Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines HP & Torque Confusion 261-292

I honestly did try searching before posting but I am still a bit confused with how the 261 and 292 compare for HP and Torque.
The 261 is rated at 115 HP and 200 lb. ft. Should I be comparing this with the gross (170 HP, 270 lb ft) or net (125 HP, 250 lb ft) for the 292?
I want to make sure the effort is worth it before putting a 292 in my 1950 Chevy pickup instead of finding a 261.
Thanks again for the help.
Bob

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Did you get the torque and HP numbers for the 261 out of the May 1955 HRM article? That was about what Frank McGurk got with a stock 261 with a muffler, etc., so it should probably compare with the net SAE HP and torque of the 292. Just on the larger displacement, a 292 should put out about 12 percent more torque than a 261, but the 292 certainly cannot trace its roots back to early days of hot rodding.

292performance
This source shows: Inline 6cyl. 292 - Net HP 120 at 3600 RPM Max. torque 225 ft. lbs at 2000 RPM, about what the change in displacement would indicate. There is more potential max HP from the 292, as it should be able to run higher usablr RPM.

Can't remember exactly where I found those 261 numbers, probably the Stovebolt site. I thought the newer generation I6 292 would generate far more torque and HP than the 261 but it isn't the first time I have been wrong.

The 292 has the capability to rev higher than the 261, thus the higher HP number. I highly doubt the torque of the 292 goes much above the published spec, it takes more compression to make more torque. Better breathing doesn't do much to the torque number, usually.

A hot 261 should be able to pull a stock 292, but a hot 292 will beat any hot 261.

However, a 261 fits better into an AD truck, and can be disguised to look stock.

If I had to do it over again I would use a 302 GMC, just for the cool factor.

Even a stock 261 is a good improvement over a 216 or 235.