67 C10, keep 292 or go to 283?

[davidh]

I have a fairly original 67 with 198K on it. It needs quite a bit of work but for the most part the body is decent, has protecto plate, owner's manual, where it was bought etc. It needs work but I drove it home for $300. I'm debating to keep it original and rebuild the 292 or drop in a 283. I want this thing to get around 17mpg or more than my trucks with 350's get anyway. It has a 3speed and prob a 3.73 rear. It will used to work with but won't be abused as it had been previously.

[stickshift_or_walk]

I'll take first shot at this one. For a work truck, keep the six. The 283 is a solid engine, but makes most power and torque at much higher RPM's than the 292. For low-end grunt, like hauling loads and pulling trailers, the bottom end torque of a big inline six is hard to beat.

The 283 would be OK with the 3.73 (if that's what you have), since it could rev high enough under most driving conditions. But, when you head up the hill with a load, the 292 will pull away.

Someone here probably has the factory HP/Torque numbers and RPM ranges to back this up (or prove me wrong!!!).

Regardless, sounds like a good deal on the truck...better post some pics!

SSOW...

[davidh]

You raise an interesting point. I know these 292's can be a real work horse. Currently the motor has 120lbs of compression in 2=6cyl with #1 at 100psi, It would be nice if I could get by with just reringing the motor and a valve job. Anymore in put? There's a guy I see with a 65 c10, 235/85/16's and a I-250 driving his truck everywhere, Hauls trailers on the highway with farm equipment.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

If you have low gears in the rear end, you won't have any trouble pulling stuff with a straight six.

[davidh]

I've seen where many of the older 67=72 1tons had 292's in them. My friend has 68 c10 I bought but he wanted real bad so I sold it to him. the little 250 runs pretty good in it. I want my 292 to run like that.

[stelth2002]

I love my inline, id keep if i were you.... however they arent cheap, but my truck is mostly original too.

[stllookn]

1967 Stock engine performance:
250 155 hp @ 4200, 235 ft-lb @ 1600
292 170 hp @ 4000, 275 ft-lb @ 1600
283 175 hp @ 4400, 275 ft-lb @ 2400
327 220 hp @ 4400, 320 ft-lb @ 2800

Those are gross numbers, net are lower. The compression ratio on the 250 was 8.5, 292 - 8.0, 283 - 9.0 and 327 - 8.5. I used to hear guys bragging about their 283's getting 20 mpg. This must have been with taller gears and a stick in a sedan...not a truck.

Think about what happens to performance on that 292 when you bump the compression to 9.0 when you "freshen" it up. Nothing looks or sounds as cool as a V-8 but if it is an original restoration of a work truck stick with the I-6. The manual calls for a rebuild if the compression differential between the highest cylinder and the lowest exceeds 20%. Having said that...I drove my my 292 I-6 for over 300 miles with only 5 pistons...SERIOUSLY...I had to pull one when it swallowed a valve! I drove it home and it shook like you would not believe...but it ran!

[HOTFUN]

I have a 70 2 wd with a 292, 4 speed and 4.11 gears which I think come standard with the 6's. It will pull hills in 4th gear like there's nothing that will stop it until you run out of rpm at 65 and she is screaming. My run around mileage is no better than 10-11mpg. My friend has a 67 2wd with 283 factory 3 speed overdrive manual with 3.73 gears now and he gets an honest 18 mpg down the highway at 65. The 292 is an interesting and fun hd engine but my 67 4x4 is going to get a ginny original 37k mile 283 2 barrel and I plan to run a turbo 350/205 transfer case with 3.73 gears. Nothing runs smoother than those 283's and the mileage is respectable if you drive it nice.

[1BadSS]

Small journal 283 and 4.56 gears is what i'm going to run, considering how quick the motor spins up and how high it'll tach.

[Hunter]

OK, I'll bite. Had the original 292 in my truck when I got it. Well over 130k miles on it. Ran perfect. Yanked it immediately. Actually, sold it while it was in the truck 'cause once you pull it, its a good boat anchor, but in the truck, running, I found a guy who wanted it. Now, easy here, here's my thoughts. If you wanted a stationary pump or generator motor, you could NOT do better than Chevy's inline 6. Here comes the however. However (told ya!) for a highway machine, you need the smooth acceleration and power of a V8. I put the 350/350 in place of the 292/granny-gear 4 speed and even with a stock motor, its an entirely different truck now. WAY better performance and gas mileage now (my 292 got like 9 mpg!). So, like Members of the Board have said: Depends what you wanna do with the truck. Like, lets say you actually wanted to pass somebody someday on the highway.. Then get a V8(whoops - here goes!). &^) All kidding aside, if the 6 does what you want it to (and ALWAYS will) by all means rebuild it. It ain't gonna be just rings though, don't kid yourself. Do it once, do it right. And enjoy. H.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Keep 292.

[mrein3]

IF you decide to go to a V8, put the biggest one in there you can.
Don't waste your time with a 283. Put in a 350 or better yet a stock 400 or build a 383. If you really want the best of both engines, V8 power and I6 low end grunt, quit screwing around and put a 454 in it.

[pickup nut]

A 350 will get as good or better mileage than a 292. A 250 would get better if you want the I-6

[TP from Cntl PA]

Keep the 292...............I have had both Inliners and V's and IMO the Inliners are more reliable power plants for work, not to mention they have the power where you need it, not up high in the RPM range that you can't reach unless you have alot of gears like a small block.

We have a little 250 in a C-10 and it will blow the doors off me in my C-20 with a 350 going up a grade with a Kicker Hay wagon............I am in 2nd with it screamin, while he can run high gear. He can pull two in second...........We'll I never even tried it because I'd probably have to get out and push They don't weigh anything, but the high sides drag in the wind like a sail making them missery to pull anywhere about 20 mph.

IMO you better send the 283 with the rest of the scrap iron to china I'd put in a 305 before that

[JJR]

I would keep the 292 until it dies but I like inlines. I would give the 292 a good tune-up and maybe a can of Restore at the next oil change and run it. However, the 292 was noted as having great low end torque but was not known as a gas mileage queen so your desire for an overall 17 mpg may be hard to meet. Since you mention the truck needs other work, I would spend the money on other portions of the rebuild until you need to swap engines. You can do an engine swap anytime.