The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Opinion of the 292

Who has owned one and what are your opinion of this big block inline six? Is it worth having in a pick up with headers and 3 inch exhaust and possibly two single barrel carbs? Any stories to tell about them? Any problems with them other than a bit thirsty with low gears?

hi henry, i have a 292 in my 42 chevy g506 that i converted into a pickup truck. couldnt ask for more. i probly have more torque than most of those worn out small block chevy motors and a little better gas mileage. not to mention the nostalga factor (eventhough its not a REAL stovebolt) it does every thing i ask from it including pulling a drag full of firewood in the hilly counrty roud here, sure i have to shift alot but i wouldnt trade this motor for anything. planning on how to build an AD chev or gmc around one next. oh and by the way, mines all stock no hop up add ons...yet...if i can ever convince the wife that three carbs and headers are manditory then i might add a few extras
just my $.02 per usual (that aint much anymore)
~army truck

army truck got it right. I just put a rebuilt 292 in my 63 C20 with an a833 behind it and 4.10 Detroit Locker in the rear. The motor is still pretty stock except for an RV cam, headers, and 11.0 compression. I'm just about breaking the tires loose at will in 1st. I got 16 mpg and still tuning, for the 11.0 compression. I'm breaking the tires loose barely moving and not much above idle and folks are looking around for who is doing it. fun

Larry

I'm a big fan of the 6-292. In most cases I actually prefer one over a V-8. I had one in my '64 C-30. Plenty of power, torque and good gas mileage to boot!

My, 11:1! I would be satisfied if I could get 8.75 or maybe 9:1 compression ratio, since stock is only 8:1. With the low octane fuel I would think would be just fine for me. I have 3.73 gears with a 700R4. There is just something about an inline Chevy six. I love their sound and how they run. I would be glad to hear from some more on this engine. Oh, BTW, are there low dish pistons for this engine? Usually they are deep dish for low compresion. Flat tops I think would go too high. Would like 8.5-9.0 max. I tried an rv cam in a 250 and its overcammed so I probably should go with a stock one unless there is one that idles smooth thats just above a stock one. I do have MSD for it.

I'm going with a 261 stroker for my truck because I want it to "look" stock. If I were to start with a frame and a motor to build a truck around, I would have a tough time choosing between a 292 or a 302. My neighbor has a mid 80s truck with a 292 that I've used for projects and to tow a boat. It's all stock and performed as good or better that any similar older trucks I've driven with a stock sbc.

Henry, Federal Mogul still makes the LPG piston for the 292. The LPG piston is low dish and will get you 9.0 compression.

Larry

When I worked for the Chevy dealer (1970-87) we serviced many C-60 flatbed lumber trucks with the 292 six.They were real gutsy trucks with a 4 speed trans and two speed rear.

The 292 is a long stroke engine that produces a lot of torque and will if not run hard give fairly good gas mileage. I have a built up one with 3 carbs, cam, etc. and it makes plenty of horsepower, but of course mileage suffers. My opinion the 292 is a great choice of engine for a truck.

I REALLY enjoy your input. This is my favorite truck site. At least I can get some good answers for these trucks. Thanks LGriffin for that info. I needed to know that. I'll check into it today. I hope to order an engine in the next week from Hiperformer. Also known as S&S Machine shop out of Spokane Washington. I live in Medford Oregon. They give a 7/70 or 7/100k mile warranty. They have the lowest return rate in the industry. I used to work for a parts store that sold their engines. They machine them to a finer tolerance that stock. Moly rings, brass freeze plugs and other high quality parts are installed. If it wasn't for high gas prices one of those honkin' Jimmy V6 engines would be a novelty. The 305 or 351 with shaved heads and decked block, balanced. The biggest one was a 472. Same cu. in. as the Cadillac V8 but in a 6. Sometimes here in the great Northwest referred to as having coffee can pistons! I used to drive them in school buses many years back. They ran real well and lasted for years. Lots of torque. I think the 292 will work just fine. BTW, Whats the difference with the 67-72 292 version and the 73-85 engines? They made then till 89'. With a stock cam and Federal Mogul pistons (9:1) and two single bbl carbs is it possible to get in the mid teens with a light foot? Should i go with just a one bbl? The linkage set up can be a problem with the 700R4 downshift cable. Thats why I thought that two singles instead of a 4 bbl would work well with no mods needed for the cables. Being a 4X4 a little more power than a stock 292 is what I need. Not looking for a hot rod. Would a modest porting and polishing be a good idea? Should help it breathe better I would think. I would like to post a pic of my truck here somehow. Not sure how to do that.

