I believe it showed up in the early 1960's- - - -63 or 64, maybe? It was an upsized version of the 194/230/250 engines that shared a lot of design features like the bellhousing bolt pattern and a few internal parts with small block V8's. The first of that generation of engines came out as a 194 in the 1962 Chevy II, along with a similar-design 4 cylinder. The 292 is a raised-block version of the 250 with a much longer stroke, a taller side cover, and an offset motor mount on one side of the block.

The 228 through 302 GMC's use the same bellhousing and a few other parts as the 216, 235 and 261 Chevy engines.
Jerry

"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!