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265 SBC Crate Engine

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Fivewindow Johnnie, Nov 11, 2009.

  1. Cool find! I have a complete 265, dated nov. 54 so its an early one that I have on display as Chevy's first V-8. Speaking of crate engines I also purchased a 302 DZ engine in the crate in 1970 and it is squirreled away for future use unless one of the 69 Z-28 eccentrics just have to have it, 8,500 would tempt me to get it out of hybernation.:eek::). The 265's with 3x2's make nice little mills for hot rods. Good luck with yours.
     
  2. axle
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 3,982

    axle
    Member
    from Drag City

    Damn dude, it just goes to show ya ......ya never know whats out there.
     
  3. Drive Em
    Joined: Aug 25, 2006
    Posts: 1,748

    Drive Em
    Member

    A couple of years ago I cleaned out an uncles garage and in a GM crate was a complete NOS 283 rotating assembly which consisted of a Cosmoline dipped steel crank,eight rods in the GM boxes, bearings, rings and standard bore pistons. There was also an NOS GM 283 hydraulic cam. In a couple of other boxes were three NOS GM SBC short aluminum water pumps that were painted olive drab in color. My uncle said he bought everything at an Army surplus auction. Now to find a standard bore 283 block............
     
  4. Mercchev
    Joined: Dec 22, 2004
    Posts: 605

    Mercchev
    Member

    Holy Crap, Brother...Forgot about this deal, I had too many beers that night. Great Score!
     
  5. olscrounger
    Joined: Feb 23, 2008
    Posts: 4,770

    olscrounger
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I have a couple of sets of stock 55 manifolds as well if you need them-work really well clearance wise in an early Ford. Friend of mine just bought a 55 and 56 265 from an old boat shop--been sitting 30 yrs inside-the 56 had vette valve covers and dual 4's and the small dual point dist--both are complete but obviously need to be gone thru--pd $100 each--what a deal.
     
  6. PSB
    Joined: May 28, 2009
    Posts: 70

    PSB
    Member

    Very cool find.. Looks as if its a Forged crank too!
     
  7. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 24,523

    Roothawg
    Member

    They all are.
     
  8. Studely
    Joined: Apr 29, 2008
    Posts: 62

    Studely
    Member
    from Pueblo, CO

    No, I said you were the smartest dude I know, Roger... And also the "koolest" with a "K"!
     
  9. That's the equivalent of finding some exotic dinosaur perfectly intact. I'd be torn between hanging it up on the fireplace mantle or using it.

    Bob
     
  10. Hillbilly Werewolf
    Joined: Dec 13, 2007
    Posts: 504

    Hillbilly Werewolf
    Member

    What Would you use a preserved dinosaur for?
     
  11. Yes, it looks all snug in its nest, but we make omlets so that egg is gettin' busted !




    Jeff,

    Yeah, kinda amazed myself that I remembered it at all when I sobered up the next afternoon. Had dreams (or nightmares) of "Big Ass Pinatas" all night. Guess my parts sniffer still works, even when saturated with alcohol........

    Johnnie.
     
  12. Nice find! I'm not a big Chevy gut but I like old stuff. :D
     
  13. Big Block Bill
    Joined: May 14, 2009
    Posts: 300

    Big Block Bill
    Member

    _______________________________________________________________

    If I remember correctly, the 55 -265 had a ring seal problem, then chevy came up with this additive to help seat the rings......but I also think the 55 had a remote oil filter, never saw one in real life.
     

  14. Yes the '55 had a remote filter. Have one of those here as well. As far as the engine goes, it will get blown apart, cleaned, honed, and re-ringed at the time of the build.

    Johnnie.
     
  15. HEATHEN
    Joined: Nov 22, 2005
    Posts: 8,562

    HEATHEN
    Member
    from SIDNEY, NY

    The "ring seal" problem was that the crosshatch applied by the cylinder hones at the factory was not complimentary to the chrome rings that Chevrolet used in their new engine. G.M.'s fix? Pour Bon Ami down the carburetor! This isn't hearsay; this is from my grandfather, who was the dealer principal of a Chevy dealership in '55.
     
  16. What a score.

    Almost seems wrong to use it as it's survived all these years but I wouldn't hesitate either. Cracks me up the factory called it a 'half engine' instead of a 'short block'.

