Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Cam for street 292

This winter I plan to prepare a 292 to go into my '57 chevy 3800. Obviously, with a 1-ton truck I don't plan to be drag racing. The vehicle weight is approx 4000 lbs, engine rpm cruising at 55 will be 2300. I'll put an offenhauser intake with a small 4 bbl carb and I might do some light porting but no lumps. This truck will probably never see a full load again but I might do some light hauling and towing, but mostly just piddling around. My question is whether I should use the leftover 250 cam or stay with the stock. (I know I'll have to use an electric fuel pump for the 250 cam.) The 250 cam is an Iskey 231256, .492 lift, 256 duration, 112 lobe center. At this point I'm using parts that I already have except for the carb that I haven't found yet. I don't want to buy a new cam unless there's a good reason to. Funds are tight. Any recommendations will be appreciated.

If you do the mild head work then I don't see a problem with the 250 cam. But stock as it is you have good low end torque. And since that's where your cruising rpm will be then I think you'll be fine stock.

Because of the 292's greatly increased stroke, the cam barrel may also have to be relieved in a few spots also for more connecting rod clearance.

12 spots to be exact. I have done it before. Lay the 292 cam next to the 250 cam. Shadow in the areas to be notched. I used a 4 1/2 grinder cutting with the edge. Cams are parkerized and really hard.

If you don't, the rods will hit the cam.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like I should stay with the stock cam and save the 250 cam for later. I have a couple of 250 engines sitting in my shop for future projects. Thanks again for the help.

Save the money you were going to spend on electric fuel pump and spend it on a new 292 cam!

Agreed! A cam will probably be the single most best money spent.

No reason to go with an electric fuel pump if you're running a carb.

If he uses a 250 cam in a 292, or vice versa, he'll have to use an electric pump.

Didn't think about the drive lobe for the fuel pump.

Definitely don't waste money/time with the 250 cam in a 292. An electric pump is, what, $100? Then another $25-ish for the block off plate? You can get a cam, new cam gear, valve springs and valve seals for $230. Toss in lifters for $30 and you're at $140-ish over what you're talking about spending now but you get to choose the cam and it'll all be brand new stuff.

Got my 292 cam from comp. Custom grind with lifters for $212. If it was off the shelf it would have been in the $180 range.

I think the Elgin cams are the way to go. $140 with lifters. I have had several in different types of engines without a problem.