Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 250 VS 292

Hi I am Marcel (chucky) from the netherlands.

My english is not that good so please forgive me if you can't understand my messages

I 've got a 1982 Chevy Van with a 250 engine with integral intake and head. This engine is in bad shape. So i want a new fresh engine.

I 've read that Chevy also have an 292

I use my Van for some heavy work. So i need a strong engine, not very fast but strong a lot of ft-lbs.

My questions:

What is a good engine to start with? 250 or 292. Or which one would you use and why?
Is it possible to place a 292 engine i a 250 vehicle, if don't have al lot of space in the Van :rolleyes:

I like to hear from you

Thanx anyway,

Marcel.

Chucky, Your English is just fine, no problem.

No doubt about get a 292. The 292 will have the bottom end torque of a 350 V thing. You didn't mention what transmission you have. The 292 block will be about 2 inches taller. Since the 292 is a truck motor, I'm sure it was an option for the Van as well. You will need the passenger side motor mount tower should bolt right in. The 292 has the fuel pump were the 250 motor mount is. The 292 tower will bolt in forward of the 250. The only other problem I can think of is the crank shaft bolts for the flywheel/Flexplate, the bolts are either 7/16 of 1/2 inch depending on what year you get. I'm sure some one will clarify this.

Other considerations are the 292 stock won't get the same gas mileage the 250 would get. What options do you have, power steering, Air conditioning, since the block is taller mounting brackets may not work or need modification. Although the integeral head from the 250 should fit the 292 the word is (and maybe) they are a prone to problems. So there maybe other problems depending on what you find for a 292.

Larry

Hi Larry,

thanx for the reply.

The transmission is a Th350 it is already in the van and i want to keep it that way, i think.
It is a good and strong transmission as i know.

The gasmileage is no problem, i am going to drive on LPG. Because gasoline is very expensive in holland. We pay 1,50 euro a liter that is 7.19 dollar a gallon........ :rolleyes:

The only option i've got is power steering.

If you say that the 292 was an option for the Van. I am gona look for a "Van" engine. It probely wil fit easy in the Van because it was build voor a Van

Thanx,

Marcel.

You can also look for the older UPS trucks, Bread trucks, Pick-ups Panel Vans/Trucks This rare But i have also seen them in a (very) few RVs that had the Van style Bodys.

Dear Marcell;

Look for a late (60s era) 3/4-1 ton flatbed/longbed too. Those came with a 292" for commercial use.

If you find one, buy the complete engine. This way; everything will fit and be there.

Good luck.

if you find one and rebuild it get the lp gas pistons they make them for the 292. they raise compression about 1 point which will help.

Thanx for the reply's guys

I going to look for a 292.
there must be plenty of them because everyone in holland wants a V8.
If you have a L6 they even don't want to call it a American car

Is a 60' engine better than a newer??? The only advantage what you have is you don't have the emmision systems i think.
Or are they older engine's more powerful, because in that time they don't look to the fuel economy???

Where can i buy some stuff for the engine?? new bearings etc and some performance stuff?

Thanx,

Greetz Marcel.

For what you are going to use your 292 for, the year doesn't matter a lot. You do want one that has the separate intake and exhaust manifolds. You also want one that has the power steering (PS) brackets on it, or while youring looking find the PS brackets for a 292 WITH OUT the intergral head. Your HEI distributor will work in the 292. Speaking of emissions your distributor may have the maximum advance limited by 4 degrees for emissions if it is the same distributor used in the USA. Does your 250 have a two barrel or a one barrel carburator on it?

Since the 292 was made into the 80s any parts house here the USA can get a rebuild kit for the 292. I would think the same would be true for a good parts house in the Netherlands. What might not be easy to get are the LP gas pistons Bob308 mentioned. The LP gas pistons will get you 9.0 versus 8.0 compression for the standard high(?) compression 292 pistons. Federal Mogul makes the LP gas pistons part number 980P-xx, xx being what ever your overbore is, they are not cheap. Performance parts,,, I thought this was a work truck. What did you have in mind.

Larry

Hi guys,

Why is it important to find an engine with a separate head and manifolds?

My 250 has a 2 barrel (E2SE carb, and it is ****ed up. Ill need a new one for the 292.

How far can i go with the compression ratio, and stil good running on euro 95? (euro 95 is a standaard gasoline in holland)
The 9.0 compression is no problem? If the engine is rebuild you have to run an couple of times on gasoline before you go on LPG, and it is handy when i run out of LPG.

Whit the right performance parts you can build a work engine right?? Or did i said something stupid

Marcel.

