Easy 292 horse power bump?
 

Hello All,

I have a stock 1972 292 I6 with an HEI upgrade. I am interested in some easy ways to bump up the horsepower a little bit. Any suggestions?

I may end up completely rebuilding it at some point but for now im just looking for a little more pep.

Thank for you time!

Re: Easy 292 horse power bump?
 

NOS or turbo

Re: Easy 292 horse power bump?
 

Stock engine components are not suitable for either NOS or Turbo usage...IMO....

Read this link to an earlier similar question....

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=718799

Be wary of long tube headers, they hang down too low to permit a drop in ride height....

Clifford intake manifold, shorty headers and either a large 2 barrel or small 4 barrel carb....

Also have the HEI unit re-curved to suit the better breathing....

Going this route will allow for more performance right away and if you ever fully build an engine, you can re-use these upgrade parts.

Have fun...

:chevy::chevy::chevy:

Re: Easy 292 horse power bump?
 

Thank you that is really good to know about the lowering as mine has a 2/4 drop on it.

What do you mean by "re-curve the HEI unit" i just popped it in off an older truck we had laying around.

"Going this route will allow for more performance right away and if you ever fully build an engine, you can re-use these upgrade parts."

This is exactly what Im looking for, I want to make improvments to it now i can build off of later. Thank you!

Re: Easy 292 horse power bump?
 

Most stock HEI units have an advance curve thats not really suited to performance....a good performance shop can recurve the distributor to suit the improvements. There are also upgraded modules and coil packs available.

Also, check out https://www.12bolt.com/

They are a good source for inline parts....

:chevy::chevy::chevy:

Re: Easy 292 horse power bump?
 

If you have the budget, an aftermarket alloy intake, headers and a 4 barrel carb will let that 292 L6 run like a big dog.

On rebuild, you can enlarge the bore, use bigger valves, change the cam profile...

Re: Easy 292 horse power bump?
 

One of the biggest (if not the biggest) problems with those I6's is the head. They were never built for performance, and there really aren't any aftermarket options. Each of the 3 intake ports has a large bolt boss in the middle of the port tunnel which greatly impedes the intake flow of the fuel / air mixture. Remove the head and cut that sucker out. You'll have to tap and plug the upper section of the head bolt hole, and use a shorter bolt to secure the head to the block. If you have a few extra bucks install some lumps in those newly opened intake ports. They will improve the flow even more by directing it into the cylinders.

While he head is off, you may want to consider increasing the valve sizes to 1.84" or 1.94" diameter ones. You could also consider a comp 260h cam, and the intake manifold / header / carb suggestions the others have made to take advantage of the increased flow.

Without even getting into the bottom end of the engine you'll have transformed it into a different animal altogether.

Good luck, and remember.....it's only money.

Re: Easy 292 horse power bump?
 

Awesome that is some really good advice! I’ll definitely look into all that.

I keep telling my wife the same thing “It’s only money, Ill make more!” But she’s not so keen on that whole thought process. Although the end all to that conversation is is when Ill her “Ill stop buying truck parts when you stop buying shoes.” Problem is her shoes are usually a lot cheaper....

There are some pretty expensive shoes out there, you’d be surprised, and I’m sure she’ll find them.

I’m smack in the middle of a 292 Father-son build.

We went with true flat top pistons.

We just started on the top end. I cut the bolt bosses out and I’ll be ordering some lumps here pretty soon. Haven’t fully decided on intake and carb, it depends on what is available. I’m thinking we’ll use a Holley 390cfm.
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Re: Easy 292 horse power bump?
 

Thank you so much for the photos that really helps inspire me! I have 292s in both my trucks right now but I’m gonna be pulling the 292 out of my 4x4 Longhorn and replacing it with a 402bbc. Then I can take the best parts from both the 292s, cut the bolt bosses out get some lumps, add a Clifford 4 barrel intake with whatever 4 barrel carb I come up with by then and add some true dual headers.

Sounds like that will make some decent power for my 1970 c10 longbed.

Re: Easy 292 horse power bump?
 

Just do a spring and weight kit. Lighter springs and heavier weights are a simple and excellent way to give the distributor the performance arc it needs at a given RPM, all centrifugal.