Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 292 VS 250

I have a big problem, I have the opportunity of purchase a New chevy 250 or 292, WHich will be your election?, I have to consider adVantages, Disadventages, Fuel consumption, TOrque, HP, modification facility ( intake, carb, cam)...

Thanks a lot Dudes, I need too much this info ....

welllll...good question....there should be lots of reply's on this good topic....

after running both on the street with mild performance set ups, I perfer the 292-LOTS more torque and power....I can tell this especially going uphill-but I also have advantage of the PES bolt-in lump/plate modification.....

250 will burn less gas-but turn more rpm to get same or similar torque and HP as 292, so will it save gas for performance?

292 is a lower rpm engine....

i perfer 292,but 250 is a great engine also...

get as much info from many-many here have good comments.......

THANKS LEE, I NEED MORE REPLIES, HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ivan,

I'm certainly no expert, but the reply that I see most often to a question like yours is something along the lines of 'what are your plans for the engine'. In other words, how do you plan to use your power plant? Racing? Daily driver? What vehicle are you planning on putting it in? A truck, or passenger vehicle? I guess it just boils down to attacking your problem in a practical context rather than as an abstract exercise.

THe engine will be in a chevrolet C15 truck, I want to modify for daily driver purpouses...
I mean , I would like to improve their performance with the more common things (cam, intake, carb) but I want to know if don't exists much difference between the 292 & 250, Knowing the principal porpouses that I want.

Again keeping in mind that this is coming from a rank amateur, I'd say that the 292 would be your best bet for all the reasons Lee mentioned. It's a slower revving engine with more low-end grunt to get your truck moving. Plus, the 42 extra cubes won't hurt either. Since you're installing in a truck, you shouldn't have any clearance issues with the taller deck. Depending on what engine was there previously, you may or may not have engine mount issues.

All you fellas that know better, keep me honest here. I'm just putting this together based on research and have no hands on experience with a 292.

I want great throttle response, my old 292 give me that but Its dying....

Hey Ivan,

For what you want to accomplish I would get the 292. It can never hurt to have the extra cubes. And it just makes sense since you already have a 292. It's an easy bolt in.

-magic mike-

Dear Ivan;

You could also do an 'in frame' overhaul. This would much less work than changing to a 250 which will have less power to haul things around etc.

Good luck, John M....

Ivan,

Believe it not, since you truck has a 292 in already, it will be easier to replace it with a 292. For a 250 you will need to change the right motor mount, fuel in and probably the throttle linkage. Also, since you already have headers, you would probably need to modify them as the 250 is a shorter motor.

Since you want to hot rod it, make sure you have a cylinder head without the integral (cast to the head) intake manifold. If you have the separate intake GREAT!, but if not for an earlier head. You will see a significant improvement.

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I'm with Bruce.
If you already have a 292 I would not go to the smaller motor.
Especially if you spent money on headers already.
You'll have less work to do just exchanging one 292 for another, and have some spare parts assuming there's not a core required.
(if it's like $50 core I'd be tempted to keep it)
In the pickup you'd miss the big motor.
In a lightweight car maybe the smaller motor would be ok, lighter and easier to install.

Ivan,

Having placed a healthy 292 HDTD motor in my Coupe was the best thing I did. I asked a lot of questions like you are doing now and came to the decision to do it. The old phrase,"there's no replacement for displacement" holds true in this case. Your Pickup will benefit greatly from the longer stroke and extra torque that the 292 has.
By adding just headers, 4-barrel, 3/4 cam, and an electronic ignition system, you'll feel and see a whole new motor! If your's is tired as you stated, do it right. Get the cylinders clean out, new rings, bearings, and a valve job and your pickum-up will serve you well.

I put a T-5 behind the motor and a 3:55 rear and get almost 20mpg on the highway! In town, about 14mpg. I also have great torque and acceleration plus I can pull long hills with no effort!

RapRap
1940 ChoppedChevyCoupe

Thanks a lot guys, you don't have any idea of the valious information that U give me....

Thanks one more time..

Isn't a C/15 a 3/4 ton? I am a big fan of the 250, but I'm one of those guys who wants to spin the crap out of my motor. I just love the sound and feel of HIGH REVS. Moreover I think the 250 is one of the very best sixes ever built by any U.S. manufacturer. However, I would not reccomend a 250 in a 3/4 ton that is going to be hauling or towing. Little motors work best in light vehicles. Someday I may even give up on the 250 in my C/10 and build a hot 292 myself.

Boo

Boo, the C15 is a 1/2 ton truck. A 3/4 ton would be a c25. My 1965 1/2 ton has a 292 with headers, HEI and a 5 spd with 3.73 gears. I had originally run it with the factory single barrel, headers and HEI but when it goes back on the road it will have the aluminum intake with one of Stovebolt's Progressive Holleys on it. Also power steering and power disc brakes. This is one awsum combination in my opinion. I tow my race car and trailer with it and it just keeps on working. The only other update that I like as much is to put an early 90's Chev seat in your truck. They are so much more comfortable and basically a bolt-in. I used a 60/40 split but there are all sorts of combinations and materials out there. You will definetly enjoy it.

Yeah, It's right, the C15 is a 1/2 ton truck, GMDAD my truck is almost like yours , only that I have a 4 speed tranny, I want in the future to put a 5 speed because I travel a lot, my truck have chevy 90's seats and you're right they are more comfortable, my truck its the first thing that i Got with my efforts and for that reason I love It, So it needs to renew with a Fresh 292 power monster, I will put in the future some pics of she, Yesterday I have a discussion with a mechanic that criticize me of the useless spends of money to my 292, he tolds me the natural conversion to a 350 v8, I dont know if Im nutz but I really appreciate that inline six..

Ivan,

Stick with your 292 if it's what you want to do. For obvious reasons a 350 will always be a more powerful engine, and cost you less money to get good power out of. But do your 292 just because it's fun and different.

-magic mike-

P.S. My next engine will most likely be a ready to drop in 330 HP Goodwrench 350 with Vortec heads. But don't tell anybody