O.K. , my buddy in Fort Wayne offered to sell me his rebuilt 1960 261 cheap . Like almost core price . My buddy is closing up a deal on a 1997 Chevy 1/2 tonner with Slushbox and a 4.3 Liter Vortec engine , it only has 57,000 miles on it and he says ' let's go fetch that 261 Nate ! ' . I can maybe swing a loan from my loan shark and put the travel co$t$ on my cards , it'd be a fun road trip I'm just not sure about this time of year.... It would be a Kamakazi trip , no time to stop and visit folks along the way sad to say HMmmmmmm...... ?
You -KNOW- ..I'd look back in sadness . he just told me he won't break the rusty truck it's in though....... Dammit . A close look at my finances doesn't look to good either . I'll have to sleep on this one .
Nate, You gotta do some things without over "thinking" them. Do you really want the engine? A little bit of "impulse" therapy rarely hurts anyone(for very long). If I had thought it all out, and know what I know now about the costs of building an old vehicle, I'd have never moved on it. If you really want it, you havta go get it. especially if it is a decent deal and a known quantity. Some of us have driven as far to investigate that really great "find", just to discover another piece of 'it ran when I parked it". If you can't afford it when you get home, you will likely find someone in your neck of the woods willing to reimburse you, maybe you break even. "if wishes were horses..." Jim
Here goes my 3 cents again! #1. Is the engine mechanically sound? If not, how much will it cost in parts to get it so? #2. Is the truck itself a rust bucket or in pretty good shape to where it could be parted out to defray the initial outlay of money? #3. Is it worth it to you to have a 261 vs. probably the best running 235 on the planet because you know your stuff and have nurtured your 235 into a precision machine? 3 points to ponder, 3 cents worth
Thanx Guys ! Yes , this engine has been overhauled and has no more than in place breakin time on it ~ never driven . it has one short skirt piston in it , re-ground crankshaft , I don't know if it still has the correct 261 rods or not . Cam wasn't changed (too bad) . Frame of truck (It's a Big Bolt) has been done , maybe new brakes . Cab is a Nu View (5 window) but has bad floors and I don't care if it was perfect , I don't want nor need the truck . Truck is partially disassembled as the cap was off for the frame work . I suppose a reality check is in order , I don't actually need a 261 (did I just say that ? ) as you all konow I drive and work my old 235 just fine now and it goes way faster than is wise . I'd just like to have one and as mentioned , my road trips do have ' Animal House ' like activites involved.... (life's for living , right ?) . I looked at a map yesterday and wow , that's a long drive . if I but were rich , I'd be packing & servicing my truck right now but as things stand.....
