The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Rebuilding a 292 for a big bolt

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.

I have very little knowledge in "building" a 6 cylinder, but will say that a stock 6-292 is a real good engine. In a truck, I actually prefer a 292 over a small block V-8. I had a 292 in a '64 C-30 and it had plenty of power. It was all stock, except for the exhaust and a slightly shaved head as they found the head a little warped when I sent it out for a valve job. Fully loaded at 10,000 plus pounds was no problem going uphill. You will have more gears to pick from than I did, which will make it even better.

For the exhaust, I used a GMC V-6 straight thru muffler. Letting these engines breathe better will add to the power.

Speaking about cams, I got mine from Clay Smith Cams. Custom grind for only $200 bucks! You tell them your specs. and what your application will be. So you want low-end torque, they will do it no problem to what ever you want. I highly recommend them

I have a basically stock 292 in my 47 and like it alot. It would run 45mph real nice and I could run 55 but it was reving more than I liked. I think you well be pleased with it, for all your plans, I now have a overdrive and can run 65mph. But I dont like those speeds in the truck and about 60 is where I like it out on the freeway. Still around town I like running at about 35 with it, good luck with yours.

just drop a 5.9L cummins in there. . .

12 valve 5.9L/5spd manual. . .

24 valve 5.9L/6spd manual. . .

With today's gas prices running a gas engine in anything heavyer than a 3/4 ton is a waste of money. . .

with the cummins diesel in that truck you would get 12-16 mpg easy loaded maybe 17-19 empty. . . the 292 might get 9mpg empty at best an 5mpg loaded and it ain't going to have any power in the hill's with a load. . .

I'm a die hard but even i'm updateing. .

Mike. . .

If you are getting rid of the 216, I would be interested in taking it off your hands for a reasonable price.

Matt

There may be some difference in a 1 1/2-Ton, but my 1-Ton got about 15-16 MPG empty and not that much less fully loaded. But I will say my mileage seemed to be higher than normal for some reason.

I still would be hopeful on about 12 in a 1 1/2 Ton. (Fully tuned and with a Hi-Po muffler tho)

379MV6GMC-K3000 ....
"just drop a 5.9L cummins in there. . ."

...darn, you make that so sound easy.

yea i do don't I . . . i'm a rotten kid !

i've done it to a set of ford's, a 1961 F-500 and a 1965 F-700 both had inline 6 gas engine's was almost a drop in bolt up swap tank's and go easy. . .Almost! but it wasn't all that bad. I Built both truck as a pair for about $7,500. . .I paid $500 for the 2 ford trucks to begin with, my oldman bought the set about 2 year's later for $12,000... he's a heavy truck collector he's got a much bigger bugget than i as he own's his own land scapping and excavating company so most of his collector's are an " advertising " exspense :whistle: . . .

his office is basicly a show room you gotta walk past all the truck's to get to the counter. . . uniform paint company logo on each door who's going to argue i guess. . .

Your 292 sound's like a fine engine i like them i would run 500CFM 2 bbl on it with the HEI ignition,open up the exhaust and see how it dose for yea. . .

once you start changing compression and cam shaft's reworking head's to get more pulling power than your better off going to a diesel engine at that point cost will close to the same just longer engine life more power. . .

Whitch is why i started off with cummins diesel sugestion. . .

Mike

The Cummins would be nice but for the same money I could probably just buy a used trailer to pull behind the '01 Dodge diesel pick-up I allready have. Maybe when the Cummins wears out all the Dodge parts, I'll have a donor. Actually this is why I'm thinking of staying stock internally. I could live with the 216 but it's getting tired and it falls on it's face fast on the hills .

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

there yea go wear out the New truck put the power plant in the old one. . .I wish you the best of luck. .. . now if i could only fine some decent tire's of my truck's. . .

Mike