Inliners International Forums General Discussion Hi Performance 292 build

I have a 292. Would like to build a nice high performance street engine. Can anybody give me an idea on price. Want to build it so I can add a turbo later maybe. Thank you.

Well... Doing it yourself or paying someone?

Start with intake and exhaust.

Offy intake manifold: $200
Holley 390 CFM carb: $350
Holley 500 CFM carb: $300 (I'd go 500)
Langdon split headers: $270
Exhaust: $500-750
Cam and springs, cam gear, gaskets: $500
Head work: $750
HEI: $100

That'll get you by until you're ready to go the next step.

EFI: FITech throttle body EFI is roughly $1,500

Now you have a base to throw parts at:

SPA Turbo Manifold: $750
Turbo, piping, etc: $1,000
Intercooler: $500
Meth injection system?

What about the trans?

700r4 plus stuff to make it work: $700 if used

Rear end? $1200



Lot of variables and lots of steps here. I started with the HEI, then exhaust, then did the intake and carb. Recently the cam, etc. My car skoots along pretty well now but I know I need to do the trans next. I should be good on the rear end for a bit. Next winter will be EFI. Then the following will be the rear end. Final step will be the turbo.

All in stages so my wife doesn't complain too much.


All in you're looking at 9 grand if you do it all yourself.

It's not about the power levels or the money for us. It's about the journey more than anything. In the end I'll have a very unique 68 Camaro that looks great, runs great and will be about the same horsepower as a stock 396.

...but I'll guarantee you that I'll have a lot more people checking out my car than the 396 guy will at the local show or cruise.

If you have any thoughts of boost go with forged pistons right off the bat. You don't want to fry a piston and lose the rest of your investment.

From another thread: aren't the stock pistons already forged though?

No, they only come stock with cast pistons.

Looking at a stainless steel z28 spring and valve kit 1.94 and 1.60. Part numbers are RV943xs, HPV34ss, HPV5. Will this work?

Your choice in valve springs is dictated by your cam selection. The valve size depends on what your objective is with the engine. Since you haven't mentioned what you are planning, its difficult to advise what will work for you.

I would like to have a unique 63 ChevyII. With a inline 6 that sounds good a runs good. I have Ford 9inch and a 700r4. I don't know what to expect from a build 292. Would like to have 300 to 350 HP. Is this a good goal for a 292 street engine. Was thinking the engine may have to have a turbo to reach this goal. Thank you for y'all in put.

A 292 can easily reach the goal you are looking for with or without a turbo. And either combo can be done while retaining the use of pump gas. Adding a turbo can also add expense, but also add that "unique" quality you are wanting to have as well. There are plenty of threads here discussing engine builds of this level, so if the search function isn't acting up, you should be able to find them without a lot of trouble.

Here's my street build specs:
I have about $6000 into mine.

Clifford Intake and headers
625 Demon
HEI from Speedmaster
Head Work:
1.94 stainless intake valves with 3 angle valve job and bowl enlargement.
1.60 stainless exhaust valves with 3 angle valve job and bowl enlargement.
Lump ports on the intake ports
Head shaved .030
BBC rocker screw in rocker studs.
Comp Cams ultra pro magnum 1.75 ratio BBC full roller rocker arms.
Smith bros 5/16 .080 wall pushrods.
Block Work:
0 decked and surfaced.
.040 ross forged aluminum 18cc dish pistons (9.5.1 compression)
Stock connecting rods balanced and refitted with ARP studs and bolts.
Clevite Rod, Main, and Cam bearings.
Crankshaft balanced and ground.
Comp Cams ultra pro magnum 268H 219 @ .050 .499 lift on a 110 lobe center cam.
Comp cams aluminum timing gears.
Melling stock type oil pump.
OEM style balancer.
Accessories:
Tom Lowe's finned valve cover
MRHOTROD6's aluminum side covers and tstat and fuel pump block plate.
And the rest I have yet to get. But the total with parts and labor came out to around $6k. Judging from a buddies similar build I should be putting around 310 hp and 340 torque at the flywheel. Motor is backed by a TKO600 5 speed.

