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Chevrolet 173ci specs: 173 ci (2.8L) 6-cylinder, 3.50 x 3.00 in (88.9 x 76.2 mm) bore and stroke, 9.731:1 compression. Rated 130-135 hp, 1985.
The Chevrolet 173ci is oversquare — the 3.5" bore exceeds the 3" stroke by 16.7% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 8,000 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. A rod ratio of 1.9 is long by production standards — less side-load on the cylinder wall and gentler piston acceleration around TDC, the geometry that tolerates high RPM. Each of the 6 cylinders displaces 28.8 ci (472 cc).
9.731:1 on iron heads is in the range that usually runs on pump premium; iron holds heat, so treat it as the less forgiving side of that range.
It is one of 10 engines in the Chevrolet 173ci family, all of them 173 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement. 2 factory variants share these dimensions, rated from 130 to 135 hp in 1985.
| Displacement | 173 ci / 2.8 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.5" |
| Stroke | 3" |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Configuration | I6 |
| Compression ratio | 9.731:1 |
| Rod length | 5.7" |
| Rod ratio | 1.9 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.167 |
| Block material | cast iron |
|---|---|
| Head material | cast iron |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Advertised HP | 130–135 hp |
| Years | 1985 |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.167 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,000 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Rod ratio | 1.9 — long — less side loading on the cylinder wall, favours high RPM |
| Displacement per cylinder | 28.8 ci |
| Static compression | 9.731:1 — in the range that usually runs on pump premium |
| Intake valve diameter | 1.725" |
|---|---|
| Exhaust valve diameter | 1.425" |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 130 hp | — |
| 1985 | 135 hp | — |