The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop swap pan gasket, discover sump'n cool

So the other day I decide it's about time to change the pan gasket (my starting point for a whole bunch of maintenance and upgrades) on my '65 C20. Thought it would take a few hours. HA! Took 2 days! Mild pain in the arse it was. After accomplishing that, I installed my new headers, Offy intake and fabricated linkage for the new 2 barrel. Tonight, after everything's finally installed, I start to put fluids back in. I pour the shop manual specified amount of oil in and fill the radiator. After a couple minutes I check the dipstick. Nothin' there. Pour another quart and it's only just starting to show. Now I'm starting to wonder what's going on. This thing's got 5 quarts now and not full. Surely a 230 would be full with 5 qts. I go and look at the manual again. Hmmm, yeah, that's the right amount, should be full. A 292 takes 6 qts I noticed. I look in the front of the manual. I read that 4 and 6 cylinder numbers are stamped on the right side of the block just behind the distributor. I check my numbers. Holy crap! It's a 292! All this time I thought I had a 230 'cause the previous owner said that's what it was. I never bothered to check the numbers.
I'm pretty excited. Had to tell someone who'd understand the signifance. My wife said "So that's a good thing?".
Moral of the story: Just 'cause someone's sellin' an old truck doesn't mean they know anything about 'em or what they got! Ya gotta look for yourself. Yeehaw!

Congrats on your good luck. I bought a '71 GMC and was surprized to find a posi tag on the rear end. So I looked on the glovebox door and sure enough, it was factory installed.

Once bought a 1960 Apache20 which then-owner said had a 235or250. Didn't matter which to me 'cause it ran GREAT. Turned out after some research that the amazing power(hillcliming) came from 292.