I have a good 292 core I would like to rebuild for my '49 1 1/2 ton. Intended use will be mostly local with a grain/cattle box with maybe one or two trips a year to the livestock auction yard 90 miles away. Except for the trips to auction, it will seldom see speed limits over 45 mph and a lot of gravel roads. Originally I had visions of lpg pistons, rv cam, 4bbl intake and dual exhaust. Given the trucks intended use, a couple things have me re-thinking that vision.
-First, with higher compression and a hotter cam, would I trade durability and reliability for power gains that may not do that much for a large truck?
-second, would the cost of lpg or custom pistons and performance cam be worth the expense in my application.
I'm now thinking for a truck that will be a work horse, I'll stay stock internally, adding only a 2bbl intake, cast iron dual exaust manifolds and a HEI distributor. That should make a pretty dramatic change from the stock 216. Probably the transmission and two speed axle will stay stock where they are in good shape. I may run taller drive tires to help the axle ratio a little. I want the truck to earn it's keep and still outlive me.
I getting ready to send the block to the machine shop and collect parts so any feedback would be appreciated.
