Rebuilding the I6 250

ToeJam · February 2, 2004

Well, my good old '66 is blasting oil out the muffler. I'm guessing its time to rebuild it. The engine has already been rebuilt once (recall way back then), but it's probably ready for another big fix.

What should I expect to pay to have the engine rebuilt?

The truck has the four-speed manual transmission that isn't too happy with 4th gear. What will it cost to rebuild it too?

tmf6902 · February 2, 2004

I would check summitracing.com for a rebuild kit....don't know the price though???

MCourson · February 2, 2004

Yea I am in the same boat here. Gotta I6 235 and a 3-speed manual that needs rebuilt.

HanSolo0260 · March 31, 2004

I was going to rebuild my 250 in my '79 C-10, but after looking for the parts I need and the costs, I decided to get a V8 instead. Mostly, my problem was a cracked head and it's the integral head, so big money for a good one.

If it was the non-integral head like my '73 3/4 ton I had, I'd rebuild it cheap.

So, I picked up a 350 that just needs cleaning and a few parts to run for $50. hardest part is finding the misc. parts that are missing lol.

But, I tell you, that 250 has done us good for the past 8 years. It's a decent motor for the miles on it and age.

Torque Junkie · April 1, 2004

Pull 'er out and drop a small block in there

If that's not an option, check summit racing or *gasp* JCWhitney for rebuild kits. As far as labor goes, you can do it yourself if you have space, tools and most importantly, the knowledge. If you have neither of those 3, then call around and find a reputiable shop in your area who won't charge you your first born to do the labor for you.

Good luck!

chuckp · May 6, 2004

Well thats what i do for a living rebuilds motors, a couple of things you should have done is have harden ex seats put in the cylinder head so you can run unleaded fuel and i would change all the valves because they most likely have taper in the stems.

The shop that i am a partner in we would get around 1400 to do a complete rebuild.That would inclulde boring the cylinders,griding the crankshaft,valve job,recondition the connecting rods, clean all the parts ,new cam and lifters, timing gears, all new gaskets ,pistons, rings,bearings, cam bearings, oil pump,pickup screens , updating the cylinder for unleaded fuel all new valves sprinds. freeze pluges oil galley pluges.

chuck

chuckp · May 6, 2004

Well thats what i do for a living rebuilds motors, a couple of things you should have done is have harden ex seats put in the cylinder head so you can run unleaded fuel and i would change all the valves because they most likely have taper in the stems.

The shop that i am a partner in we would get around 1400 to do a complete rebuild.That would inclulde boring the cylinders,griding the crankshaft,valve job,recondition the connecting rods, clean all the parts ,new cam and lifters, timing gears, all new gaskets ,pistons, rings,bearings, cam bearings, oil pump,pickup screens , updating the cylinder for unleaded fuel all new valves sprinds. freeze pluges oil galley pluges.

chuck

snoman · May 30, 2004

Pull 'er out and drop a small block in there

If that's not an option, check summit racing or *gasp* JCWhitney for rebuild kits. As far as labor goes, you can do it yourself if you have space, tools and most importantly, the knowledge. If you have neither of those 3, then call around and find a reputiable shop in your area who won't charge you your first born to do the labor for you.

Good luck!

Bad choice really, Those old 60's pre emmison 250 L6's were great strong engines. With a fresh rebuild they will out pull a small V8 below 2000 RPM or so. They do great with a stick. No way I would trash a classic six like that for a modern V8.

Also if you do the labor yourself except for machine shop work you should be able to do a first rate job for well under 1000 bucks (how far under depended on what needs to be fixed)