The original Small Block Chevy - The 265

Picked up a new worthless fossil

[@shitbox7413]

265's are cool pieces of history, ahead of its time really. Good enough design to last for nearly 50 years...

[@tristanabell2117]

Whats up man.

[@shitbox7413]

@@tristanabell2117 Same shit different day. 😄👍🏻

[@justinmyslive4108]

That 265 was a good engine too. You could Rev the ever loving crap out of it. It would sound like it was ready to blow but never would

[@TheBrokenLife]

A V8 and power steering in a Chevy in '55? Someone was a baller...

[@lostsoul3154]

It was an option that year.

[@michaelszczys8316]

That what they ran. It was like regular steering with assist. Knew guy with 56 nomad that had it.

[@rogerbliefnick3224]

worked in Chevy Olds garage, saw many of Gen power steering combination.

[@pawpatina]

@@lostsoul3154 duh, thats why he said someone was a baller... they had the money for a new 55 with the v8 option AND the power steering option.... "baller"

[@Victorsvolkswagens]

Nice

[@redram5150]

I’m impressed it’s that complete. Usually the air filter housing is the first thing tossed followed by the intake

[@shitbox7413]

I have one that’s a complete long block, partial bellhousing and torque converter still bolted to it. Unfortunately it’s been outside for decades, pretty weathered.

[@lazyfig5367]

Funny to hear a novice explain things that us old guys saw as just run-of-the-mill......I had a 55 210 model with the 265 powerglide combination..... Ran smooth as silk and dependable and tough as hell!!!

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

lazy Fig This old guy had a 57 2 dr post with the 235 6 cyl and 3 on the tree......Last Chevy I own and have driven Fords since to this day !!!!

[@adriantomlin2902]

@@wilburfinnigan2142 sounded like a nice car?!

[@thespiritof76..]

Haha I remember searching the junkyards for brackets so you could run an alternator! But great performance bc they had small combustion chambers and large valves... they were a good choice of heads for a later 307

[@dinkchow]

1958 was the dawn of the side mounts.1967 was the dawn of the front head mounting holes.

[@budsodalsky]

thanks for saving it. I just saved one today, pulled it out of a field where the mechanic just threw it out back from a original 57 wagon.

[@thegreenerthemeaner]

283s as well as early 327s had draft tubes that came out of the top of the block on the driver's side of the distributor. They had a filter inside the lifter valley. When they became clogged, the breather fill cap would start rolling smoke if it wasn't clogged with dirt drawn in. Then in time, the valve covers would leak, as it appears this one does. This was at the time when detergent type oils were starting to appear and the junk and sludge these motors would build up was horrible, especially the short trip drivers. This truly attests to the rugged but simple and quality way these engines were designed and built. Who knew in 1955 what legacy lay ahead of this new V8 from the low cost value leader, Chevrolet.

[@michaelszczys8316]

They didn’t have a filter, it was just a baffle can to keep liquid oil from going out. The only way they would clog up was if the entire engine valley were to fill with sludge. That however is believable as I know how some of the early road draft tube and no PCV motors would fill up with sludge. I had friend who took the valve cover off that had Chevrolet stamped in it and underneath was a sludge valve cover with Chevrolet molded in it.

[@graumail]

Michael Szczys A similar experience to what you get when you pull a Chrysler Sebring V6 motor apart. Structural sludge.

[@sammolloy1]

All SBC valve covers leaked until they machined the sealing surface of the heads and moved the bolts to the middle of the valve cover. Factory rust proofing for the bottom of the car.

[@4thstooge75]

People weren't big on oil changes back then either.

[@adriantomlin2902]

Yeah back when you afford a damn Chevy??!!

[@papatutti59]

Damn! I must be old because I remember working on those engine as a kid.

