979 model years. Nova was the top model in the Chevy II lineup through 1968. The Chevy II nameplate was dropped, Nova becoming the...
- 1966 Studebaker Commander, Wagonaire, Daytona and CruiserStudebaker LarkThe Studebaker Lark is a "compact car" which was produced by Studebaker from 1959 to 1966.From its introduction in early 1959 until 1962, the Lark was a product of the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. In mid-1962, the company dropped "Packard" from its name and reverted to its pre-1954 name, the...
- 1967 Chevrolet ChevelleChevrolet ChevelleThe Chevrolet Chevelle is a mid-sized automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in three generations for the 1964 through 1977 model years. Part of the GM A-Body platform, the Chevelle was one of Chevrolet's most successful nameplates. Body styles include coupes, sedans,...
- 1967 Chevrolet CamaroChevrolet CamaroThe Chevrolet Camaro is an automobile manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand, classified as a pony car and some versions also as a muscle car. It went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year and was designed as a competing model to the Ford Mustang...
- 1962-1974 Chevrolet 400Chevrolet 400The Chevrolet 400 was a compact car made by General Motors of Argentina from 1962 to 1974. With this car General Motors responded to the proposal made by Ford and Chrysler, when both brought the country's first compact cars: the Ford Falcon and Valiant II....
Special (Argentina) - 1964-1974 Chevrolet 400 Super (Argentina)
- 1972-1974 Chevrolet 400 Rally Sport (Argentina)
- 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle MalibuChevrolet ChevelleThe Chevrolet Chevelle is a mid-sized automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in three generations for the 1964 through 1977 model years. Part of the GM A-Body platform, the Chevelle was one of Chevrolet's most successful nameplates. Body styles include coupes, sedans,...
- 1969 Chevrolet CamaroChevrolet CamaroThe Chevrolet Camaro is an automobile manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand, classified as a pony car and some versions also as a muscle car. It went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year and was designed as a competing model to the Ford Mustang...
- 1969 Chevrolet ChevelleChevrolet ChevelleThe Chevrolet Chevelle is a mid-sized automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in three generations for the 1964 through 1977 model years. Part of the GM A-Body platform, the Chevelle was one of Chevrolet's most successful nameplates. Body styles include coupes, sedans,...
- 1968-1971 Chevrolet OpalaChevrolet OpalaThe Chevrolet Opala was a mid-size car sold by General Motors do Brasil from 1969 to 1992. It was derived from the German Opel Rekord and Commodore, but used GM USA sourced engines, two four-cylinder engines: the Chevrolet 153 4-cylinder from Chevy II/Nova which later got a new crankshaft and...
(BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) - 1963-1967 Pontiac (fullsized)(Canada)
Pontiac 3.8
The Pontiac 3.8 was a special SOHC version of the standard 230 CID inline six. An optional W53 version on the Firebird produced 215 hp.This engine was used on the following vehicles:
- 1967 Pontiac FirebirdPontiac FirebirdThe Pontiac Firebird was built by the Pontiac division of General Motors between 1967 and 2002. The Firebird was introduced the same year as the automaker's platform-sharing model, the Chevrolet Camaro...
- 1967 Pontiac TempestPontiac TempestThe Pontiac Tempest was an entry-level compact produced by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors, introduced in September 1960 for the 1961 model year....
Sprint coupe
250
The stroked 250 version produced 155 hp for Chevrolet and GMC, with a 37/8 in bore and 317/32 in stroke. Between 1975 and 1984, an integrated cylinder head was produced, with one-barrel intakes for passenger cars, and two-barrel intakes for trucks after 1978.During the mid-1970s, the Buick 231
Buick V6 engine
The Buick V6, initially marketed as Fireball at its introduction in 1962, was a large V6 engine used by General Motors. The block is made of cast iron and all use two-valve-per-cylinder iron heads, actuated by pushrods....
and Chevrolet V6-90
Chevrolet 90-Degree V6 engine
The Chevrolet 90° V6 family of engines began in 1978 with the Chevrolet 200 cid V6 as the base engine for the all new 1978 Chevrolet Malibu. This engine family is still produced today, as the 4.3 L V6 engine used in Chevrolet and GMC trucks and vans.These engines have a 90° vee block...
