The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 292 into '54 GMC

I want to swap a '68 292 into my '54 gmc long bed, so I can use th700r4. Any info on mounts, water pump lengths available, and other problems in swapping would be welcomed. Already have the 292. This is my first post and also my first swap.

You don't have to replace the stock motor to run a 700R4. There is an adapter kit available that will allow you to use a modern automatic behind the original motor. The Chevy and GMC kits are different.

What motor are you taking out?

I'm removing a 327 that former owner put in. He offset the steering box and 35 mph is a death defying experience. I don't have a running gmc 6 or 235, but do have the 292 that runs.

Why not replace it with another SBC?

Nevermind. I can't read.

Well already having a 292 and not having the other is a good reason...

What transmission did the 327 have behind it, and how were both mounted? Your solution may be different than what makes sense for someone starting with a stocker.

I've know others who moved the steering over and were happy with the steering. Are you sure returning the steering box location to stock is going to solve your problem?

292 and 327 should be almost identical as far as XMSN mount-up.

The 327 is in there on a plate that bolts to the front of the block and then mounts on each frame rail via long bolts and rubber mount biscuit type goodies. The th350 is mounted to an x-mem out of 1-1/2 tube, bent and welded, more or less appropriately, and was bolted to the bottom of each frame rail. I agree that moving the steering box back to the original position may not solve the wild steering slop, could be the s-box is worn out.?

Harry when I bought my Suburban it was wild going down the road. New wheels and tires made a huge difference. The wheels on it when I bought it were all bent.

With the wheels and tires it now runs down the road just fine at 70+.

My steering box has not been moved and I'm running an original type driveline, so the comparisons don't go much further.

Unless you really want to run the 292 instead of the 327, I'd skip the engine swap and look into other issues that might affect the steering, starting with the wheels, but check the steering box, the tie-rod ends and the drag link.

Partial response to your original question: The engine and transmission should be mounted at 3 points, two widely spaced at one end, and one in the middle of the vehicle on the other. It sounds like yours is wide at the front of the motor, and in the middle under the transmission.

The original motor was mounted in the middle at the front, and wide at the bell-housing. I'm wondering if the stock crossmember, that goes under the bell-housing, is still in place on your truck.

Putting a 700R4 under your truck, as it sits today, might mean moving the transmission crossmember, depending on its design.

Your existing front engine mount sounds like a race car kind of mount, that is very unlikely to work with the 292. A crossmember for motor side mounts would fix that. They are available from lots of venders.