[@dehoedisc7247]

Road draft tubes continued for a few years after 1955, and contributed to tons and tons of smog. There were 3 different 265's available in 1955, the mechanical lifter 2 barrel carb @162 horse, the hydraulic lifter 2 barrel @ 180 horse and the "Corvette" 4 barrel engine @ 195 horse. And the partial flow oil filter would have been better than no filter at all.

[@justsumguy2u]

There it is, all 162 hp worth lol Chevy really did do a great job of refining the small block during the 60's/70's

[@Bartonovich52]

162 gross hp. On a test stand with a prony brake and no air cleaner, no exhaust manifold, no accessories, not even a water pump. Ran it just long enough to get a horsepower reading before it overheated... and that’s what they advertised it as. Good thing the 1950s GM cars were relatively light with that X frame... though they were deadly in a collision. B

[@kennithchapman9689]

That was a Beast in those days!!!

[@t.d.mich.7064]

They all started somewhere! Fords flattie was 85 HP, Chevy at 162 was nearly double! What a major improvement. Cavemen didn't fly around in jets you know.

[@jackhook4192]

I looked at a 55 chevy the guy was trying to tell me it was all original but it had the 283 v8 in it.so much for being all original because the 283 wasn't out yet.

[@HardKnocksForge]

Sweet video. Love the older stuff and being able to see just how much things have changed over the years.

[@colehara]

Well that's cool. Only 265 I've ever seen. Hopefully it will live again.

[@michaelovitch]

Cheap to produce,minimum parts.

[@bilbobaggins4710]

Easy and cheap to maintain as well

[@NebukedNezzer]

the rear motor mounts attach to the bell housing. I was 10 years old when this was new. really changed things. my father bought a 56 265/205hp with power glide. great car. sadly these cars rusted out quickly and had poor crash protection for the occupants. it was great in its day.

[@johnmoore4822]

I have this exact motor in my 1955 Studebaker, and ☝️I still drive it. All original.

[@chriswelch4425]

I have one in my 55 Chevy it's a four barrel for the 55 year they are uncommon to find. It also have the option for the oil canister

[@fleetwin1]

What an amazing timepiece for sure!

[@idaho_girl]

Good for you for rescuing this bit of history. And I thought the old one-barrel, manual choke 283 that was in my father's 66 3/4 p/u was quirky!

[@ziggassedup]

That's got to be a rare one..And it runs...Cool.

[@nickb3968]

That puppy has a forged crankshaft too...

[@louisedwards6681]

You just brought back memories of my dad's garage in the back yard ,he had customers from the local Chev dealership where he worked coming to the house and the evening he would repair the Chevys and then I could look under the hood and get greasy and satisfied that I knew how a car works ,my brothers and I NOW owners of the Transmission shop my Daddy started in 1977 he is now 83yo going GREAT so is Edwards Brothers Transmission ROANOKE RAPIDS NORTH CAROLINA 👍 🏁🇺🇸 THANKS FOR LISSTIN 🏁 🇺🇸🔧 🔩

[@willcojak9650]

Can not remember the last time I saw one of those. Good job on the video .

[@josephtaverna1287]

Your words went through my ears like Joy from heaven when you said junk Chevrolet the Frenchman's bowtie dream pure garbage quick to blow cheap as hell to rebuild

[@pauljanssen2624]

It would be neat to clean it up do good tune-up rebuild the carburetor sticking on a dyno flush the oil out real good put some good oil in it. Make a good video and a lot of people love to see the horsepower ratings on that engine and then I would really just the valve train and then do another dyno test with the valves readjusted would just a quarter in quarter turn preload and the same exhaust manifolds could should have wires and plugs and points condenser make sure the vacuum advance works

[@chevy6299]

The 283 in my 62 Chevy pickup had the tube going to the air with no PVC valve. A canister oil filter and oil bath air filter. Oh and the same breather tube in the intake manifold.

