Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 292 advice needed

Hey guys, I'm new here. I'm 20 and finally took on my first old truck this past summer. I have a '68 Chevy C30 with the 292, HD 4spd granny tranny, and some creeping low 5.38 axle gears cuz it is a dualie. I know it sounds like an odd truck, but I bought it from a farmer for $200 and fixed up the body in and out and built a new rack body in place of the long gone dump body. It runs good, but I'm not bothering with a V8 swap since I read about some of your sick inlines! So I would just like to know what some of you gearheads with alot of miles into this hobby have to say about building an awesome powerhouse out of this and/or what you've done with the 292. Thanks for any comments.

I have a '68 C/10 w/ 292 and SM 465 tranny. (Bought it when I was 23 -- won't say how long ago that was) The 292 was GM's best kept secret. A real torque monster. I rebuilt one in 1977 and ran it for 25 years and/or 250,000 miles. Only major mod was a .030 overbore.
Currently I'm breaking in the original block on its first rebuild. Once again .030 over [296 actual CI.] I went with 1.84 intake valves (like on a 307 V8), ARP fasteners, Crane cam -- mild stage 2, Rhoads lifters, Clifford headers, Offy intake, 4 Barrel Holley 390 cfm, Centerforce clutch, 465 Muncie was rebuilt, Ign is stock points w/ Mallory voltmaster coil -- Pertronix set up in the near future. Rear end is 3.73 w/ Eaton Posi. Originally equipped w/ 7 x 17.5 tires. Rims that size are NLA so I went with 16s and 235/85 dunlops.
With a 5.38 rear end you won't be on the freeway much, but it sounds like a neat project. Good luck. Welcome aboard.

That sounds like a nice build on your '68. As for the rear end....well lets say I don't really go more than 45 mph, haha. I mostly use this truck for just driving around for fun and I take it back and forth to work when I'm working as a landscaper since it is a good hauler. It doesn't really see the highway often but I do take it on the 55 mph roads and that 292 sounds angry when I try to keep up. I just want to have more power like anyone else and have something cool to show off like a multi-carb setup too which sounded neat. It is definitly asking for a rebuild and that is what I will do eventually when I get a plan since it can give me V8 power. Thanks for the pointers.

well if that rear gear is that 5.38 Change it to something lowwer the motor will be much happier.try 4.11 or a 3.73 and see how it likes it then. just some food for thought.}[oooooo]

This sounds like the kind of truck that really wants an aux transmission or maybe a 6 speed out of a newer truck.
You keep the low-low first and knock the rpm's down on the highway.
Sorry I can't give specific help as I haven't found a suitable truck yet.
(holding out for a COE)
No, I don't think it's going to be cheap!

Not to take this too far into the drive train section, but swapping in a 6 spd did cross my mind. Like the NV5600...I think that is the one behind the dodge cummings....wonder how easy that would bolt in behind a 292? This truck is a hauler and wasn't really meant for speed, but at least that way I do have low and high gears without running that thing too hard trying to do the speed limit!!!

hello good question...let me ask, what type of springs do u have on the rear end? coil or leaf?...I may be able to help if i know this answer to your set up...

Lee

On the rear I have leaf springs. no shockes actually!!! the truck didn't have any when I bought it, but the leaf springs are packed with 9 springs, so it is pretty stiff back there.

Will a 292 fit in 53 Chev pu if I remove the fan ?

I don't know too much about your style truck, but I would asume it would fit just fine even with the fan since I believe most rigs came with inlines back then anyway. If you post a seperate question about it, I'm sure someone can give you a more exact answer.