The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Best RPM for a 292 six.

I'm setting up a 292 with a 700r4. I want to calculate and install the rear end gear, with the wheels that I have, for the best cruisin RPM (mainly for mileage).
What would be the best RPM for a 292, to shoot for? The engine is basically stock.
I am also trying to figure out the best carb for mileage. Presently, I have a Weber 32/36 DGEV200 12091 ser.430
(This is all in a '64 GMC van.)
TIA!!

What is the height of the tires going to be?

The 1964 292 had a pretty decent net torque line...from around 1600 out to around 24~2500 so I'd be inclined to stay down in the 1800 to 2000 rpm range for highway driving with the best gas mileage. However, that wasn't known as a high efficiency engine. It was said about the 292 they could pass nearly anything...except a gas station.

The 292 was designed to compete with the 300 cubic inch Ford inline six- - - -both of them made for use in medium-duty box vans, school buses, and other gas guzzlers. They spent most of the time lugged down and pulling hard, at or near their rated top RPM and horsepower ranges. Getting good gas mileage from either engine is about as likely as finding a chicken with lips. I'd suggest gearing for a cruise RPM in top gear of around 2100-2300 RPM or so, which is right in the middle of ther engine's torque band. That will allow for a light throttle opening, especially with a real carburetor such as a Carter YF. A Weber makes a pretty good sinker when bottom fishing for BIG catfish.
Jerry

Tire height is 25 1/2 and circum. 81 1/2.
To be honest, I don't think it is a '64 engine. That is just what it's in. I never check the numbers to see what year.
Yeah, I know she won't sip the go-juice, especially since I'm pushing a barn door down the road but I'd like to set her up the best I can while I'm doing it.
I certainly am not attached at the hip with Weber. It does however have the linkage in the correct direction. So you suggest a Carter YF?? Would that be the best with a stock manifold? I will look one up.
THANKS gents!! I really appreciate all the help and your time.
Chaz

Therer is a Carter YF calibrated for a Ford 300 that should be close to the right mixture for a Chevy 292, definitely better than the Rochester that was OEM. You can also tinker with the mixture without changing jets or making permanent modifications by altering the float level a little at a time- - - -a higher level goes rich, and lowering the level leans things out a little. Just don't get the float high enough to cause flooding at idle.
Jerry

I have to moved this thread to the Greasy Spoon. The Stovebolt forum is for Chevy and GMC trucks and unfortunately vans don’t qualify as trucks under the present forum guidelines. If the thread stayed on just talk about the engine, I could allow it to continue, but once the thread started talking about tire size, that crossed the line and forced me to move it.

You can continue this thread in the Greasy Spoon as you wish.

I hope it will continue. I am learning a lot. To be honest tho, I thought a Van would/could be classified as a truck. My day, in the '70's, it was "Keep on Truckin", and that implied vans. Oh well. I was also here because I thought Stove Bolts referred to inline sixes. Sorry for the mistake.
I am still rather interested in Carbs. Thanks Hotrod Lincoln.

I also came up with a 323 gear as probably a good one. I plugged in a computer (on a gear site) 2000 RPM, .7 trany gear, tire height 25.5 and speed was 67 MPH. I understand I can get a rear end out of a "whale wagon" that will fit my "vehicle".

Thanks again guys!! You have helped me a LOT!

There are online calculators which can help you determine what rear axle ratio to choose. All you need is the tire height, overdrive ratio and desired RPM in overdrive.
I don't have that online calculator site handy. Maybe someone else can chime in.

Here ya go.
https://spicerparts.com/calculators/transmission-ratio-rpm-calculator

After discussion, John decided that Vans did qualify as trucks as they’re built on truck chassis’s. With this decision, I moved this thread to a more appropriate forum, Driveline.