The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop New Guy Says Hello!

Hello all! I just found this forum. I grew up on the Chevy six-banger. As a child it was as much a part of life as anything else. My dad owned about a bazillion of them. My first car was a 51 sedan deluxe with 54 235, dual rochesters and fenton cast iron headers!

I recently purchased a 1970 C-10 1/2 ton with 250 six and 3 on the tree. I plan to do some modifications to the engine such as offy 3x1 manifold, headers, and a crane cam. I am wondering about the head. Will the 292 head bolt on the 250? If so, does it have bigger ports and valves?
HAVE FUN!
BOB

Hello and welcome to the forum...

To answer your questionz

Yes. It's a direct bolt on.

I don't think so. I know the valves are the same. The heads are essentially the same design. I believe the only real difference is the 292 head has the temp sensor built into the head, whereas the temp sensor is in the thermostat housing on the 250. At least that's been the difference I've noticed in the 250 and 292 I've owned.

If you want a real performance advantage I've been told that you actually want to use a head from a 194 cubic inch inline 6. Gives you a higher compressor ratio than the others. You can also shave/mill the 292 head but you want to check valve clearance to make sure nothing crashes in the combustion chamber. If you're running a 292 with the stock type (deep dish) pistons, you can mill the head quite a bit and have no piston/valve collision problems, and increase your compression ratio and the same time.

-ftyler

Ftyler,
If I understand your response: the 292 head has the temp sensor on the head, but the 250 has it in the thermostat housing? Does the 292 also use a different plug (5/8" vs 13/16")? See when I had my engine built, the passage on the head walls was so narrow, I couldn't use my standard plugs (socket wouldn't fit) so I had to find a 5/8" nut plug to fit in. Just curious.
Oh and Fleet, welcome aboard. These are some great folks around here.

Welcome Mr. Fleetside,
This is a great board, lots of advice to be had

I've also heard that V-8 pistons (283?) fit into the 250 with some skirt machining, and give a nice CR boost.

Lotsa options...

-Boyo

Welcome aboard, Fleetside. There isn't anything about old GM iron that is unknown to the visitors to this page. Ask, and ye shall be answered.