The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Finally got a motor

Ok , I scored a 305 for my C-20 and am yanking out the 292.
I am wanting to drop this in, besides the motor mounts is there anything else I might need?

I got the motor,tranny,raditor,and steering column as a package deal.
In order to use the Auto tranny what do I need to do?
Will the drive line change?
And what about swapping the column?
Sweet- I cant wait

thanks

My question to you is "why would you want to do this?"

305s are notorious dogs. I've thrown at least a half-dozen away. And a 292 is a great motor. At least I sure like mine.

Don't get me wrong...I've got several "twin-fours": two 406s, a 454 and a 3 or 4 355s. But for my truck, I sure think the torque of the 292 is a whole lot more useable than the mediocre power the 305 produces.

I agree with Asylum. Why get rid of a great motor for a dog of a v-8?

With all due respect: Ditto

292= great straight 6.

305= great boat anchor.

Now if you had a 327, or a 350, or any other V8 engine besides the 'gutless wonder', it'd be worth the trouble of the swap.

I don't know the particulars of your truck. But in general a 6 to 8 swap requires a lot of money and some fabrication of mounts, linkages, brackets, driveshaft, radiator supports, etc. If your truck had a V8 as an option, then the easiest route is to find all the pieces from junk trucks or resto parts places and use them. If a V8 was not a stock option, then you're in for more fab work.

But the sad fact is that most healthy 305s will not outpull or outlast or outrun a healthy 292. The 292 is one of the best 6s GM built. The 305 is one of the worst v8s GM built, with the possible exception of the Olds 350 diesel. I've just seen too many 305s blow up when you try to work or race them.

good luck

chip

There's no reason the 305 should be any less effective, or reliable, than any other smallblock Chevy V-8, BUT, it takes a little more work to make one live up to its potential. The only difference in the 305 and the 350 is the bore size, which accounts for the cubic inch difference. They've both got the same stroke, and similar torque potential if the compression is correct. Flattop pistons and a little cylinder head work will turn the 305 on like any other smallblock engine.

That being said, you've still got a better truck engine in the 292, and the money you'll spend installing and modifying the 305 would be better spent freshening up the six. There's only 13 cubic inches' difference in engine size, so a rebore and some cylinder head work will get you the same size engine, with gobs more low-end torque if you stay with the six. With the right cam, valves, carburetion, and exhaust system, the 292 will run rings around the 305, too!
Jerry

I agree with a lot of what you said, Lincoln, but there's one additional issue with the 305. The smaller bore limits valve size in the heads unless you notch the block...in which case the cylinder head flow ain't all that great.

Because of that breathing limitation, they've gotten a really bad reputation, particularly as a performance motor. I spent a couple of years trying to make one even semi-fast in a Monte Carlo SS. In the end I gave up and put a 406 in it.

I had a couple 305s around the shop, but they were more like stumbling blocks than door stops...so I threw 'em away. Now I've got a couple of spare 400s which I think I'll keep.

You guys are merciless

I want to hear FatFenders/rust smuggler/??? (Skip) weigh in on this one. Wasn't he saying he couldn't make the rear tires bark with his 305?

The 292 is not a cheap motor to build - but watching ebay for FT to unload decent pistons might be the thing to do, get the rods reconditioned, crank ground + bearing kit. Get the head worked on, ebay for intake and exhaust, add a new 4bbl carby, crower street/strip cam and an HEI . . . I bet you squeeze another 50 - 75 HP out of it.

I have done much of the above and hope to not only make the tires bark in 1st, but roast them through first, well into second and a good chirp and sideways kick in third!

My gosh an old 292 can do this, wow. I though 292's were small V8's, or are they both?

- Shane

_Ford made a 292 V8, chevy made a 292 inline 6

Given the right cam, induction system and head work, you can make a 292 inline a peppy little motor.

The 250 rules! shorter stroke winds up quicker and higher = goes faster in less time!

But, if you want pulling power and low end torque stay with the 292. Look at it this way. Your 292 was specifically designed to work good under a load in pick-ups and bobtails. The 305 was designed to get decent milage while running poor quality regular gas with out knocking. that understood ask yourself what do you want your engine to do?
Boo

you guys scared off 68 C20 !

-W

68C20:,,If i was you,,the way gas prices are,,I'd keep the 6 banger in there,,,or go to a smaller 6,,,like a 250,,just my opinion

I've used pretty much every engine Chevy has to offer. It all depends on what you want. For my regular driver I have a 77 Nova Concours with a 305 , and I've driven it for 185,000 miles without touching the inside of the motor or tranny. I change the oil in the motor every 10,000 miles, no problems and the tranny and rear end still have the origional oil.Yes it's true ,people tell me all the time I should change oils more often, but the point is, it's been reliable and trouble free,I also get 600 miles out of a tank of gas.