(basically a variant of the Chevrolet small block V8) was replacing the Chevrolet 250 for use in passenger cars and light duty trucks/vans. Passenger car use of the 4095 cc engine was discontinued after the 1979 model year for North America (along with the Chevrolet 292), since the six was restricted to light truck usage (the 4.1 was discontinued after 1984 in North America, where the Vortec 4.3 V6 became the base engine). Brazil held on to the 250 (known as the 4.1 there) until 1998 for passenger cars, when the Chevrolet Omega A
Chevrolet Omega
Based on the Opel Omega A, the Chevrolet Omega A debuted in Brazil in 1992 with a choice of two engines — a 2.0 L four-cylinder and 3.0 L six-cylinder . From 1995, the engines were upgraded to a 2.2 L four and a 4.1 L six respectively...
was replaced by rebadged Australian Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
s. It was held in Brazil for up to 2001 in Chevrolet Silverado
GMT400
The GMT 400 and similar GMT 480 is the platform for the 1988-1998 full-size pickup truck platform. The GMT 410, GMT 420, GMT 425, and GMT 430 were used for full-size SUVs from 1991 to 2000. This was the first GMT designation for the C and K full-size trucks and SUV's.GMT 400 frames were built by...
when the line was extinct. It would be GM's final inline six until the introduction of the GM Atlas engine
GM Atlas engine
Atlas is a name for a family of modern inline piston engines for trucks from General Motors. The series debuted in 2002 with the Oldsmobile Bravada, and is also used in the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Colorado and their GMC twins, the Envoy and Canyon...
in late 2001.
This engine was used on the following vehicles:
- 1966-1984 Chevrolet (passenger cars to 1979, trucks/vans to 1984)
- 1968-1974 Chevrolet 400 Super Sport (ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
) - 1972-1974 Chevrolet 400 Rally Sport (Argentina)
- 1968-1976 Pontiac Firebird
- 1968-1970 Pontiac Tempest
- 1968-1976 Pontiac LeMansPontiac LeMansThe Pontiac LeMans was a model name applied to compact and intermediate-sized automobiles offered by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1962 to 1981. The LeMans was replaced by the downsized Pontiac Bonneville for the 1982 model year...
- 1968-1969 Buick SpecialBuick SpecialIn 1962, the Special was the first American car to use a V6 engine in volume production; it earned Motor Trends Car of the Year for 1962. This 198 in³ Fireball was engineered down from the 215 and used many of the same design parameters, but was cast in iron. Output was 135 hp at...
- 1968-1972 Oldsmobile F-85Oldsmobile CutlassThe Oldsmobile Cutlass is a line of automobiles made by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. The Cutlass began as a unibody compact car, but saw its greatest success as a body-on-frame intermediate car....
- 1975-1976 Oldsmobile CutlassOldsmobile CutlassThe Oldsmobile Cutlass is a line of automobiles made by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. The Cutlass began as a unibody compact car, but saw its greatest success as a body-on-frame intermediate car....
- 1971-1975 Pontiac VenturaPontiac VenturaThe Pontiac Ventura was an automobile produced by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors. The word "ventura" is a derivitave of the word "bonaventure" which is Italian for "good fortune". It also shares its name with the locations of Ventura, California and Ventura, Iowa...
- 1968-1971 Buick SkylarkBuick SkylarkThe Buick Skylark was a passenger car produced by the Buick division of General Motors. The model was made in six production runs. In each run, the car design varied dramatically due to changing technology and tastes, as well as new standards implemented over the years.-1953–1954:Introduced to mark...
- 1973-1975 Buick ApolloBuick ApolloNot to be confused with Apollo , a sports coupe powered by Buick engines.The Buick Apollo is a compact car based on the GM X platform and manufactured from 1973 to 1975, meaning it shared its platform with the Oldsmobile Omega, Chevrolet Nova, and the Pontiac Ventura...
- 1968-1979 Chevrolet CamaroChevrolet CamaroThe Chevrolet Camaro is an automobile manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand, classified as a pony car and some versions also as a muscle car. It went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year and was designed as a competing model to the Ford Mustang...
