Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 250 vs 292

Hello, I have a 67 Chevy short step with a 250 six & a 67 GMC long fleet with a 292 six.
Am fixing up the Chevy & then selling the Gmc.
Am trying to decide if I should use the 250 or the 292 motor. What is the better motor??
So far have put power steering,power assist brakes, rebuilt rear end (308 ratio), 350 auto trans.
Any advice or wisdom will be appreciated.
Dale

I'm real partial to 292s, and would opt for the larger engine if given the choice. Just make sure you swap all the 292 stuff along with it. The motor mount on the 292 is unique to that size engine. The Passenger side mount is forward of the fuel pump -- opposite to the 230/250 set -up.
The 292 uses a different water pump, side covers, oil pan, harmonic balancer and motormounts than the smaller L6s. Most of the other stuff is the same

Thanks 68 OS for your feed back.
I was planning on swapping all needed parts, since I have both trucks it should be no problem. Am even going to use the larger radiator from the Gmc.
Like you I think the 292 is better & am basically headed that way, but have had a few people say the 250 is better for a sporty truck, so I figured I'd get some opinions

250 VS 292 always opens a huge and controversial can of worms. It comes down to what you want the engine to do. If you're looking for a serious truck engine a mildly built 292 is tough to beat. On the other hand the 250 has a much shorter stroke and much lighter rotating assembly, and so it will wind higher quicker. That's important because the best way to make horsepower with a small displacement engine is wind the crap out of it. Then again if you want to spend some money at the machine shop you can lighten and balance the 292 crank. That makes it better for winding up and if it's done right it will allow you to get rid of the 9200 pound harmonic balancer making it even better for winding up. Sometimes I think the worst thing that happens to us on these deals is the paralysis of analysis. There are lots of options, and you're not deciding between good and bad, you're deciding what great idea you like best. Mainly, it's your truck and your gonna drive it. Figure out what YOU want it to do, and build it accordingly.

Boo

Thanks Boo, I know either motor will work. Its just the 292 in the one truck runs so much smoother than the 250 & have been told that the 250's always run rough & run hotter. that the 292 is a better motor that will last longer & runs cooler by design. Since I'm only keeping the short bed I may as well make the best it can be , with what I've got

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I don't want no stinking V8, because every one tells me to get one !!!!

I once had a 68 c10 with a 250 It never ran ruff OR hot and I never had any issue towing a small trailers full of scrap yard junk. Or doing mild snow plowing. But yeah a 292 is better suited for trucks

You have a 3.08 rear ratio. That's considered a highway gear, and off the line performance will suffer somewhat due to it. That lends itself to the 292's much superior torque.