The majority on the board feel that the integral head is prone to problems and does not perform well. I personally have no experience with them. Separate head and manifold also will allow you to think about headers and possibly a four barrel intake manifold.

Is euro 95 5% ethanol or 95% ethanol?

You didn't say anything stupid. I was trying to jokingly give you a bad time and also find out if it was going to remain a work engine. Because it will be a work engine it will limit how much duration the cam you install will have. Duration will determine at what RPM your torque will start to come in. If you do a search of the archives you will find more information on buiding a 292 than you can absorb in a night. I've been on the board for 4-5 years and there is still new information popping up.

Larry

About the euro 95 i am not sure..... ill find out.
it is standard unleaded fuel.

Well i am going to look for a complete 292 with separate manifolds.

i know i have a lot to learn. I am looking through some old topics to get some more information.
I have already ordered a book, it is from Leo Santucci, a lot of information for the line 6 engine. I hope i can get enough information from the book to rebuild my engine.

Thanx a lot for the help,

Marcel.

When looking for that 292, you also need the passenger side motor mount tower and the power steering brackets.

Leo's book is excellent, recommended by many on this board. If you need any more help let us know.

Best of luck finding that 292.

Larry

Alright guys,

thanx for the help!!! i realy appreciate it .

You hear from me when i find the right engine.

At the time, i gonna read some more topics, hoping to learn some more about the inline 6

Marcel.

to place a 292 in your truck is some bit of work
but worth it, ......my.02
it can use any modern chevy bellhousing L6 or V8 and any modern transmission available today, auto or manual type. BUY Leo Santucci's book http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931128154/103-7727486-1671829?v=glance&n=283155 http://www.customdesignperformance.com/leo/leo.html
you will have to weld in two new 'offset' motor mounts. I got them from buffalo steve, I used biscuit type mounts to the engine... they look like these @ sachse, http://www.sachserodshop.com/pdf/5.pdf
but steve will supply them. Contact Buffalo Steve, Inliner advertiser, You can call Steve at Buffalo Enterprises - phone number: (360).652.7684. he has NO web site!! and may not answer the phone cause he's in the shop.

http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=010698#000005

I installed a T5 so the tranny mount is my third mount.
you may (maybe not as I'm not sure of your 60-66 type engine compartment) have an issue w/ the radiator fan and have to install a puller (better choice) or a pusher fan, all depending on how far back and type tranny you use. I mounted mine as high up and as far back as possible. i have a three groove belt H~damper pully on my 292, it came out of a junk yard w/ 200 miles on it at $600.00
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=011805#000000
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=010192#000003
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=011425#000005
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=011567#000000
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=011636#000001
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=011442#000000
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=010004#000000
http://www.stoveboltengineco.com/howto/engineswaps.htm

BUT

While still a six, the 292 is from a completely different family than a 235 (if that is what you have). the 250 has different mounts.

The 261 is from the same family of motors and externally the same as the 235 and an easy swap.

A GMC motor such as a 270 or 302 will bolt to your bellhousing and will look very similar to the 235 but is different in a number of significant ways. The front motors mounts, and the intake and exhaust manifolds from a 235 will NOT work with a GMC motor.

The 292 has a signficantly different valve cover than your 235, but the 292 was available starting in '63 and to the uninitiated would probably look dead stock in your truck. It requires a change in bellhousing from what you have, the same as a V-8 swap would.

Should be a good swap whichever way you decide to go. the engine would be a bolt in swap. The only difference between the 235 and the 261 is the increased bore, virtually everything else is the same other than full flow oil filtration and a bypass heating/cooling system. Without the numbers, the blocks look identical - you can use your 235 oil pan, valve cover, side cover, radiator, water pump, thermostat housing, intake and exhaust manifolds, distributor etc... They even say that an 848 head from a 235 is the preferred head.
Last but not least, I can burn the rubber off my tires easy with the 235/sm420/3:90 in 2nd gear. At least I can at sea level. The 2 second difference from 0 - 60 wouldn't be enough to convince me to switch to a 350. Unless you want to tow heavy loads and/or/while maintaining freeway speed on the steep hills and you do that often, what would be the point?

Marcel!
Sweden has some good salvage yards for american stuff try "Osby skroten" in Osby southern sweden-I got my 292 there a few years ago.

If you need something just give me a buzz I will help if I can

Mark (displaced american) Collins, Gränna Sweden

Thanx!!

First i have to do some other things on the Van.
It is not in a showroom condition

When i'm ready to start whit the engine ill contact you

Marcel.