- 1969-1979 Checker MarathonChecker MarathonThe Checker Marathon was an automobile produced by the Checker Motors Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan, between 1961 and 1982.Marathons were produced in both four-door sedan and four-door station wagon forms, and the rare eight-door, 12-seater "Aerobus" wagon....
- 1971-1992 Chevrolet OpalaChevrolet OpalaThe Chevrolet Opala was a mid-size car sold by General Motors do Brasil from 1969 to 1992. It was derived from the German Opel Rekord and Commodore, but used GM USA sourced engines, two four-cylinder engines: the Chevrolet 153 4-cylinder from Chevy II/Nova which later got a new crankshaft and...
(BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) - 1998-1999 Chevrolet TahoeChevrolet TahoeThe Chevrolet Tahoe are full-size SUVs from General Motors. Chevrolet and GMC sold two different-sized SUVs under their Blazer/Jimmy model names through the early 1990s. This situation changed when GMC rebadged the full-size Jimmy as the Yukon in 1992...
(Argentina) - 1995-1998 Chevrolet Omega AChevrolet OmegaBased on the Opel Omega A, the Chevrolet Omega A debuted in Brazil in 1992 with a choice of two engines — a 2.0 L four-cylinder and 3.0 L six-cylinder . From 1995, the engines were upgraded to a 2.2 L four and a 4.1 L six respectively...
(BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) - 1998-1999 Chevrolet SilveradoChevrolet SilveradoThe Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
- (GMT400GMT400The GMT 400 and similar GMT 480 is the platform for the 1988-1998 full-size pickup truck platform. The GMT 410, GMT 420, GMT 425, and GMT 430 were used for full-size SUVs from 1991 to 2000. This was the first GMT designation for the C and K full-size trucks and SUV's.GMT 400 frames were built by...
) (BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) - 1970-1974 Puma GTBPuma GTBThe Puma GTB was a front engine, rear wheel drive touring car based on Brazilian GM components. A prototype named the Puma GTO appeared in 1971. The name was changed to Puma GTB for the first production version which appeared in 1973. Registers confirm that the Puma GTB was Brazil's most...
(BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) - 1988-1992 Puma AMVPuma GTBThe Puma GTB was a front engine, rear wheel drive touring car based on Brazilian GM components. A prototype named the Puma GTO appeared in 1971. The name was changed to Puma GTB for the first production version which appeared in 1973. Registers confirm that the Puma GTB was Brazil's most...
(BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) - 1979-1994 Chevrolet Veraneio (BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
)
250-S
When the long duration races restarted in Brazil, in 1973, the Opala found a great competitor, the Ford Maverick, which was powered by an engine whose displacement was almost one liter bigger. It took Bob Sharp and Jan Balder, that gained a second place in the "24 Hours of Interlagos", in August of that year in an Opala, to pressure GMB to field on race tracks a more powerful engine.By coincidence, engine development manager, Roberto B. Beccardi, was working on this engine hopping up project out of his own initiative, but he did lack impulse from factory and was not obtaining any approval. This impulse came right from these two pilots.
Thus, in July 1974 GM started to offer the 250-S engine as an option for the Opala 4100. It was slightly different from the version that would be launched two years later: the project of the motor was similar to that of the four cylinders units, did not get a vibration damper and the cooling fan came from the standard 2500, with four blades instead of six.
The Opala was now much faster than the Maverick GT and Ford did not waste time. It quickly homologated a version with four barrel carburetor, called "Quadrijet" in Brazil, and have no relationship with GM own Rochester Quadrajet carburator, found on various GM engines. In the racetracks, the accounting determinative factor for winning was pilots skill and pit organization on the track. The rivals walked side-by-side.
The 250-S has 171 Horsepower and 229.7 lb.-ft. at 2,400 rpm.
- 1974-1980 Chevrolet OpalaChevrolet OpalaThe Chevrolet Opala was a mid-size car sold by General Motors do Brasil from 1969 to 1992. It was derived from the German Opel Rekord and Commodore, but used GM USA sourced engines, two four-cylinder engines: the Chevrolet 153 4-cylinder from Chevy II/Nova which later got a new crankshaft and...
