The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts upgrade from '46 235 to a '63 292

My 46 2T has a busted 235. If I can't have the original motor I may as well upgrade. I have a line on a 292 in a 63 1/2T. I want to keep the floor starter and my transmission. I have a hoist that requires I keep the PTO. Will I be able to keep my bell housing? Would the newer one accomidate the other items as well as the pedals?

I have picked up so much information from this site. I'm hoping you can steer me the right direction before I spend the money.

Unfortunately the 292 will require that you change bellhousings.

From there you'll have to decide if you want to do the work to keep the foot starter. I'm sure something can be done to adapt a foot starter to the later motor, but its not a simple bolt-on of factory parts. If I were doing it I suspect I'd add a floor mounted push-button and just use the solenoid starter from the 292.

Your original transmission is the crash-box type and you may find using the later SM420 makes for a more pleasant driver. The SM420 will support your PTO so that change doesn't loose your hoist.

Guys have solved the pedal problem in the past. The newer bellhousing does not have the brackets, but with some ingenuity and fabrication support for them can be added to the newer bell.

Edit: Suddenly I'm unsure if any of the '55 to '59 V-8 powered trucks had a stomp starter. If they did, that would be the bellhousing to use with your 292. Hopefully someone with a better memory than mine will come along and clarify that.

My memory is shot as well. We had 2 58 2T grain trucks on the farm when I was growing up. One a 6 and the other a 8. I couldn't count the number of times I drove them. For the life of me I can't remember if they had stomp starters or not. Too many other trucks with and without.

I was afraid the 292 was going to cause me these types of problems. I'm sure the water pump/fan will be another. The floor starter I can live without. Our 49 had a push button on the dash...The pedals may take some fancy metal fabrication to make something stout enough for my fat feet.

Thanks for confirming my doubts. It may be the way to go anyway. I have a 216 on hand and could get 3 or 4 others easily. The 235 is a little tougher around here. You end up with a whole nother truck. Then all I would have is another project!

Jammer,
I am currently installing a 292 into a '53 two ton chassis with a '33 cab. We are running into a few issues here and there, but none are that tough to fix. I haven't driven this rig yet, but I am confident that it will be head and shoulders above the 235. In a few weeks I will be driving it and can tell you more. I think you should forge ahead with the 292 and the more modern tranny suggested earlier. Also, there is really nothing sinister about a key switch starter! Our forefathers would have used them if the technology was available back then.
Mark

The other problem I have with the 292 is I will be taking it out of a running 1963 C10. I do have a line on a 283 that I could drop in that...but then when would I get to my 67 K20 or my 37 GMC or the 39 1.5T?

I might just have to sell something.

FYI, Chevy V8's did not have foot starters, they have always been solenoid start. Only the 6-cylinders had the mechanical foot start button.

Mike B

i put a 292 in my 1/2T
i kept the foot stomper pedal in but just for looks
key start