292's will actually out-torque some V8's. They were designed to replace the 261's in medium-duty trucks, where gas mileage was secondary to moving moderately heavy loads efficiently. Thar emphasis on low end torque makes a 292 a real gas hog, although an overdrive trans will help until you get hooked up to a trailer. Then running in direct drive 4th. gear will probably be needed unless you're on land as flat as a pool table. Making any of the 3rd.-generation sixes such as the 230, 250, and 292 fit into trucks from the 30's, 40's, and 50's is going to be a bit of a challenge, as such things as bellhousings, crossmembers, drivetrain, and motor mounts will all have to be modified, or swapped out for later model parts. The 292 water pump and fan might not line up well with your radiator without some creative tinkering, and the original "zero-pressure" radiator will probably have to be recored for one that can handle modern cooling system pressure- - -ditto for the heater core. 4WD doesn't win any gas mileage awards, even if it's not engaged frequently- - - -even with the hubs unlocked, it's usually good for a 2-3 MPG loss over a similar 2WD vehicle. Most of the 292-equipped trucks I've worked with struggled to get 12-13 MPG.
Jerry
