Performance Parts Sites For An 81

[psco_nutball]

hello, i am a newb to the site and new to the gmc trucks as well. i've always had toyota's and can tell you most things and where to go to get them. but with this new (old) truck i am completely lost with no clue where to start.

i'm looking for sites with performance parts and all that good stuff.

my truck is a 1981 GMC C1500 4.1L inline 6. bought for 150$ runs but want to make it better. any info or help is greatly apprecited

[kuhl_530]

LMC truck. They go by body style and have everything from weather stripping to body panels to lights to performace parts. They just started an online catalog, but will gladly send you a free paper catalog in the mail. I've got mine in the magazine rack next to my toilette, where I get all my thinking done, lol

[psco_nutball]

I've got mine in the magazine rack next to my toilette, where I get all my thinking done, lol

^lol nice

 

thanks, found that one yesterday on another post decent site have every thing but seems a bit pricey.

and again any help is appreciated

[OldCrLvr]

I like Classic Industries. They do other GM cars as well. My father and I used them for most of the parts to restore our 63 SS Nova. I have also used them for my 70 C/10. They don't have as much for newer body styles but do have a fair amount. I have an LMC catalog but have never cared for them. Both have good parts though and some times sell the same brands. Classic does sell OER (Original Equipment Reproduction) parts now.

 

As for performance parts there are many was to hop up the inline 6. I'm not sure what your emissions requirements are where you live but they sell quite a bit for them. Our Nova has a 230 in it and has bigger valves, Offy 4bbl intake, 390cfm holley, Clifford Headers with true dual exhaust and a Comp "RV" Cam. With all of this the car gets 16mpg which is what the car got when it had a stock anemic 194 straight 6 & 1bbl carb. All of these parts can be found at Summit Racing. I looked up your truck with a 250 @ Summits website. Here is the link: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...view=getnewpost

They show 550 items for your truck. As far as cams go you can go to to a manufacturers web site (like Comp Cams) and get the part number. Then go to Summit and have them special order it for you. It will be cheaper. For the most part straight 6 parts are on the expensive side compared to SBC's. If you have any questions about modifying your 6cyl P.M. me. I can give you info on what to and not to do based on my trials and tribulations with our Nova. Other wise I would have typed a huge page full of info. Good Luck

[psco_nutball]

thank you so much. one thing i don't like is the model i have has the integral head (intake/exhaust are welded to the head) the only place i've seen replacement heads for it even are autozone, but i don't know it i need the one with smog tubes or not

[OldCrLvr]

You could still use an "RV" or other smog legal cam if you need to deal with emmisions. If the head needs to be kept you can also open up the bolwls to allow the head to breathe a bit more. In our case we also installed one size bigger valves, I believe the intake is 1.84 and think the exhaust is 1.5's. Another trick with 6 cylindars is that you can mill the shit out of the head to gain compression because of the fact that there is no fittment issues like a V6 or V8 has. My last "trick" is to use SBC pistons. Pistons for a 283 will work. If you go to this link http://www.summitracing.com/parts/STL-235NP you will notice that in the description you can use them for inline 4 or 6 as well as V8's. But when you search for 6 Cyl pistons they won't show. When we had the 194 in the Nova we used flat top 4 valve relief pistons for a 283 in it. By doing any or all of those items you would still retain your drivability and pass emmisions.

[OldCrLvr]

I forgot to mention if you don't need to stick with emmissions any 194, 230 or 250 head will work on that engine. I don't think the 292 will. The 292 was a truck motor and is different in a few ways. If you are looking for a different head find one that came off a 194. They have smaller combustion chambers. Any of those heads are around. Especially if you visit a junk yard.