I wish I had a 292 to play with. Ever read Leo Santucci's book on modifying later model 6's? He knows how to get plenty-o-power from them.

I have that book and read it and its got great info on them. I am waiting to hear from the shop how much it will cost for the machine work. Going to put in LPG 9:1 pistons and maybe a small RV cam with some headers and possibly two single bbl carbs, we'll see.

The heads could definitely use pocket porting. The factory machining for valve guides left some nasty ridges that will destroy the flow. Just clean up the pockets and a three angle valve job.

I'd consider a four barrel and an Offy intake. The Offy will give you good bottom and mid range torque. I have an Offy and Quadrajet to on mine. A lot folks are using the 390 cfm Holley.

btw If you need the part no. for the LPGs I've got it.

Larry

I used to maintain fleets of trucks which mostly used 292,s. They are tough. We used to drive them across the state with the throttle to the floor mile after mile. Sometimes they are a little noisey because of forged pistons. The stock exhaust manifolds are a pain. They burn out gaskets & warp & crack. After market headers would be the first thing I would do to one.

if i ever get an oportunity to rebuilt mine i think i would/will go the route of RV cam LPG slugs and the split cast exhaust manifolds and a four barrel water heated intake with an adaptor and a healty two barrel. i already converted to HEI distributer so i am good there. that is how i would like to do mine. that way it still remains very practical. but for now stock works good
army truck

As a side note: Leo's highly modified 292 in his'50 Studebaker ran 1/4 mile traps at 9.78 sec @ 134.75 mph here in Jersey over the weekend. This was in chilly weather.Not too shabby for an inline.

Just getting mine rebuilt. It over revved cause the linkage stuck and ruined a bearing.
Never lacked for pulling power but would like a little lower RPM's on the highway. But I will probably change the rear end. But I love stock so I would never reconsider changing it anyway.

The 74 up went to the narrow belts & had different water pumps & therm. housings. About 68 up had the temp sender in the top of the cyl. head. Somewhere in the early 70,s up they had outlets in the head for air injection emission control. In 85 they put a emission system on that was the darnedest conglomeration of belts & pumps & hoses you have ever seen. Practically all that has been aborted by know.

Already have Leos' book for about a year. Very good book. Will be ordering the new engine next week. YEAH!!! Should be able to order it by Tuesday or Wednesday the latest. Will have it the following week. Yahoo! Can't wait till it is installed and start driving it. Will have it done with the LPG pistons and either a stock cam or a "small" cam just above stock. Should be about 9.2 compression which is plenty with this pump gas. Will do some porting and polishing and balancing. Even though inlines are basically balanced, 292s are better balanced. Should I have the rods shot peened? Also hoping to install roller rockers. I found some stainless steel ones. I hope I can get them. I think with some headers either split or Cliffords it should run really well. I already had the radiator redone and am using the fan shroud from the V8 and the smaller water pump pulley from a 350 to make it turn a bit faster when idling. It gets hot here in the long summers. Also have the 7 blade fan with clutch instead of the three blade. Should I gut the cat converter or put in a honey combed type just incase? I don't have to have it emissioned checked anymore being its 20 years old. It passed in May with the 350 with flying colors for the last time. I also installed a HD torque converter last month. Going to have a Corvette shift kit put in for better shifts but not hard shifting. Some new springs and servo and away we go! I'm chomping at the bit for this. One shop said I should put in 1.94 valves. I think thats too big. Stock 1.72s or maybe 1.84s if they are available will be plenty with headwork. With 1.94 valves mpgs will go out the window. What about exhaust valves. Should they be the stock 1.5 or go to 1.6? Performance is good but looking for economy within reason. I may keep the 4 bbl manifold I have. I have the hot water set up for it. Its brand new. Just may look for a 390 or 450, 470 cfm carb. 500 max. Still may go with two single bbl carbs instead. Easier to hook up the two cables being I have a 700 trans. Should be fun!

Wish I knew how to play with it. Have to pay someone to play.

Henry G, before going larger valves, think about putting lumps in the intake ports. Lumps will get as much or more than larger valves. Here's a link;

http://www.t6racing.org/id2.html

Larry

Hey LGriffin, I went to that site. Neat site. I watched his videos and they are fun to watch what an inline can really do. You know, lump porting is mainly for racing. But....... With stock valves and lump porting and polishing, that just might be the trick. Thanks for the info. I will mull this over in my mind over the weekend.