Inliners International Forums General Discussion Drive Train Transmission for 292 Chevy Engine

Just purchased a 292 chevy engine from a 65 1/2 ton chevy pickup, plan to install it into my 1946 gmc 1/2 ton truck, what is the best suggeseted automatic transmission to bolt up to the 292 and is it worth it to change out the rear axle or just regear the exsisting unit.

You will have to change rear ends anyway, or at least shorten the torque tube and driveshaft to install any automatic in a 46 and you probably wouldn't want the iron powerglide that would be compatible with the torque tube. Why an automatic?

Baldy

not dead set on an automatic, just want to get the best bang for my buck, my current set up is a 305 with a turbo 350 tranny and original 46 rear axle, want to use the 292 in place of the 305, change out the tranny to either an 700R4 or 5 speed and either change the ratio gears of my original axle or consider a 9" ford or GM 12 bolt rear axle. Any suggestions on this would be a great help. I an a total amature when it comes to this stuff and $ is an object:) so I want to make my spending and man hrs count.

Sorry, I didn't realize that the original engine and transmission were no longer in the truck. The radiator will have to be moved forward for fan clearance (292s are longer than 216s). You won't need to change the rear end gears for highway cruising with an overdrive transmission unless you are geared lower than 4.11(numerically higher).

Baldy

You may not need to move the radiator if the truck had a 228 engine.

Baldy

The 5 speed std would work with the bellhousing that you got with the 292 from the '65 (presuming it was std shift) and would be a lot easier to mount this bellhousing into the '46 Truck. The trans will hang from the bell and you can just make up a driveshaft. I believe the overdrive is .73 to 1 so that will definetly help your rearend gear ratio be a little more driveable.