The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop What kind of setup would this 292 cid be?

I have received good advice in previous posts here in the Stovebolt forum. I have done a casting search with the previous posts and determined my 1953 Suburban has a 1963-1976 292 cid engine. Sometime in the near future I will be dropping a 5.7 liter vortec with a 700r4 transmission behind it. Meanwhile I'll be driving the Suburban with the 292 in it until all the body and paint work is completed. Then I can install my new gauges and drop in the new engine and transmission and start out with a zero mile truck. My clutch seems to chattering when I take off from a stop. Thought maybe I could install a power glide instead of replacing the clutch. I'm assuming the clutch is about shot. I have a power glide transmission that's been sitting around the shop for a quite some time. What kind of setup would this 292 cid be, with a power glide behind it. Could this be a good combination for a couple years? Does the power glide bolt up without much problem?

It depends on when the PG was made. If it's an early model with a cast-iron case, it might be a difficult swap. The later-model with the aluminum case would probably bolt right up, especially if it was originally installed behind a V-8 engine. The PG is a 2-speed transmission, with two basic ratios, too low, and too high!

The 194, 230, 250, and 292 engines have the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the Chevy V-8, so if your Powerglide was installed behind one of these sixes, or an 8-cylinder engine, it should bolt onto the engine with no problem. If it was behind a 235 engine originally, the bellhousing bolt pattern will be wrong. BTW, the aluminum PG is in great demand by round track racers and drag racers, so an ad on eBay might get you enough cash to get a complete new clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing, and flywheel refacing, plus labor, with enough cash left over for a 6-pack or two! Check out the PG prices in the JEGS catalog, or from TCI (Torque Converters Incorporated).
Jerry

Hotrod, Thanks again. The power glide is aluminum and came out of my 1967 Nova with a small block. I guess I'll try it for a while.

I don't know man, that 292 is a good engine. You can get some horsepower outta that thing too. You may have less trouble in the long run with the 292 than a V8. Yeah, yeah it's debateable but, think twice.
Now, going back to your other post, you should definitely have another vaccuum port inboard of carb. Yay or nay?

mugsy, I did find the vacuum port inboard on the carb. It was plugged, so I removed the plug and will pick up a fitting to connect the advance. What kind of horsepower is possible and is it pushing the engine to get it? What transmission is recommended? I heard that a lot of guys were building these 292 in the past. Thanks for the help.

At the extreme end you could probably pull 500-700 HP from a 292. But it won't be good for anything but 1/4 or 1/8th mile drag racing. If you don't want to go nitrous, turbo or supercharger then you can look to pull about 250-270 rear wheel HP max from a street 292. And even that will take quite an investment. $$$$

-ftyler

I have owned 3 vehicles with the aluminum powerglide. A 62 Nova with the 194 six, a 63 Bel Air with a 327, and a 68 Bel Air with a 283.

The only one I had any problems with was the 327. Just not enough guts in the tranny to handle the engine. You said your powerglide was behind a sbc, it should have enough for the 292.

For long term use I would go with the 700R4 and 4.10 gears. That will give you good acceleration and 2.87 overdrive.

krissly1, that port I'm talking about is on the MANIFOLD, just inboard of carb. And yes you should have one port on your 1 bbl for your vaccuum advance to distributor. You can leave the port outboard of carb (the one in pic on other post) connected to PCV as that's where it's supposed to go. There should be one more port on the intake which is/was for a brake booster. You should be able to hook your wipers to that.
Oh yeah, horsepower. I guess it depends on the power you're going for. If you've got a lead foot and want 350 hp to get your buggy going, then building your 292 is probably not a cost effective option. If you're looking for a good, solid, EASY TO WORK ON daily driver with some pep to it, then your 292 will get you there. I think you can fairly easily get 200 hp. Supposedly, a stock 292 put out 165hp (according to 1963 shop manual). My wife's van is around 180 hp and I can keep up with her. If I had a nice, smooth shifting 700R4 instead of that slow shifting SM420 4 spd, I think I'd be a little faster!

mugsy, The only port I could find, was the port shown in the photo. I will be away from my truck until Friday. I will look closer on the intake when arrive back home and post back with an answer. Thanks Again

I could only find the outboard port. I found an old fitting with connections for both pcv and wiper. My wiper is bad Thanks again for everyones help.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but the best sources for performance info for the L22 series GM inline-six engines are Santucci's performance manual and the inliners.org web site.