SSSuper SportSuper Sport, or SS, is the signature performance option package offered by Chevrolet, a United States Auto Maker, on a limited number of its vehicles. All SS models come with distinctive "SS" markings on their exterior. The package was first made available for the 1961 Impala...
(BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) - 1977-1980 Chevrolet OpalaChevrolet OpalaThe Chevrolet Opala was a mid-size car sold by General Motors do Brasil from 1969 to 1992. It was derived from the German Opel Rekord and Commodore, but used GM USA sourced engines, two four-cylinder engines: the Chevrolet 153 4-cylinder from Chevy II/Nova which later got a new crankshaft and...
Caravan SSSuper SportSuper Sport, or SS, is the signature performance option package offered by Chevrolet, a United States Auto Maker, on a limited number of its vehicles. All SS models come with distinctive "SS" markings on their exterior. The package was first made available for the 1961 Impala...
(BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) - 1981-1988 Chevrolet OpalaChevrolet OpalaThe Chevrolet Opala was a mid-size car sold by General Motors do Brasil from 1969 to 1992. It was derived from the German Opel Rekord and Commodore, but used GM USA sourced engines, two four-cylinder engines: the Chevrolet 153 4-cylinder from Chevy II/Nova which later got a new crankshaft and...
- All Line (BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) - 1974-1987 Puma GTBPuma GTBThe Puma GTB was a front engine, rear wheel drive touring car based on Brazilian GM components. A prototype named the Puma GTO appeared in 1971. The name was changed to Puma GTB for the first production version which appeared in 1973. Registers confirm that the Puma GTB was Brazil's most...
(BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) - 1978-1988 Santa Matilde SM4.1Santa MatildeThe Santa Matilde, or SM4.1, is a sports car designed and produced in Brazil by Cia. Industrial Santa Matilde between 1977 and 1997.- Conception :...
(BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
)
L22
The L22 was a 250 CID I6 engine produced from 1967 to 1979.The '78 Camaro had 105 hp and 190 ft.lbf of torque with the 250.
292
The 292 was only used in Chevrolet and GMC trucks; the block deck is taller, along with a relocated passenger-side engine mount. These were produced between 1962 to 1990; production of the engine shifted to Mexico after 1980. Year 1988 (only) 115 hp @ 3400 rpm and 215 lb. ft. @ 1600 rpmL25
The L25 was GM's "last" pushrod straight six engine, produced from 1977 to 1988. It was used in Chevrolet trucks, displaced 292 CID and produced 115 hp and 215 ft.lbf. This engine was commonly used in UPS trucks through the 1980s, before being replaced by the 4.3L 90-degree V6.GMC engines=
GMC
GMC (General Motors division)
GMC is a manufacturer of trucks, vans, military vehicles, and SUVs marketed in North America and the Middle East by General Motors Company. In January 2007, GMC was GM's second-largest-selling North American vehicle division after Chevrolet, ahead of Pontiac....
as a marque really only produced a few engine designs, the straight six
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
, a V8
GMC V8 engine
GMC generally shared engines with other General Motors divisions. But like their straight-6, GMC did have its own V8.-Pontiac:Prior to developing their own engines, GMC used the Chevrolet Straight-6 engine and Pontiac V8 engine. They used the Pontiac motor for 1955 and motor in 1956, but...
, and a V6
GMC V6 engine
GMC Truck produced a unique 60° V6 engine from 1960 through 1978. The engine was available in 305, 351, 401 and 478-cubic-inch versions. In late production there was also a version with enlarged crankshaft journals. GMC also made a 60° V8 with twin balance shafts using the same general layout as...
which was also available as a V12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
for a brief period. GMC used many engines from other GM divisions, as noted below.
