I recently bought a 68 camaro, wanted a V8 but couldn't pass on a convertible with 49K on original engine and tranny (body/interior immaculate). My problem is what if anything can be done to make a 230cid 1bbl 6 into something with some punch while still staying stock appearance.
Any ideas or am I dreaming?

Dreaming, definitely. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Save your money for a small block conversion! KZ



[This message has been edited by kz1000ltd (edited 11-01-2000).]

Maybe I should clarify. I have no delusion about lining up against any of the V-8's I've read about on this page. I was just hoping to not have to molest a "numbers" car to keep a Pinto from passing me on the freeway. http://www.camaros.net/forum/frown.gif

The inline 6 is actually not a bad engine. It's pretty robust, for one thing. A while back there were some posts regarding building 6's. Daniel, email k9350@hotmail.com, has been compiling a lot of info. I'm not sure what his camaros.net name was, but you could probably search for L6 info and find some posts. Or maybe he'll stumble along this post sooner or later. Daniel???

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Matt
http://camarotech1.com
Camaro Tech 1st Generation

I thought I was alone ? I love those straight six cylinder engines !!! they dont have a lot of horse's but with a low gear and manual tranny if they are in good tune they will run pretty good !! and talk about service (YOU CANT BLOW ONE OF THOSE UP )
I once was at a car show and a guy was advertising (SLICK 50) I KNOW I KNOW !!!
but anyway the guy has a engine up on a stand running with no oil pan !!! it was a chevy straight six , the guy said it was the slick 50 that was enabling the engine to run without oil ,I walked over to the guy and said , hey !!! you need to change engines ? why he asked ? I said well a chevy straight six will run without oil anyway !!!

Brad 67 RS 327 camaro

[This message has been edited by 67rs327 (edited 11-01-2000).]

Do the usual to it like you would a V-8 except just six holes.
A mild 260 cam, split manifold or Clifford headers and duals. A Clifford four barrel intake with a holley 390 on it. Up the CR. by planing the head or get a second head to plane and install and save your OEM one for originality later.
Yes, a six is a sweet little engine. A split manifold and dual smitties are still after all these years music to my ears. pdq67

Hello there 68 six cyl. There isn't anything wrong w/runing a six cyl. motor. Cliford Performance in Corana, Calif. is the place to check out. Jack Clifford has been doing these for years with his moto 6=8. check out www.clifordperformance.com (http://www.clifordperformance.com) Galen

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S/B Chevy Lover
67 Camaro street car
10:50's @ 128 on motor w/383 cid
79 Z28 w/383 9.1:1 3.73:1 Restoring stock apearance
13:40's @ 101 stock exh.& intake& Qjet
smog legal
Camaro Lover

Have you guys even been to one of those Hot Rod Power Fests? They have Camaros with V6 and Straight 6 engines running in the 9's! Sounds like a P*ssed off bee.

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Mark

1992 Firebird 355/Six Speed
1991 RS 350 / 700-R4
1987 Toyota Pickup 383 / 500 + HP 10.963 @ 119.95 Slicks / 11.997 @ 114.23 Radials
http://personal.lig.bellsouth.net/~racer383/

Let me test my memory. In 1973 I built a hot rod 235 CID six that came factory in my 69 Camaro convertible. It ran right up there with mildly modified 350's.

I used dome pistons for a 283 small block (Same bore) and chrome rings. I had the domes machined down to fit the combustion chamber of the six's head. Standard rebuild valve work with factory valves and heavier springs. Four barrel aluminum intake with a 4777 Holley 650 double pumper and dual headers. Got the intake and headers from JC Whitney in Chicago. I don't remember the exact specs on the cam, but it was pretty wild compared to small block cam specs. Something like 618 lift and 320 duration. It was a solid lifter cam. I used a 50 pound flywheel to get the car out of the whole due to the low torque. I had the engine balanced with the flywheel. 410 rear gear and Muncie four speed.

Here are the mistakes I made that I had to correct after the fact. I had to pull the head and tap it for screw in studs. The solid lifter cam drove the press in studs out. Six's vibrate more than V8's. I had a flywheel come loose on me. I had to dip the flywheel bolts in Locktite, put special washers under them that actually went under two adjacent bolts and then the corners bend up after the bolt is tightened and I pined the bolt heads. I had to replace the factory fiber cam drive gear with a metal one. Lost all the teeth when I missed 3rd gear. Interestingly, when this happened I thought I would find a bunch of bent valves since the cam free wheeled at high RPM, maybe hit 10000 RPM. There was no damage at all. I could see the valve outline in the carbon on the pistons, but everything was fine.

It idled lumpy at about 1500 rpm and red line turned out to be about 8000. And yes it did sound like a pissed off bumble bee. My friends made a lot of fun of me. However they shut up when I whipped 340 Dart Swingers and 350 Chevelles. I never calculated compression, but it had to be 13 to 1 or more. A compression gauge showed 260 pounds. Today you would need to mix in some racing gas. Back then it ran very well on Sunoco 260. Eventually I installed a 327 that was built to the max and had a lot more fun.

I hope it helps hearing from someone who has been there. I spent every bit as much money as if I had built a small block and got less hoarse power. It was a lot of fun though and it was a great conversation piece at the speed shop.

Thanks a ton to the 2 guys who mentioned Clifford Performance. I looked them up and you guys weren't kidding. This guy has my mind spinning and my checkbook shaking. He does have straight 6's that bracket race. I went from not knowing where to get info to a wealth of ideas in 2 days. Thanks again.

matt-
yeah, i'm around, just not checking here as frequently. i do have a ton of info on these sixes on my homepage (http://www.motorhood.com/racingpkwy/no7a/sixinfo.html). and yes, Clifford's is about the best thing to happen to inline enthusiasts. if you're headed over to their site, be sure to check out the message board. plenty of good people and good info there.
dan