[@dehoedisc7247]

Very nostalgic to see the exact engine that was in my 55 Chev, although mine didn't have the rare power steering assembly. Nice to see. that it has manual 3 speed box, I don't care for PowerGlides. I wouldn't use dirty oil for the air cleaner, prefer fresh clean oil, works better. In 1955 there were no PCV's, just the road draft tube, with the blowby going out into the air. And you call it weird? Sure, I guess it's weird, looking at it from 63 years into the future. Today's cars will probably be called weird in the year 2081. That's normal. The engine mounts were attached to frame exactly like the 235 6 cyl. engine and the Corvette 265. The optional bypass oil filter could have been attached at the same outlet for the oil pressure switch, with a simple T fitting.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

In 2081, if someone gets excited about a 1997 Ford Taurus , dig me up so I can kick their Lilly ass !

[@Bartonovich52]

@ Mr Hillfolk. That’s what someone in 1973 thought about a 1955 Belair. They were $50 jalopies and demolition derby cars. That’s why they are rare and coveted today. Or what someone in 2019 thinks of using lyrics from a shitty 1998 Offspring song to threaten someone. The 97 Taurus is better.

[@lorollinls]

I love old 265's! Thanks for this.

[@larrydrozd2740]

It's called "Power Assist" steering. Just like a C2 or C3 corvette. Also, the camshaft is different. It has a groove in the back journal to send oil to the push rods.

[@peteharrison9816]

I am old school that's a find need to be in a museum

[@thewoodsman5261]

That is just amazing man, absolutely a beautiful piece of history you accuried. I sure hope you still have it or sold it to someone who appreciateshould it as much as you do.

[@19504x4]

The early blocks weren't drilled for a starter, it bolted to the bellhousing. Also, the rear cam bearing is different. If you put a later cam in, half the lifters won't get oil.

[@2manycatsforadime]

all the rockers won't get oil without the cam bearing having an oiling groove cut in it. Weird design.

[@realmccoy9597]

Distributor is machined with a groove in it to allow oil to pass around the shaft and feed the lifters as well.

[@mschiffel1]

The rear cam journal must have a "slot" machined into it to scoop some pressurized oil on every revolution.

[@coolezum]

19504x4 hope you don't know about the lifters no oiling from experience!😄

[@mschiffel1]

@@coolezum I'm all checked out on the early 265 v8s. They can only use a 265 specific camshaft with a groove on the end journal. Any other cams will prevent top end oiling.

[@garyb5796]

The Add-on cartridge type oil filter was T'ed into the oil pressure switch on the back of the engine.

[@integr8er66]

Te Balancer bolts NOT a 5/8 bolt it is a 7/16-20

[@redram5150]

Interesting fact about SBC’s was the first year had issues with piston rings not seating and they’d burn oil like mad. The official GM fix they ordered dealers to do was pour Bon-Ami cleaner powder... like Ajax or Comet cleaner, down the venturis of the carburetor. This would scuff up the cylinders enough to allow the rings to seat.

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

Actually, oil bath air filters did have elements, and they did an excellent job of cleaning the air. Plus, there was no additional restriction to air flow as the cleaner accumulated dirt, as the dirt wound up in the bottom of the oil well and not on the element. Were these cleaners bulky, ugly, and nasty to clean? Oh yeah. The 6 cylinder engine in my 1956 Chevy 210 had an oil bath air cleaner, plus a canister oil filter with no drain plug. Servicing them required lots of newspaper, some mechanic's safety solvent (gasoline), and several cold beers. As for your 265, please please please restore this engine and keep it 100% original. It is a real museum piece.

[@beeper388]

Ebay

[@paulg444]

Bolting the alternator to the exhaust manifold!.. Great idea, keeps the electrical components nice and hot, just the way you want them . What could possibly go wrong!

[@papatutti59]

Paul G That’s not an alternator. It’s a generator.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

Paul that is a Generator !! NOT an alternator !!!! Those came later !!!!