ABW,
Don't forget the rotating assembly. Being at the very heart of the engine it deserves the parts that will go the distance, crank, rods, pistons, rings, etc. Fortunately the same cam that would get you by in a NA street motor might not be too bad in a turbo application. Consult I.I. experts like tlowe #1716, CNC-Dude #5585 and others. No substitute for experience except maybe more cubic inches.
Good Luck, Kalvjn

Let's wait for diy-efi to chime I about the 4200 hehe

But on a serious note 4200 would be pretty bitching I am in the tail end of building a turboed 292 and a year after I started the 4200 got brought up and honestly I would have been driving my truck a long time ago going that route turboed same horse power and modern fuel injection Transmission and diag capabilities

I think the 292 is just fine to use....and besides, if you compare the costs of all the components needed to do the 4200, plus the cost of the engine alone, you would be twice the money going the 4200 route.

I agree with the 292 being a good engine to use. Its really simple to work on and parts are always readily available...heck you could pretty much rebuild a 292 with parts from Summit Racing. Not sure if its the same with the 4200. Just a stock 292 with upgrade carb, intake, headers, and HEI makes for a nice gain. I did forget to mention my 292 that I did is still turboable.

Thank y'all.

I'm not picking at your build TJ, but just think, after spending $6000 bucks, you just barely ended up with more HP than an $800 bone stock 4200 makes, just think if you threw the remaining $5200 difference at the 4200 where you'd be. Wow, i'm starting to sound like Marc now! LOL

If cubic dollars was the concern we'd all drive new imports. The fun here is everyone gets to build what they like. No one needs a permission slip.

Ok I've been quiet up to now..

From the above post

Quote

Well... Doing it yourself or paying someone?

Start with intake and exhaust.

Offy intake manifold: $200
Holley 390 CFM carb: $350
Holley 500 CFM carb: $300 (I'd go 500)
Langdon split headers: $270
Exhaust: $500-750
Cam and springs, cam gear, gaskets: $500
Head work: $750
HEI: $100

Unquote

All this adds up to $2170.

I just bought a complete 2007 3700 ( the 5 cylinder version of the 4200 from a colorado )and a 4l60E from the local pick-n-pull yard today for $580 tax included.

The only part I didn't take was the A/C compressor - everything else is there including the gas pedal and full harness.

What else is needed

oil pan - modify the stock one or buy rear sump pan for $635 + $80 for a oil pump pickup tube from GM.

Add $200 for an EFI fuel system less if you use boneyard parts.

ECM tune and harness strip $500 from Jeremy..


So this adds up to $1995 - cheaper than mod'ing a 292 and you end up with a 310 HP bone stock engine (I added 15 HP for a free flow exhaust).

Want 450HP turbo it for another $1200 including turbo, up pipe, tune and bigger injectors. Add $300 in parts to tweak the trans to hold the extra power..

One thing for sure the 4200 will get better fuel mileage than the 292.

One guy in Florida says he can get 4200's complete for $400.

Who's the man in Florida and where at? I have a friend who lives in Florida he'll pick it up for me.

I've been thinking about the 4200. I just can't find any around here that have not been blown up, torn up or abused.

Why did you compare the cost of a 5 cylinder you just bought? Because it was way cheaper than the comparable 6 cylinder 4200.....

why did you list 500 to 750 for exhaust in the 292 build, but not the "wanna be" 4200?

A guy in Florida says he gets 400 for a complete 4200....but what condition, a core?

you defend the 4200, then use terrible examples.

Why did I use the 3700 - this is current pricing - its the same price for any engine at pick-n-pull.

Offy intake manifold: $200
Holley 390 CFM carb: $350
Holley 500 CFM carb: $300 (I'd go 500)
Langdon split headers: $270
Exhaust: $500-750
Cam and springs, cam gear, gaskets: $500
Head work: $750
HEI: $100

Actually I didn't include the cost of the exhaust system as this would be common - you might want to check what your complaining about again... And I made a slight addition error the above adds up to $2120.

Apparently he gets running engines for $400 from u-pull it. $150 for a core engine.

Ok....well there is no junkyard around here that sells ANY engine for one price, so I find that hard to believe. I just do not see the 4200 as a viable swap in anything yet, as the proper pieces to make them work in most older vehicle applications are rare, and expensive. The easiest, and cheapest way for the majority of garage mechanics will be the old 250 and 292's, hands down, all day long, until the parts for proper swaps are available.

Look here since you don't believe me..

pricing

All the parts needed to do a 4200 swap except engine mounts are now available so I don't agree with you but this since your firm in your belief I'll let this rest and let others decide on there own.

For anyone else that is curious, google vortec4200 and the dedicated engine forum will pop up. Just so everyone knows, I do not own nor moderate that forum.

