1972 Chevy C20 with 292 1st P.U. owner

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

I just bought my first truck and would appreciate any input about this truck. I used to be a mechanic and I'm enjoying being able to work on a vehicle without having to plug it into a computer.

[geezer#99]

What truck?
I don’t see any truck!
You know, pics are needed.

And welcome to the jungle!

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

OK, pictures on the way. It's a real turd, but only 77k actual with a great 292 that feels like a diesel.

[clay68c10]

We like em all, from turds to trailer queens!!

[truckster]

Pictures and details, please. And...

[NewBayColony]

I just bought one in March and I am enjoying the crap outta working on it.

['68OrangeSunshine]

292s are fun. I bought a '68 C/10 in 1973 that had a 292 the original buyer had special ordered. In 1977, we rebuilt another 292 block .030 over with mainly GM heavy duty parts, forged pistons. but mostly stock. In 1978 I added Clifford long tube headers, Offy 4 bbl intake and Holley 390 CFM Carb. I ran that mill for 25 years and 250,000 miles. By 2002 it needed a rebuild. I had saved the original engine and we rebuilt that. This time, .030-over [like the other one] but with oversize intake valves [1.86''], a Crane 260H cam,
Re-used the same Clifford headers and Offy intake but went with an Edelbrock 1404 500 CFM aluminum four barrel. Ran Pertronix II for 7 years before it burned out, then retro-ed back to points for a year, but finally settled on 1975-type GM L6 HEI.
Still running great.

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

Thanks to everyone for all the friendly answers.

[geezer#99]

Answers!
Enough of the answers! LOL!
We want pics!

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

OK Geezer, I try to get around to it today!

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

Here's the pics you all wanted.

[geezer#99]

Lookin’ good!!

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

It's not going to "look" much better though as I am using it as a hunting and fishing truck. I'm mostly getting it to run well and be safe as it has been sitting for many years. I've done plugs, points, starter & flex plate, and I'm chasing down vacuum leaks etc. It's more expensive to get tires for the stock wheels so I'm upgrading to new wheels and tires like the ones I put on the back in the pictures. The front wheels and tires are coming on Monday. A carb kit will be here on Tuesday, but I'll have to wait till the weather lets me rebuild the carb. I suppose that the new tires and wheels will make it look better though so that's a plus, as well as getting it up in the air a bit. It has deep gearing so the taller tires will also help it go down the road better without spinning that low revving 292 too high.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Power Steering / Power Brakes, cool. Do you know how rare that is?
Most 292s were issued in fleet trucks, with Armstrong steering and Flintstone brakes. Workers were expected to be able to muscle them around or get replaced by someone who could.
My rig was a fleet truck. A C/10 Stepside with an SM465 and 3.73 rear end gears. [I added posi later.] Original wheels were 7.00 x 17.5 bias ply tires on 5.25x17.5 6 lug rims. [Unobtainable now.] I used 8.00x17.5 tires until the rims were shot @~ 250.000 miles. Now I run 16'' rims w/ R235/85/16LT rubber. At ~75 MPH it turns 3000 RPM.
Bed just needs a good coat of whitewash.

[bill3rail]

Nice Truck!

Thanks for the pictures.

Bill

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

Thanks guys, I'm trying to see what the rear-end gear ratio is. I'll get under there and get the numbers stamped on it when it gets warmer. My research so far shows anywhere from 3.54 to 4.58. What ever it is it handles the R235 85 16 LT tires just fine.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Power Steering / Power Brakes, cool. Do you know how rare that is?

I do. True, most weren't ordered that way, and most people who have a 6 cyl. wish they had those options. Notice the offset air cleaner used when ordered with power brakes. Even the original factory offset air cleaners are hard to find still on the vehicle.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by Tiiimmmaaayyy

I'm trying to see what the rear-end gear ratio is.

Check the SPID, inside glove box decal for optional rear end ratio. IF, no rear axle option, it has the standard 6 cyl ratio which is 4.56. Yes, very low geared, after 55 mph, it will really rev. IF it has a drop out eaton, round style axle cover, highest ratio is 4.10. If Dana, internals can be swapped to 3. 54 or 3.73. An overdrive trans, auto or manual, is another route that can be pursued.

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

It's a 4.56 then, thanks!

[rustytruck50]

I like it...love the old Rolfsmeier dealer tag on the tailgate....been a lot of years since I've seen one!
Do you have a picture of the SPID label?

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

I'll take a pic and post the label soon. How much snow did you get rustytruck50?

[rustytruck50]

Sounds good....I'm interested because of the air cleaner and hoses coming off of it...looks like California emissions...
I think we got something like 2 inches...it got pretty slick around here and it seemed like a long while before any plow trucks were out. How about down your way?

[Tiiimmmaaayyy]

About 2" too. Thinking about raising hell at the walmart parking lot to christen the turd. :-)

[NewBayColony]

Mine (292 C20) came without power brakes and steering. Somewhere the power brakes were added along with the offset air cleaner. I have the 4.57s and I am looking into a 3 speed overdrive now as I wanna keep the 3OTT. Always been a fan of 292's ever since I worked on them in the late 60's early 70's. A company we did the maintenance for had them in C50's with 2 speed rear ends. I also ordered one in a 78 2500 4wd GMC. The guy I sold it to still has it with 225000 on it and it's never been torn down.

[hugger6933]

Sweet rig Enjoy love the power steering and brakes. My heavy[71 C30] has power brakes but no steering that is on the to add list along with LESS gear and more gears in the trans.