[@bgd73]

I drove a 283 truck, 1956 tow truck around the yard as my first vehicle ever driven. 1 barrel, vacuum wipers. Amazing history. the 283 was the "big" one. the tow truck weighed 6000 pounds.

[@davealias4861]

if it was a 56 it would have had a 265 ci, and it would have had either a 2bbl or a 4bbl carb. The 235 ci i/l 6 cylinder would have had your 1 bbl carb.

[@bigdogpete43]

Had one of these in a 55 Belair. I remember that old oil bath cleaner. What a freaking mess.

[@VW5767]

Cool stuff! Thanks for sharing.

[@lucianprescott8357]

You keep saying “weird”, like the people that designed this engine were strange. Keep in mind it’s all part of history and progress. I don’t discredit these engines (265-283). We learned from these designs and continued to make improvements. My first car was a Ford with a 312 “police package”. It was a hot engine for its time and a lot of history behind it. Many “hot riders” today own a debt to those earlier designers.

[@timslucky]

He's just saying weird because it's "weird" that most people don't know This incarnation of this motor existed. I've been working on small blocks my whole life and I like many others didn't know these differences existed. Very cool video.

[@hairynutz7334]

Gm Australia did a 253 v8 1969-84 and a 308 then a stroker 355 till 98. Designed in oz signed off by Detroit. Similar to a chev bottom end with Pontiac rocker gear. Firing order 12784563.

[@clodge5196]

The original mouse motor that started it all the revolution

[@Scrubworks]

The first gen Mustangs use a hydraulic ram just like that for the power steering. I assumed that was common for American cars of the period, perhaps it isn't.

[@dennisschell5543]

Common for many Fords...

[@earlludwig3614]

My first chevy was a 55 wagon. Had a 265, which is why I am here. Thanks for posting!

[@ls6nova398]

Looks just like the one that came out of my dad's 57 stepside

[@paladin0654]

Nice find. Technically, fuel injection blows and carburation sucks.

[@oceanmariner]

The oil bath forces the air to go thru the oil, not along the surface of the oil. Baffles and screens separate the air from the oil. 283s had a crankcase breather similar to the 283. Except it was a tube that attached next to the distributor. Oiling system is different, so the cam is different from the 283. The back bearing journal has to have a flat spot milled to allow oil to pass thru the bearing an lube other parts. If you put a 283 cam in a 265 w/o the flat spot you'll have an oiling failure further down the line. As the cam turns, the flat spot allows oil to pass into the exit hole after lubing the bearing. I was in high school in the mid 60s. We put these engines (265, 283, 327) in WWII jeeps, etc. 283s were commonly bored to 301 (327) bore. At that time, the Chevy small block was the most common circle track engine.

[@althomas6496]

265 engine was available until 1957 i have one that was a one owner car bought in the fall of 1956.

[@seththomas9105]

go find a 348 next, with a tri-power!

[@timsacco6g694]

What a gem! Really? This guy found a 55 with the original engine and wanted to build a gasser? Unbelievable?

[@northernwolfhound7096]

thanks for the education 👍😀

[@mikeskidmore6754]

Yup 55 Chevy no oil filter.. Oil bath air filters normally have chambers filled with steel wires. and yes the air has to go down into the oil then comes back up goes through the oily wire then into carb.. My 1975 Chevy 427 Truck still had an oil bath air filter as does my farm tractors and even my 1,103 Cubic inch Murphy diesel in my North West Crane .. My 6 wheel drive trucks from 1960's and 1970's and 1981 have power steering cylinder the same way and a valve in the drag link that opens and closes the oil flow .. spring loaded. I read that GM could build those '55 engines for $77.00 My Cousin had a'56 Chevy with a 265 cube 265 HP Corvette engine with dual 4 barrels .. Solid Lifter Duntov Cam

[@weberbuiltweber1908]

No crankshaft bolt was cutting corners. I remember that.

[@21stcenturyfossil7]

You want a crankshaft bolt? AND a full flow oil filter? Buy a Pontiac!

