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253 v 308

Started by _LXBren_ , Aug 06 2007 04:54 PM

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21 replies to this topic

#1 _LXBren_

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 04:54 PM

The lx hatch currently has a 253 with a little work done to it but nothing super. I know a lot of people say 308 but i was wondering if people can give me some price ranges and performance figure between the 2.

For instance:
1) IF I give the 253 the works . . .
a) how would that compare to a fairly stock 308 performance wise

what about cost of working the 253 compared to dropping in a stock 308

2) If I go the 308 what other associated costs am I looking at? eg brakes
3) what am i up for, approximately, for a worked 308?
4) What problems am I gonna end up with with the 308 (other than multiple speeding fines)?

Keeping in mind, she's not gonna race but hopefully turn some heads all the same.

Thanks in advance

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#2 RIM-010

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 05:05 PM

Going from a 253 to a 308 is as simple (and cheap) as swapping the engines over. The brakes/suspension etc is all the same, AFAIK.

moot is looking at getting rid of a 308 stroker for about $4k (thread below)

http://www.gmh-toran...showtopic=19973

Tim

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#3 TerrA LX

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 05:23 PM

You cant beat cubic inch, 308 is a direct replacement for 253, all costs as far as working the motor are exactly the same. There is NO negative side of the upgrade but the fuel tank may need a refill more often.

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#4 _[BOTTLEDUP]_

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Posted 06 August 2007 - 07:48 PM

About your only negative would be finding a good condition aussie pattern 308, they're a little rare these days.

Apart from that its a straight swap, and a worthwhile one. Stick with the 253 only if you get a really good one really cheap.

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#5 _LXBren_

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 12:05 AM

hmmm no-one for keeping and working the 253?

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#6 _STEVO_

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 08:08 AM

do people still run 253s lol
go the 08 mate you would kick yourself if you didnt
should just slip straight in and if you were going to work the 253 you could spend half that on the 308 and have alot tuffer engine
IMO

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#7 Struggler

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 09:47 AM

Hey I love revving 253's but the cold hard fact is your giving away 55 cubic inches for a very small initial outlay. It costs the same to bore and hone etc so why not just buy the larger bore engine ? For a performance application this makes the most value-for-money sense.

253 blocks do have the benefit of being infinately reusable. Once you have gone 060 you can step up to 305/307 chev pistons and oversizes !!

If I was to build a 253 I would bore it to the biggest oversize poss, this way it gets really close to being a 308. I don't see the point in stroking one unless you have to prove a point.

Having said all that a 253 can be a great sounding, fuel efficient and reliable little engine. In the end it is your choice.

FWIW I would love to build a 4/71 blown 253. Easy to boost and heaps of bore thickness.

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#8 _[BOTTLEDUP]_

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 10:03 AM

I have always wondered about building a little 253 for something like G/gas, run some YT -9s and a sheet metal twin carb tunnel ram, I wonder what the ultimate hp possible would be?

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#9 _LXBren_

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 11:37 AM

308 is probably the better choice but I already own the 253. It's not like I have to spend the initial outlay like I would on a 308. BTW what would a working stock 308 cost me you think?

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#10 _STEVO_

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 11:57 AM

its hard to answer

$1000 or $40000
its up to you what you want to achieve out of it

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#11 _bon_scott_

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 02:31 PM

I wonder how much boost the 253 can take? Would be good to build a twin turbo on 40psi

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#12 TerrA LX

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 05:39 PM

Yeah don't get me wrong, 253 is a great street motor in a torana, a reco with mild cam and bolt ons is well and trully enough to get it crushed (new laws pending).

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#13 Heath

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 05:50 PM

A 253 with cleaned up ports, pumped up compression, little cam, nice exhaust, blue V8 electronic dizzy and a good induction setup (Edelbrock Performer, Quaddie or a gas setup for example) will sound fantastic and deliver reasonable performance & economy. Cheap to build and maintain, and it's a little bit different than the typical 308. Doesn't go as hard but the 55 cubes will make a difference to your pocket

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#14 ls2lxhatch

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 06:28 PM

I do not think you can describe a 253 as economical. I would be interested to see official fuel consumption figures for the 253 and 308.

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#15 Heath

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 07:12 PM

I've been told that there is a pretty radical difference between the fuel consumption. But as one can be running poorly etc it's hard to actually calculate how they will perform (assuming they are in the same car with identical drivelines)...

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#16 RIM-010

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 07:14 PM

Are you guys saying that the 308 is more fuel efficient?

Tim

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#17 _bon_scott_

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Posted 07 August 2007 - 11:39 PM

there is a HUGE difference in economy between the 308 and 253. i could get my 253 down to 11L/100kms, with a trimagic and 2.78 diff.
with a 4 or 5 speed, a good tune and a highway run you could probably get 10 maybe even 9l/100hms.

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#18 ls2lxhatch

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Posted 08 August 2007 - 12:20 AM

According to this article you can expect a 10% saving in fuel and around 20% less power when comparing a standard 253 and 308.

Based on road test figures recorded when the HZ was new, a gently driven four-speed is likely to return around 15L/100km, rising to more than 20L/100km for an automatic being used in city traffic. Choosing a 4.2 will cut consumption by around 10 per cent, with premium unleaded fuel plus regular doses of valve seat protection recommended for both engines.

http://uniquecars.ca...topDefault.aspx

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#19 _LXBren_

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Posted 08 August 2007 - 03:30 PM

According to this article you can expect a 10% saving in fuel and around 20% less power when comparing a standard 253 and 308.

Based on road test figures recorded when the HZ was new, a gently driven four-speed is likely to return around 15L/100km, rising to more than 20L/100km for an automatic being used in city traffic. Choosing a 4.2 will cut consumption by around 10 per cent, with premium unleaded fuel plus regular doses of valve seat protection recommended for both engines.

http://uniquecars.ca...topDefault.aspx

haven't read it yet . . . but are you saying the 253 saves you 10% fuel but at a cost of 20% power?

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#20 _LXBren_

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Posted 08 August 2007 - 03:42 PM

read it
yep, in a HZ 10% less fuel but at sacrfice of 20% power.
Be interesting to compare that in the Torana. I guess it would be similar.

Gee, for only 10% more fuel I get an even bigger donk! If i drove it every other day I would consider staying with the 253 but I will prob only drive the Torry every other weekend - 10% on a tank of fuel not that much really.

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#21 _[BOTTLEDUP]_

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Posted 08 August 2007 - 04:31 PM

Think of it this way, a larger engine has to do less work for the same performance. So you can conceivably built an efficient 308 that makes more power on the same fuel.

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#22 _LXBren_

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Posted 08 August 2007 - 07:14 PM

Think of it this way, a larger engine has to do less work for the same performance. So you can conceivably built an efficient 308 that makes more power on the same fuel.

bit more complicated than that. But I can concede once the car gets going engines could be comparatively similar in fuel consumption.

hmmm