Technical Advice on buying a 292 inline six.

Here's the deal. My stepson has a neat '65 Chevy van. Turquoise blue, Cragars and surfboards on the top. It has a very tired 230 six with 3spd. He wants to stay six cylinder. He found a 292 w/120K out of a '76 C10. It's on me to go check it out. It apparently runs (there's a video). I'll probably pull the plugs and check cylinders, pull the valve cover and look for sludge/broken pieces, etc and make sure it turns over. What gets me, is the price.....$1500. Seems a bit high to me but I'm not knowledgeable on six cylinder prices. Also, we are in the expensive SF Bay Area. Stepson will just want to swap it in and go. What do you guys think? Here's the CL ad..............
Chevy 292 Engine - auto parts - by owner - vehicle automotive sale (craigslist.org)

 

Go for it!
Chevrolet Inline Six-Cylinder Power Manual: Santucci, Leo: 9781931128155: Amazon.com: Books
Inliners International |
12 Bolt.com - Home

 

you know the side mounts are different on one side of the 292, and the engine is taller so it won't fit under the cover, and the crank bolt pattern is different on most of them compared to the 230 so you'll need the right flywheel, and the damper is longer so might need to deal with that, different water pump with a bypass hose, the exhaust manifold sits higher so the pipe might not reach, etc.

Not quite bolt in and go, but still easier than other swaps.

 

Now THAT was a wet blanket, Jim. LOL.

Ben

 

For the cost and ease of the job,,,, rebuilding what you have maybe a good option....

 

No it’s not. Some things “look” the same until you get them home and have no way to do the fabrication necessary especially when saw it as a one day swap.. better to have someone like Jim to tell you to remove your “rose” colored glasses.

 

He is right about the p/s brackets beings hard find . It took me awhile. I would ask what has been done on it ( valve cover paint different than overall engine) and like you said check compression etc. You can wait on a better deal but running in-line 6’s are getting harder to find . Maybe google reman engines . 12 bolt Tom might have something for you.

 

Very cute van!
Get a new stock oil pump, a valve job, refresh the carb. You won't be hauling tons. It'll do fine until the next dream comes by, or somebody else comes along, that wants to love it more.
Been there and did it.

 

Jim covered the bits and pieces chunk.
My gut says, "That's too much money."
I'd be looking at a price between $500 and $750.
But, I'm old


and cheap!

 

I know ,jimmy. Meant that tongue in cheek.

Ben

 

@evintho

I am with @squirrel on this one. I had/have a couple of 292s and thoroughly researched the Leo Santucci book on Chevy sixes and came to the conclusion that Leo was right. Even he said the 250 is often the better choice, for a variety of reasons.

Ease of installation is only one factor, but a valid point. There are more good reason in the book. I opted to build a 250 for my ‘37 Chevy Coupe, dynos at 228 hp and 256 ft lbs…..at less than 5000 rpm. Enough for my intended purposes.

Ray

 

Check for oil in the coolant I've seen more than one that cracked from the lifter oil passage to the water jacket.

 

I was unaware of the engine was taller, so that's an issue and with offset motor mounts some fabrication would be in order. Any cutting and welding would be outside my stepsons wheelhouse and I'm too far away to lend that support. Thanks everyone for your insight and comments!
I talked to him this afternoon and I think I set him straight. He knows someone with a junk 250 motor that he can get for $100. I told him to buy that, put it on a stand, take his time and build that. That way he can drive the van through the summer and once he gets the 250 built, I'll come down and we'll swap motors in a weekend (hopefully)!

 

All of the differences that Jim mentioned are there.
The 292 is taller, the flywheel has larger diameter bolts. The motor mount pads are offset from each other.
I've got a 292 that was given to me. 68 engine that came out of a pickup that ran good but bled oil out of every place an engine can leak oil. A guy bought the truck in the Seattle area and drove it to Sunnyside Wa, pulled the engine and gave it to my buddy who told the guy he knew someone who needed it.

The last set of Chassis Engineering Inc. 292 mounts that the family sold in their close out before selling to Heidts. Note the offset.

A difference here too.


250 side shot, note that the side covers aren't that tall and the fuel pump is in front of the motor mount.


Right hand side of my 292. Note that the motor mount is in front of the fuel pump and the side covers are noticeably taller.


1500 is way too frigging much for a used 292 without a documented rebuild and documented low mileage. Low meaning under 20K since the rebuild. That and it will be pain in the butt after pain in the butt to put in that van.. 1500 should buy a hell of a nice 250 and every thing to put it in with and money for a road trip.

 

For ease of swap, yes, rebuild that 250 and swap it in, when time permits. Northern Auto Parts sells re-ring kit(main/rod bearings, rings and gaskets) for $102.

 

Add 307 V8 (true flat top ) piston for a bump in compression. Look out for cheap pistons, there are some with more reliefs then others so you won't really gain compression. True flat tops are just that, totally flat. These are a drop in change. When shopping for 250's, look at the drivers side front head bolt area, if this bolt gets over torqued, the block can crack and seep coolant. The water pump creates a narrow block opening weakening the corner.

 

I wouldn't pay $1500, unless you absolutely have to have a 292. Like most who have replied, I believe a 250 would be the better choice.

 

Way high. If you really (great engines) want a 292 call (609)894-2373 leave a message for Dave and tell him Scott told you to call.

 

If you decide to go with a 250 theres one on facebook market place thats in Rohnert Park. Asking 300 bucks with a powerglide trans.

 

Do you have a link? I can't find it.

 

I entered 292 chevy engine inline 6. That 1500 buck 292 is there too.

 

I sold a 292, completely machined and ready for reassembly with all new parts for $700 about 10 years ago.

 

I thought that

 

The prices for these blocks are going up. They are the big block of the in-line Chevy range of engines. They are robust and built to last. There are some performance pieces around. I use Clifford on my own 65 292. There are others.
You can trace the engine number for clues as to what vintage.
If the motor being sold has had proven work done and it’s a turnkey ready to go with all the ancillaries, that’s a good deal, in my humble opinion.

 

The 230-250+292 can interchange heads I believe. So they are all the same length. The bigger 292 motor is about an inch taller to allow for the longer stroke. Straight forward swap good luck

 

I used stock V8 SBC motor mounts. Easy to find and lots of quality options. The 292 has different versions of motor mounts. An inch taller and also I’d say an inch longer depending on the water pump and ancillary set up.

 

A few engine bay snaps

 

292 engine mounts. These take standard V8 SBC mounts.

 

I guess with a little Hotrod enginuity anything can fit

 

True, those bulky stock mounts on the frame do take same year V8 rubber mounts. I think that runs all the way through the 194/230/250/292 list though. I tossed together some serously ugly brackets off the frame when I stuck the 250 in it in 1989 planning on pulling it out when I redid the truck and life got in the way and I drove it that way for 15 years but under that hood is too ugly to let the general public see. The truck had a hard life for that 15 years serving as my daily driver for a lot of it.

Your mounts are 100 times better looking than the ones I have that 250 sitting on. When I bought it in 1973 I think they had a piece of 1/4 x 2 or 3 flat bar running across the frame to hold the mounts for the 194.