[@scdevon]

Nice early 265 and complete !

[@gatti5002]

cool , thanks for the presentation !

[@buckster2575]

In 42 years ive seen a 265 for once.

[@rickygarvin145]

Way back once upon a time I owned a 1957 Chevy wagon with a 283 in it and she had a tube that had one bolt through it at the top. That was for the crankcase bent. Was located at the rear of the intake manifold if I recall right.

[@chuckhaynes6458]

Too bad the previous owner raped a low mileage stick shift '55.

[@EASTSIDERIDER707]

No oil filter. We switched to detergent oil when filters came into use. About that time, we had overhead oiler kits. Before, rocker shafts weren’t lubricated.

[@The55nomad]

Great video. Great to see the first-first gen chevy small block. The grandpappy of the SBC dynasty. Thanks.

[@aumetalmental8403]

Didn't say anything about engine specs at all!!!???!!!... The most important thing about the engine is "BORE + STROKE" Why would you leave that out? Should have been the first "FACTS" you mentioned was, again, "BORE + STROKE"...

[@lostsoul3154]

All engines in America before 1963 had open crankcases, draft tubes. The PCV valve came along in '63 for GM, not sure about Ford/Chrysler.

[@jamesburriss1086]

55 though 58 had rear engine mounts on the bell housing 58 on had the mount on the tail cone of the transmission also they didn't use the top bell housing hole

[@M21L35]

Weirdest small block Chevy ever?! Bad choice of words on your part because w/o this groundbreaking design, GM wouldn't exist! Early Chevy 8's had optional oil filters. Somebody has swapped those valve covers....these plain covers are a later style. Early small blocks had CHEVROLET script embossed across the top.

[@steveseifertsr.8120]

The 265 was a boat anchor GM failure,very poor bore to stroke ratio and less than acceptable valve timing which resulted in O-60 mph at "Stall speed"...I remember the Ford Flathead eating '55 chevys like they were standing still...Your knowledge of the "265" is appalling!!!

[@patchescessna7348]

I guess if one was broke in and learned to wrench in an early 265 they wouldn’t think it so weird...

[@strattuner]

they even used the slave cylinder on the vette,i've replaced them under warranty,it was also found on dodge trucks till 1971,the 265 was a fine engine,and the 283 was also,the 327 was the best v8 chevy made,they also had a bulletproof 6,the 292 Chevrolet,my first car was a chevy,1959 with the valve guides worn out,smoking and cost 75.00,damn near broke me,gas went up to 17.9 a gallon pissed me off,its only worth 10 cents a gallon

[@t.d.mich.7064]

My 55 Chevy BelAire had the 265 with 3 on the tree, loved the little shoebox. My second favorite car

[@grantw.whitwam9948]

Wow, simple common sense things.

[@ldnwholesale8552]

You show your youth. Weird? No just old. Rocker cover gaskets are the same as a Pontiac V8. Most GM engines had mounts under the timing cover in that period. The bosses were on the blocks right through. All tri5 and some later had the power steering off the generator, Even late 60s engines used an oil fill tube in the intake. I have never worked out why GM made the long waterpump. Again still into late 60s and with both A/C and Power steer cars. Up to around 1969 Chevs had no accescory bolt holes in the heads. Like all engines the small block was updated over 5 decades. A 265 is really only relevant to restorers. And some had 283s originally anyway.

[@pierredecine1936]

I have been slowly resto-modding a 1996 Caprice LS w/the 4.3L - 200 hp - 240 torque - quite peppy in a 4000 lb car ...

[@stanmurray5991]

In 1956 Tom Carsten's HWM 'stove bolt special" was the first 'modern' chev race special. The first of thousands? of race cars with chev power. At Riverside it blew the exotics away..at least on the first straight.

