Chevy 250 In-Line 6 ?

Hi
 New to the forum and was hoping for some input on a Chevy Truck I picked up the other day. It's in bad need of some work to get it where I want it, but right now just concern with the engine. I have always like the in-line 6 cylinders for their low end torque, the engine is running right now but I'm going to rebuild it and the transmission & transfer case along with all the drive axles another words do it right the first time (lot of hard Miles).Just looking for some pointers on anything special (suggestions) while I got it broke down and maybe the best place to shop for the parts.Please don't hold back if you have a idea let me have it otherwise it's going back stock.Just that it would be nice to brag that someone on the forum told me to do this and to do that. You guys do this all the time and their's alot more sources and all kinds of parts available today than their was when I was playing around with four wheel drives.Well I'll leave it at that just wanted to touch base with everyone since I was new to the forum.
Thank's
Makitaman60  

Well for starters, what year and model is the vehicle?  

It's a 1981 K10 Chevy short wheel base.It has the 4 speed transmission.The body needs some work but I'm not really going to spend much on the looks.Maybe custom bumpers with a nice warn winch up front some nice A/T tires.
Just been searching around on the web haven't really found anything special anywhere unless you have some hot rod motor under the hood with some monster tires. I would just like to have a excellent running 4X4 that I don't mind driving anywhere ( not really crazy about driving my 04 Z71 off in the woods) just something dependable that I don't mind getting scratched up.Thank's for getting back with me let me hear your Idea's, see things like the motor I'm not sure if theirs anything I could do for it except keeping it stock which maybe the best bet and concentrate more on the gear ratio of the axle's cause just for riding around and hitting a mud hole or 2 like I'm planning on doing is not like getting out there and climbing Mountains.
Let me know what you think!
Makitaman60  

You have the 250 with the integrated intake cast with head. Not much you can do with it except maybe a better carb and cam. I am not talking about racing it I just been to get the old 6 banger feel of 60's. With proper gearing for tires in use that little six will climb any hill you take it on. About the only place it my feel weak is in a mud pit where you will not have the HP and RPM to spin the tires much. It should have the old SM465 which is  a VERY sturdy tranny with a nice granny gear.  

Thank's SnoMan
Yea that's what I figured for the Engine.I'm going to keep the tires narrow and tall kinda like the old military Jeeps that way they will be easier to spin the mud out of the tread.I've been there and done that with a six cylinder before, had a 71 land crusier the guy I bought from had too big of tires on it in the mud it would pull and go almost anywhere but if you ever got in some South Alabama Red Clay with a little Marl mixed in it was to sticky to slang out of the tires, that six just couldn't spin'em fast enough.Thank's again SnoMan if you can think of anything else that might help me out let me hear it.
Makitaman60  

You could look around for a 292 (it is basically a stroked 250 in a taller block) They made them until mid 80's and they had a removable intake still and can be real stump pullers to with a little work. I remember driving some pre smog 292's in late 60's and early 70's and they were very strong running motors then. BTW, the land cruiser has a GM motor because when GM came out with new generation 6's with 194/230/250/and 292 in mid 60's, GM sold the old 235/261 and all its rights to Toyota and though they modified it a lot over the years, a 71 was pretty much a stock "stove bolt" GM 6.