    I have a 1971 (yes, 1971) 327 CE stamped 'crate engine' that the dealer installed in my 62 Corvette in the mid 70's right before I bought it. I replaced it with a correct engine and used that 327 in a project. To date, I've had it in 5 cars since. It's just too good to let go. I'm on the lookout for the 6th victim now. Might freshen up the bearings this time around.
     
  17. bonesy
    Joined: Aug 14, 2005
    Posts: 2,999

    bonesy
    Member

    That is so cool. I just keep going back to the pictures of it; dreaming. Mmmmmm
     
  18. mart3406
    Joined: May 31, 2009
    Posts: 3,055

    mart3406
    Member
    from Canada

    --------------------
    The "remote" filter you mention was an option on the 265s. Not all had them, although they're pretty common, as they were a popular and reletively low-cost option.. A lot were dealer-installed too, at the time of sale or afterwords. The filter was a bypass type, not a 'full flow' type.. Basically, it did not filter the oil going to the bearings. Rather, some of the oil - a small amount of the total coming from the pump - literally bypassed the main internal oil passages, went through the filter and then returned directly to the pan. Something else that a lot of people forget about too, is that 265s also came in '57 Chevs as well, as the base engine, with the 283 being an option that year.

    Mart3406
    ===========================
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2010
  19. rover
    Joined: Aug 24, 2010
    Posts: 35

    rover
    Member
    from pomona

    265s and 283s are not worth building. sell it the purist tri five chevy guys and put a crate engine in it and be done with it. LOL! ... i hate it when guys say that shit! that is an awesome find. i love no side motor mount 265s and 283s. coolest SBCs. i have 2 265s and one 57 283. i just picked up a set of 56 265 power pack heads fully rebuilt on E Bay for $154. don't forget the corvette valve covers!
     
  20. It has been a while, and it would seem that an update is in order. The '56, 265 crate engine is built, and bolted into its new home. It sounds amazing........

    Here are some a couple preview pics, more on the '36 Roadster later...

    Johnnie.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Apr 15, 2013
  21. Mercchev
    Joined: Dec 22, 2004
    Posts: 605

    Mercchev
    Member

    Cool beans...can't wait to see it.
     
  22. what did you all do to the motor?
     
  23. TomP64
    Joined: Dec 10, 2008
    Posts: 429

    TomP64
    Member
    from Vancouver

    Maybe i'm just not into the Chevy mystique but what's the point of having a 265 if you dress it up with later parts? The heads can't be 265 since they aren't the staggered bolt pattern for the valve covers.

    I think you'd have been better off with a 350 and selling that crate shortblock to a 56 Chevy restorer.
     
  24. 3wLarry
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 12,804

    3wLarry
    Member Emeritus
    from Owasso, Ok

    you think too much...
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  25. s55mercury66
    Joined: Jul 6, 2009
    Posts: 4,335

    s55mercury66
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    I thought they actually built a few 265's all the way to 1959. I recall (dimly) a stock class racer named Cal Method who ran one in a '59 wagon.
     
  26. TexasSpeed
    Joined: Nov 2, 2009
    Posts: 4,631

    TexasSpeed
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Texas

    Dang. I would have loved to find something like that. I did recently find an early Hemi still in its crate, but nowhere as nice as yours appeared to be in the OP.
     
  27. hotrod40coupe
    Joined: Apr 8, 2007
    Posts: 2,561

    hotrod40coupe
    Member

    I just finished checking out your profile and you have exceeded the allowable amount of cool cars. You have to dispose of at least three of them. I will take the 3 Window.
     
  28. lewk
    Joined: Apr 8, 2011
    Posts: 1,008

    lewk
    Member
    from Mt

    The car looks killer! What happened to the crate? I could be the coolest coffee table ever!
     

  29. that would probably be the most practical.....but since when what we do have to be practical? i've been asked many times why i put a 283 in my `36......it's because that is what i wanted. yes , a 350 crate motor would have been cheaper/easier

    i like the 265....lets see more about it and the car
     
  30. Maybe it's just the angle of the photo, but how come the valve covers don't look like they have a staggered pattern on them ?
     

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