[@ogr7771]

I have a 55 Belair with that engine with the power pac option (4 barrel duel exhaust) 180 HP. Mine also has the factory power steering with the optional oil filter. Not worthless! People always try to buy the engine from me cuz most were swapped out for 327s, I also have the factory 4 BBL oil bath air cleaner which will run you about $1000 if you can find one.

[@robertmartin2387]

NOT the original overhead Chevrolet V8,Chevrolet had the first V8 in the mid NINETEENS!

[@paulricelli5520]

🟥🟥🟥 Road draft tube till I think 1962. Till pcv valve took over. We used to take the can it was hooked to ,under the intake manifold, fill it with gas, light it up, to burn all the crap out. Maybe about a hundred years ago. Just saying.

[@CCharlesHahn]

The hydraulic ram power steering isn't completely dead technology; I have a fairly recent (made in 2014) John Deere garden tractor with a very similar setup on it.

[@addisonsteiner6473]

Awesome video, thanks for sharing.

[@9thgatedim273]

Honestly I have a 56 ford Fairlane my first ford a gm guy much better design them this y block that just blew up on me I'm swapping a lsx next

[@johnszwarc1985]

19 68 was the first year that the smallblock had accessory holes in the head and no more oil filler tube in the manifold, oil was added through the valve cover.

[@sherryjohnson8918]

I seen a 1917 Chevy V 8. 30 Hp but it did not sell good because of the great depression cost to much very weird looking engine

[@stanmurray5991]

I have a 265 sold over the counter in 1958..yes you could go to the parts counter at the Chev dealer and buy a replacement 265 in 1958

[@krajus83]

When does the measeum open?

[@billkeighley4508]

One of best motors chevy ever built along with 283, 327, was mistake to quit building in my opinion

[@dukeman7595]

What are you complaining about it was 1955 and the first V-8...??

[@alainantonio88]

Let me know if you want to sell that power steering unit, i have a 56

[@richardbrady2818]

My first car was 55 chevy 265, the car got wrecked, the engine was in storage for many yrs. then my dad gave it away which was ok. How much did you pay for this one?

[@weskirkland5850]

only reason the PS setup could be bad is if it pulls enough that single V-belt couldn't keep up with it.

[@ogr7771]

Also might add that yes, early 283s had a road draft tube, my 59 Chevy Viking has on but on the 283 the tube is vented starting out on top of the engine behind the distributer around the block then out the bottom.

[@mcqueenfanman]

I bet the original engineers never would have thought they could be built to & above 400 cid.

[@amc401nash6]

I believe the original engineers never intended the engine to see more than 300 cubic inches. It was the racers who proved the 283 block could live bored out to 4 inches. By the early 60's aftermarket stroker cranks were available as well so why not build a 327 from the factory in 62.

[@oldschoolmechanic-it8nv]

My brothers first 56 Chevy truck had a 265. Pulled it for a 283. Think he still has in pieces

[@MrMadkaw400]

One of my favorite engines

[@johnmatarazzo9178]

Nice I've had a many Chevrolets with the 265 283 327 damn I getting old

[@crankysports]

I came because your avatar is the Sears 200,000th tractor 👍🏻 I have a ton of sears

[@nobullziggster4070]

They ran very good for for bk then and had some power.. My bro had a 1956 Chevy with a 265 in it.

[@Mike-ry4ti]

Nice engine you have there, there are some modern ish Japanese vehicles that use a similar setup to that... You should rebuild and paint it to mint condition, put it on a dyno and break it in, then keep it somewhere safe, might be worth alot one day if it's the first one.

[@FrankMosch]

This is a to cool engine bet it get,s good fuel milage has reasonable power before mod,s is super reliable and not to big I wan,t to get me one....

[@stuartw1667]

Good video! I hope to see you clean that up and stick it in a car.

[@josephjakubec3171]

Weird is a poor choice of words. Different if you weren't around when they were common. Maybe "weird" to you.

[@gingerbread1032]

I'd love to have the carb and genset for an over unity project.