The number of swaps either completed and/or underway is growing - and this is only the ones that find the forum and join.

Also so everyone knows when I built my 51 GMC, I did a quite expensive build on a 292 - if you look back in the archives here you'll find posts about it. This is the engine that TLowe used to do all his 292 dyno testing with as he bought the engine from me.

After swapping to the 4200 it was night and day the way it ran compared to the 292 so from that time on, I was sold on the newer engine.

The 194/292 vintage engines were designed in late 50's, early 60's and introduced in '63. The 4200 design started late '90's and was introduced in 2002. Almost 40 years in design advancement.

The 4200 short block is simpler that the 194/292 as it has less parts in it. The head has more parts due to the 4 valve head - but overall its quite simple lash post - roller follower - valve just more of them.

Can the 4200 be converted to a carb - yes look at what the comp eliminator racers are doing. Convert to a dist. yep Jerry W. did just that.

I know I said I was going to let this rest but $/HP its a cheaper way to go. Let the figures speak for themselves.

The 4200 engine still makes 300 HP with the stock cast iron exhaust manifold, so no need to compare the cost of custom headers for the 4200, but headers aren't necessary for those doing an engine swap unless they just want to.

Just to help you out there is a picknpull location under an hour drive from where you are. Same pricing as what I paid.

6241 SE 111th Avenue
Portland, OR

Tons of discussion about the 4200 right HERE.

Though I am not a convert yet I know that what efi-diy is saying is true. He has been developing parts for swaps for quite a while. Dollar wise and milage wise alone the 4200 is a good deal even if the power was the same but it's not. They just make me feel the way I did when the Lotus Fords took over the Indy 500. They just don't look or sound right. Here is a link to a friends Chevy pickup with a 4200. It was in progress. He modified the frame to take the stock pan.
Dan's Pickup

What about Tom's (from Reno) hot rod with the 4200 .. didn't it win the best sounding pipes at Minden?

I'd probably be at 600 hp! LOL! But I like my 292 so I kept it...also I was stoked that I could even hotrod it so I did cause I didn't want a boring SBC in the truck. lol Also it kind of matches the truck better than a 4200 IMOP. That motor is a little new looking for a 66 C10 in my opinion....Just me being picky. lol

and again I will say, those are not guaranteed for anything but core engines sold in as is unknown running status condition , YOU PULL. so, it really isnt that "cheap" and easy to run out and grab a good running 4200 to slap in and go, as you infer. I am not trying to be an ass, but simply stating the facts that should be considered by the average joe, interested in trying this in his garage.

I think I am up and around 5 grand for my turbo 292 and it's still getting parts and the intake welded for ego

I don't know if it was my luck but I had a hard time finding parts and such other than Tom it's a lot of Frankenstein going on to put it in to my 72 gmc due to the hydroboost rack and pinion truck being heavily lowered cross member being raised mod er n to transmission the

Ok, I guees It's my turn to chime in here. I decided to go the 292 route just because I don't like to have the same thing as everyone else. Plus the fact that although my 292 is from a 1970 bread truck, I just think it looks more period correct in my 46 truck.

The car shows any more are just a pissin contests to see who can put the most chrome on top of their V8. And a B.S. contest as to who's motor can make the most HP. For some reason i just don't get the whole "how much HP does the motor make?" Unless your racing your vehicle on the wekends there is never a tme when anybody will use all 500 (or whatever hp), they have in there engine. These same people who are concerned with hp are probably the same ones who have know trouble going to a casino and throwing away there $. It's just a stupid argument.

I have no problem with the fact that I have spent over 7k on my motor (without the custom exhaust), and only have 300hp. At 54 years old what the hell difference does it make if I spend 5k or 7k on a motor?

Besides guys.... I think this 292 looks much better then some 4200. What's the saying about shaving my dog's ....... and teaching it to walk backwards?
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Here's my little guy can't wait to drive her

I can't tell you to do anything it's just an option buddy I love my 292 that and it will get a lot of looks if I even stop in the car shows I stead in driving through

What we do around here is wait for one to come in that has rolled over in the winter and cut the oil filter apart - check for material - if its clean then its pretty much assured its a good engine - it was running when it rolled.

Others have gone to the local insurance auction and bought complete running wrecks.

Yea, The Rappin' trophy I make every year. It sounds great but it ain't RAPPIN'.
It is a beautiful expertly done car. Tom is running the second newer turbo 4.2 build now. Scary fast! These pictures are from a couple of years.