The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 292 What Year is it?

My '59 Viking has a newer 292, I would like to find out what year it is. It will make life easier in the future when looking up tune-up specs, and also ordering parts. The local Chevy dealer (parts people) have not been unable to help. It seems that there might be some additional ID numbers that I can't find. Here is what I do know.

Engine Serial #14 6392178
Engine Cast #3851659 Also says "con 2 E 11 6"

Intake Cast #3859381

Exhaust Cast #3855240

Another web site (Inliners I think) identified it as a 292 '63 thru '76 can anyone here narrow it down a little.

Thanks

The block casting date code E 11 6 decodes to May 11, in a year ending with 6. Could be '66 or '76. Most sources give the year range for that 292 block casting number as '63-'76 (most online sources just copy the info from Inliners), but I found one source that only went through '72, and after '72, the casting numbers were very different. Yours could be a '66. There was also apparently a change in 292 heads in '67. Can you find the head casting number?

The engine serial number you give doesn't appear to be a serial number. Was this number stamped on the pad to the rear of the distributor? It should be in a form such as F0503WA. While the engine serial number won't indicate a year directly, the suffix code can provide clues. For instance, regardless of what the suffix decodes to, a 2-letter suffix would indicate a year in the '63-'69 range, and a 3-letter suffix would indicate '70-up.

Once you have the last two or three of the stamped number:
http://no25.chuckthetruck.com/page3.html

Late 60,s up had the temp. sender in the head. 71 up had the tapered seat plugs. 74 up went to narrow belts & 5/8 bypass hose. 73 back had 1" bypass hose. That might help you get appox. area.

Xram53, I double checked all of the numbers and that is the way they are listed. The serial number is directly behind the distributor on the machined pad. The number is perfectly clear, (no double or poor stamping).

chuckthetruck, As I stated to Xram, the serial number is like I originally reported. No letters, it is all numbers.

Wrenchbender, The temp. sender is in the thermostat housing that is bolted directly to the front of the head. Looks like the older style plug (13/16" spark plug socket) has flat face seat. Champion Plugs N5C. Looks like the larger hose.

Could it be something other than a 292, maybe a 250 or something else? Could it be a GMC engine, maybe they shared the same castings, but serialed them differently? It does not say "Chevrolet" anywhere like a 283 would have on the valve covers. Or could it have been a crate engine long or short block? Or if it was a remanfactured engine, would they machine the pad and create their own serial number?
If I remember correctly the head casting number would be under the valve cover, is that right? I guess I could pull the cover, if that is my only option.

According to this page it's 63-72, which would mean a 66.
http://www.butlers-a1.com/chevym.htm
About halfway down the page are two listings for the block casting. I would check the head casting number, it's under the valve cover.

My 65 292 has the temp sender in the thermostat housing.

Fred and Tom thanks for the help. I think that for now, I will assume it is a '66 as it seems that most of the data is pointing that way. And I will check the casting numbers on the head sometime later on. I do have at least 2 oil leaks to address, and one looks like it's the valve cover. I will be sure and post my finding, when I get to that stage.

Thanks Again

John

Valve cover leaks can be tough on this engine. I'm assuming it has a sheet metal cover. Clean the surface spotless. Straighten the lip on the cover, I use a small ball peen hammer and a piece of 2X4 as a dolly. It needs to be flat, all the way across. I use a cork gasket and yellow weatherstrip adhesive on both sides. When you install the bolts, use a torque wrench and tighten to 55 in-lb. It is important that you do not overtighten the bolts and bend the flange on the cover.