History of the Stovebolt 6 Engine

horsepower | casting codes | head-bolt patterns | side/valve covers

1954Advance-Design.com

1929-1962
Chevrolet L-6 (straight/in-line 6) Overhead Valve Engines

the Stovebolt Six - the Cast-Iron Wonder
horsepower

most information was obtained from Shop Manuals
information for 181 was provided by Fred Nixon



First Generation 1929-1936

Low-Pressure Oil (internal lubrication) System

Year
Truck
& Pass
horse power
Truck
horse power
Pass
horse power
1929
194 c.i.
50 hp




1930
194 c.i.
50 hp




1931
194 c.i.
50 hp




1932
194 c.i.
60 hp




1933
194 c.i.
60 hp




1934
194 c.i.
80 hp


207 c.i.
56 hp
1935
194 c.i.
80 hp
181 c.i.
56 hp
207 c.i.
68.5 hp
1936
194 c.i.
80 hp
181 c.i.
60 hp
207 c.i.
79 hp

Second Generation 1937-1953

Low-Pressure Oil (internal lubrication) System

Year
Truck
& Pass
horse power
Truck
horse power
Pass
horse power
1937
216 c.i.
85 hp




1938
216 c.i.
85 hp




1939
216 c.i.
85 hp




1940
216 c.i.
78/85 hp ??




1941
216 c.i.
90 hp
235 c.i.
93 hp


1942
216 c.i.
90 hp
235 c.i.
93 hp


1943
216 c.i.
90 hp
235 c.i.
93 hp


1944
216 c.i.
90 hp
235 c.i.
93 hp


1945
216 c.i.
90 hp
235 c.i.
93 hp


1946
216 c.i.
90 hp
235 c.i.
93 hp


1947
216 c.i.
90 hp
235 c.i.
93 hp


1948
216 c.i.
90 hp
235 c.i.
93 hp


1949
216 c.i.
90 hp
235 c.i.
93 hp


1950
216 c.i.
92 hp
235 c.i.
105 hp
235 c.i.
105 hp
1951
216 c.i.
92 hp
235 c.i.
105 hp
235 c.i.
105 hp
1952
216 c.i.
92 hp
235 c.i.
105 hp
235 c.i.
105 hp
1953
216 c.i.
92 hp
235 c.i.
108/123 hp ??
235 c.i.
108, 115, 150 hp
Std, Powerglide, Corvette


Third Generation 1954-1962
High-Pressure Oil System (internal lubrication)

Year
Pass
horse power
Truck
horse power
Truck
horse power
1954
235 c.i.
115/125/150/1551 hp
235 c.i.
112 hp
261 c.i.
135 hp
1955
235 c.i.
123/136/150/1551 hp
235 c.i.
123 hp
261 c.i.
140 hp
1956
235 c.i.
140 hp
235 c.i.
140 hp
261 c.i.
148 hp
1957
235 c.i.
140 hp
235 c.i.
140 hp
261 c.i.
148 hp
1958
235 c.i.
145 hp
235 c.i.
145 hp
261 c.i.
150 hp
1959
235 c.i.
135 hp
235 c.i.
135 hp
261 c.i.
150 hp
1960
235 c.i.
135 hp
235 c.i.
135 hp
261 c.i.
150 hp
1961
235 c.i.
135 hp
235 c.i.
135 hp
261 c.i.
150 hp
1962
235 c.i.
135 hp
235 c.i.
135 hp
261 c.i.
150 hp

Note 1: In mid-1954, the Corvette 235 started using the higher-lift 261 camshaft. The horsepower increased to 155. The Corvette 235 was sold into 1955 (in about 700 1955 Corvettes) until the 235 engines ran out. All Corvette 235s used mechanical lifters and had Powerglide transmissions.


History of the Stovebolt 6 Engine

horsepower | casting codes | head-bolt patterns | side/valve covers

1954Advance-Design.com

©2006-2013 Warren Foster & Tim Lederman