My buddy is selling his '74 Chevy C10. I'm slightly interested. I'm not sure if it has the 250 or 292 w/ a powerglide, but I'd like to know some things.
1) Are there performance parts for these engines?
2) Can a Muncie 4-Speed or a T5 be bolted directly to these engines?
I know the first thing that comes to mind is a V8 swap, but I feel that's beating a dead horse and I like to do things a bit different, maybe even an LL8 Atlas as a swap.
this place might help! http://www.cliffordperformance.net/
I think- notice the unsureness- that the 292 was a GMC only engine. In the 60's anyway...If the truck is a Chev, its probably a 250.
I could be completely wrong here too.
Streetwiseguy wrote: I think- notice the unsureness- that the 292 was a GMC only engine. In the 60's anyway...If the truck is a Chev, its probably a 250. I could be completely wrong here too.
There was an older family of GMC sixes that had a 292 in it, they went away in the 1960's.
There is a newer 292 that ran until the 1990's, that's the family the O.P was asking about.
The 230 / 250 / 292 family has the same bolt pattern as the Chevy v8. Anything that bolts to a SBC will bolt to a 250 / 292.
Don't bother with Clifford, they're overpriced. Offenhauser manifold are available for those engines for about half the price of Clifford.
Also, google Kay Sissel and Leo Santucchi. They're THE guys for Chevy I6 performance.
Shawn
Also, the way to tell a 250 from a 292:
250 motor mounts are straight across from each other on the block.
The 292 has one mount further forward than the other to clear a component, fuel pump I think.
Also, the 292 has a very tall side cover, 6" or so if memory serves.
Shawn
I'm not sure how to tell the two apart, but if it is a 250 then a V-8 swap would be easy.
The flywheel will bolt up to any internally balanced small block. The bell housing, tranny, cross member, motor mount (frame side), clutch linkage, drive shaft, and starter (depending on hole pattern) should all bolt right up to a V-8.
The frame side of the motor mount can be used for the V-8. Just move the motor mount to the correct holes in the frame. The holes are already there from the factory.
Clutch linkage should line right up to the V-8.
Possibly even the exhaust from behind the y-pipe (the 250 engines i had used two outlets from the exhaust manifold in to y-pipe) may even be a match with the correct y-pipe for a v-8.
Overall an easy swap, especially with enough room to sit on the inner fender to wok on the engine.
I had a 64 with the 230 and three-on-the-tree. I miss it and I would be perfectly happy with a straight six, preferably the 292 High Torque. These are the '65 specs:
It seems like few people appreciate the simplicity of a straight six. If I were looking for an older truck I would search out a six. Go against the grain, skip the V8.
the 292 is awesome, my 68 c20 has one with a 4 speed.
i would drive the wheels off. it's more fun than a v8 because sometimes, yes, even i get sick of getting into something and hearing a v8 rumble every time i drive no matter which car i pick.
there are plenty of performance parts but not cheap like small block stuff. power steering brackets are expensive.
One of the coolest versions of this engine is the belt-driven ~Pontiac OHC Six~. These were in Firebirds and LeMans-type cars. The 4-bbl version had 250 HP.
We have one of these (in a LeMans) that comes to our cruise nights. It's always a hit after being overloaded with all the small-block Chevys.
had a friend/nieghbor in high school that had a mid-60's chevy truck with 292/powerglide. I had a 65 Chevelle with the 230/powerglide in high school. I later had an 81 K5 Blazer with the 250/TH350. They are right that anything SBC will swap. If it's a 250, then gotta pay attention to the year of the 250 as later ones had the intake manifold cast into the head. Meaning can't swap intakes. Great torque motors. The 250 in my K5 would pull almost anything from a stop, just don't expect to maintain freeway speeds with it though. Near bullit proof, will take abuse and still run. Reliable. There are some performance parts for them. Also get's around the same mpg as a V8, so won't win economy with it.
The Pontiac OHC-6 was a cool motor also. Underrated, IMO.
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: My buddy is selling his '74 Chevy C10. I'm slightly interested. I'm not sure if it has the 250 or 292 w/ a powerglide, but I'd like to know some things. 1) Are there performance parts for these engines?
Oh my yes.
Some of them are bizarre. Google lump-port heads.
This truck has the original inline 6 cylinder with a 5 speed out of a 80's-90's 6 cylinder Camaro. It drives quite well.
You need to Goggle Wayne 12 port head for a GMC 302. Awesome ass motor.
Check this 292 out, using a cylinder head made from 2 small block Chevy heads cut and welded together. http://www.cdpautomachine.com/leo/leo.html Pretty awesome build.
292 FTW! 
I wanted to suggest a newer Trailblazer's 6 banger and a Colorado/Canyon 5 speed but these old 6ers are pretty neat...
My best friend in high school had a '76 Chevy Nova with the 250/TH350 combo. It was a 2 door that was 5 different colors. The exhaust was a cheap turbo muffler dumped before the rear axle.
Sounded pretty good for what it was. My other friend bought it for $600 when my buddy got a newer car and prompty wrecked it. It was repaired and put up for sale. Never saw it again.
Keep the six. It gives the truck more character.
LOL I never said anything about getting rid of the Six guys. I just said the first thing that comes to mind is a V8 swap.
I want to keep the Six. If I buy it that is.
Anybody sure when the intake manifold was cast into the head as one piece? This morning, on CL I found a decent Nova (a '72) that has a 6 with auto combo. The seller (claims) he bought it for his son but realizes the kid needs a car with something besides seatbelts as "safety equipment". I can't tell, because the pix are not the best, but it looks like a decent little 4 door sedan...that sort of copper color/gold that was popular in the mid '70s.
75ish?
I had a '68 250 GMC pickup, 3 spd. Beat the h---- out of it, never even cried.
Just watched a video on installing the "Bolt On" lump port pieces.
"Bolt On" is not the term you use when you have to cut, grind, tap, and Counter Bore.
Waaaay out of my comfort zone
I'm building up a 72 250, bored it out 40 over, added H rods, forgded flat top pistons, a crane 272 cam, roller rockers, a 465 CFM carb. I'm also building the headers and intake and putting a Muncie 4 speed in
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