The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 292 inline in a 1954 3600

My friend has a 292 out of a 1971 c10 for sale. It has a 3 speed trans. It runs really nice and he only wants like $200. What will be needed to do this swap? My truck has a 235 and an automatic. I saw somewhere that trucks after 1948 the transmission will bolt up to the newer inline 6's. Don't know if this is true or not. If it will not bolt up what trans would you suggest?

Not a bolt in but a great motor for your 3600. Mount kits available, go to Langdon's Stovebolt or Chassis Engineering.
Also the 292 has same bolt pattern as all the small block v8s, any automatic would make a nice set up. Best of luck

You will need the complete engine/trans assembly, as nothing 235-related will bolt up to the 292. It has the same bellhousing bolt pattern as a 55-up V8, not a 6 cylinder.

A 55-62 V8 standard shift truck bellhousing with the angled mounts will bolt up to the 54 crossmember if you choose to run a standard transmission, but you'll be on your own for front motor mounts. For an automatic, you'll need to add a rear transmission crossmember and modify the one under the bellhousing for extra clearance. A new driveshaft willalso need to be fabricated.
Jerry

The engine im getting has a trans i've never seen before. it has 2 shift levers on it, both on the left side.

Probably a Saginaw.

Ed

How many bolts hold the side cover with the shift levers onto the transmission? If it has 7 bolts you have a Saginaw with a full synchro 1st. gear. That's a good thing- - - -you don't have to come to a full stop to get it into 1st. at a stop.
Jerry

I have the option to buy a th350. Should it bolt up to that 292 and will it work with my driveline? This is the link to it- https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/pts/6130268352.html
let me know what you guys think if its a good buy or not. Eventually ill go to a sbc but that 292 is available so ill run that for awhile

What rear end ratio do you have in your truck now? That will help you decide if direct or OD trans would be most useful, whether you stick with the Saginaw? or that 350(both direct), or go to some OD trans.

Ed

it is the stock rearend which is a 4.57 i think. Im a little low on funds right now so an axle swap will happen in the future. Does that trans look like a good buy or should i pass?

It would be difficult to GIVE me that 350- - - - -"Shift Kit"- - - -"High stall speed converter"- - - - -You'd have to spend a couple of hundred bucks to correct the butcher job that's been done to it already.
Jerry

So i should probably pass? I dont have the money to buy a brand new one or to have one rebuilt

I have a very poor opinion of anything that alters the shift strategies of a valve body. I've seen far too many serious driveline and rear end failures caused by the tendency for a shift kit equipped transmission to momentarily lock up in two gears at once on a full-throttle downshift, causing universal joint and/or rear end failures. A high stall speed converter creates a false neutral condition due to slippage, then slams into engagement at every stoplight. Both these modifications are for drag race only applications, and shouldn't even be considered for street use.
Jerry

What would you recommend for me to do then? Is it worth getting the funds to buy a brand new transmission? or will it be cheaper to get one rebuilt. On Summits website the tci with the automatic valve body is only like $995. What would the cost be of getting one rebuilt?

If it doesn't shift and drive like you want you will be unhappy and possibly lose interest in your project. Save up, do more research and get what you will be happy with.
🛠

The 350 is a pretty obsolete transmission. It hasn't been installed in a new car since the middle 1980's. I'd expect to pay no more than $100.00 for a "rebuildable core" transmission, and certainly less than $500.00 for a rebuilt one from a transmission shop. Chances are there's a local transmission builder who would be glad to give you a bargain price on one that's been cluttering up his storage area for a while. Don't get sucker-baited by some hotrod shop that's selling a beaned up racing transmission that won't work well in a street application in the first place.
Jerry

Another problem im running into is that the neck on the water pump that the fan is one makes the engine 3" too long. do you guys know of a water pump with a shorter neck on it or should i just run electric fans

It doesn't cost anything to jack up the rear end and count driveshaft and wheel turns, then you will know for sure. If you have to jack up both rear wheels to get one to turn, you have some sort of locking diff.

Ed