228
GMC replaced the Pontiac 223 with their own 228 CID 228 in 1939. This overhead-valve engine was produced through 1953. This is the smallest low-deck engine. Bore was 3-9/16" (3.5625") with 3-13/16" (3.8125") stroke. Connecting rod length was 7.000".236
GMC also developed an OHVOverhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
/pushrod engine in 1939. The 236 CID 236 was the first, lasting through 1955. This is a low-deck engine. The bore was 3-5/8" (3.625") with a 3-13/16" (3.8125") stroke. The connecting rod length was 7.000"
248
Those same years (1939–1955), GMC produced a 248 CID engine, the 248, which was similar to the 236. This is the largest low-deck engine. The bore was 3-23/32" (3.71875") with a 3-13/16" (3.8125") stroke. The connecting rod length was 7.000".256
The 256 CID 256 was different from the 236 and 248. It was also an OHV/pushrod engine, and was built for just two years, 1940 and 1941. This is the smallest raised-deck engine. The bore was 3-11/16" (3.6875") with a 4" stroke. The connecting rod length was 7.54000"270
The last GMC-only straight six was the 270 CID 270. It was produced from 1941 through 1962, and was an OHV/pushrod engine. This is a raised-deck engine. The bore was 3-25/32" (3.78125") with a 4" stroke. The connecting rod length was 7.000".302
The 302 GMC inline six was produced from 1952 to 1960, when it was replaced by the V6. It has a 4.00" bore and 4.00" stroke. The connecting rod length was 7.000". This is the largest raised-deck engine. It was originally designed for the GMC military M135 and M211. It was used in military 2.5 ton trucks with the HydraMatic transmission; however, the engine was a sealed engine for snorkel/submersion use, had an electric fuel pump, and other features such as a deep sump oil pan. From 1952 to 1959, GMC manufactured the civilian 302 engine, which was not sealed, had a mechanical fuel pump, and used a "standard" oil pan. This engine is popular with hotrod enthusiasts because it delivers tremendous power for an inline six engine, is truck built with a heavy cast block, and can take quite a bit of abuse.426
The 426 GMC inline six appeared in 1940s 4x4 Cab Over Engine (COE) trucks made in Pontiac, MI. It also appeared in large GMC trucks in the 1950s.503
The 503 GMC inline six was more numerous than the 426 inline six, but beginning and ending dates are unknown. The GMC 630 Series of the early 1950s offered the 503 CID inline six engine.Atlas=
In 2002, GM announced a new family of straight six engines, the Atlas
GM Atlas engine
Atlas is a name for a family of modern inline piston engines for trucks from General Motors. The series debuted in 2002 with the Oldsmobile Bravada, and is also used in the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Colorado and their GMC twins, the Envoy and Canyon...
. Branded by GM under the Vortec
GM Vortec engine
Vortec is a trademarked name for a line of piston engines for General Motors trucks. The name first appeared in 1988 on a 4.3 L V6 that used "vortex technology" to create a vortex inside the combustion chamber, creating a better air/fuel mix. Now its used on a wide range of different engines...
name, the Vortec 4200 or Atlas LL8 is currently the only straight six available to the GM family of vehicles.
See also=
- List of GM engines
- GMC V6 engineGMC V6 engineGMC Truck produced a unique 60° V6 engine from 1960 through 1978. The engine was available in 305, 351, 401 and 478-cubic-inch versions. In late production there was also a version with enlarged crankshaft journals. GMC also made a 60° V8 with twin balance shafts using the same general layout as...
- GMC V8 engineGMC V8 engineGMC generally shared engines with other General Motors divisions. But like their straight-6, GMC did have its own V8.-Pontiac:Prior to developing their own engines, GMC used the Chevrolet Straight-6 engine and Pontiac V8 engine. They used the Pontiac motor for 1955 and motor in 1956, but...
- Chevrolet Straight-4 engineChevrolet Straight-4 engineThe Chevrolet Inline-4 engine one of Chevrolet's first automobile engines was designed by Arthur Mason and introduced in 1913. Exposed pushrods actuated valves in the detachable crossflow cylinder head. Chevrolet referred to its overhead-valve engine as a "valve-in-head" design. This drew...
- GM Atlas engineGM Atlas engineAtlas is a name for a family of modern inline piston engines for trucks from General Motors. The series debuted in 2002 with the Oldsmobile Bravada, and is also used in the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Colorado and their GMC twins, the Envoy and Canyon...