292 or 250?

[jwodahl]

as budget allows, i am slowly getting the rebuild of my 67' off the ground.. it currently has a worn out 250 in it, and since i am re-doing everything anyways, thought i would look for some advice on either replacing the 250 with another one, or upgrading to a 292.. i wont be overly using the truck for pulling, but am planning on putting a flat bed on it, and if i hook up to something, i want it to be able to pull it...

[markallen]

292 all the way...much more power and around the same mpg

[PanelDeland]

WELCOME!!!! You may want to look around if budget is a consideration.A 350 and most of the parts to install it will probably be about the same price as a rebuilt 292.Actually for around $1500 you can buy a new crate mortor with a warranty.
I personally love the 6 cyls but parts for the SBC are just way cheaper due to the numbers built.

['68OrangeSunshine]

I really like 292s. I don't know much about the 250, so to be fair I can't knock it.
As far as the V8 parts being cheaper and in more variety than an L6, that's true, but I have found in 40 years of running '67-'72 trucks, that L6s last twice as long.

[TBONE1964]

I have a 292 in my 64 and I would never remove it. The thing starts and runs well without fail no matter what. You cannot kill it. I also like the cool factor and the "it's not a 350" factor. I have had plenty of 350's including the one in my 72 and they are a great engine and very inexpensive to rebuild.

The 292 is more than capable of pulling your trailer.

[Daner]

It's not real expensive to rebuild the 250. I had the machine work and stuff done on mine for 1100 but I had to put it all back together.

[Sudden Impact]

292 all the way!!!

My '77 bottom end torque was within 10 lb. ft. of a 454 of the same year and got incredible mpg along with stump pulling power!

Just sayin'

[88Ironduke]

I've got a 250 right now and I am keeping my eyes open for a 292 as well. Love the 250, add in HEI and hotter cam over stock and its great.

88Ironduke

[62k10&84k20burb]

stay away from the v8's! not half as reliable, less torque, and with an i-6 the peak torque is much lower in the rpm range than a v8. my grandpa had 389,000 miles on his 250 in a 68 C20. in my experience, the 250's had some decent power but i love the 292's. make shure to put a free flowing muffler (ie: cherry bomb) you will notice a power difference, and maybe a real good carb.

[GuyO]

Dood, that is a good question. My truck originally came with a 250 and I have looked at 292's. My 250 NEVER let me down EVER - EVER! But, the simple answer is, "there is no replacement for displacement"!

[turp mcspray]

Bigger is better. Just ask any woman!

[Freddo]

I had a 66 Chev longbox for a number of years with a 292. It was a great engine, ran well and had plenty of power, but the one thing I noticed about it was it sure sucked through the gas. The truck didn't seem to have especially low gears...it cruised nicely down the freeway in 4th gear (it was a 4 speed) at a pretty easy clip. (Never had a tach on it.) But it never got over about 10 mpg. Many of the people I spoke with who had a 292's in their trucks said they got about the same mileage. My dad had a 67 with a stock 327 & automatic, my brother had a 62 with a 235 & 3 on the column (or was it a 230?) My brothers truck was a lot easier on gas and even my dad's truck with the 327 got about 12 mpg. As much as I liked the 292, I liked his 327 a lot better. The 250 might be quite a bit easier on gas. If mileage is a factor to you, it might be something to think about.

[Freddo]

Oops! Hit the submit button twice!

[ole dollor]

my 1970 has a 292 in it and I geared it with 276 rear end and it get around 18 hwy. also 308 gears would be good on gas. but you will loose a little power pulling heavy loads.

[creed1969]

I rebuilt my 250 and between June and now I've put about 6000 miles on it. No complaints! I drove 750 mi last weekend and basically all i did was add fuel. Got around 14 mpg with the 3ott and 3:73 gears. Driving 70 -75 mph.

[PanelDeland]

Don't get me wrong.I love the 250 I just wanted the OP to be aware of the cost involved in a 292 swap.I think the 250 is better on fuel but the "No replacement for displacement" comment is true.Not knowing the OP's situation,I did want to throw the SBC option out there.

[Willys47]

I think the frame stands are differant between the two motors if u do swap

[creed1969]

Haha...isnt it odd how I'm willing to stand up for my old 250, while to be honest, deep down I'm scheming a 350 vortec build. And even deeper, I'm scheming a 496 BBC. I'm only human....

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Willys47

I think the frame stands are differant between the two motors if u do swap

True. At least the passenger side one is different, anyway. The drivers side one is the same, they tell me. Also if you have a K/5 or K/10 you also need the 292-only cross member that runs diagonally. C/ series not necessary. I don't know about K/20s and K/30s.

[62k10&84k20burb]

Originally Posted by ole dollor

my 1970 has a 292 in it and I geared it with 276 rear end and it get around 18 hwy. also 308 gears would be good on gas. but you will loose a little power pulling heavy loads.

woah woah woah. wayyyyyyy too tall gearing IMO. at least 4:10s...maybe 4:56s

[Daner]

With my 250 1:1 high gear and 4:10 diff my comfortable top speed is 55. 60 is about 2850rpm. With a 292 you could probably have shorter gears. I don't regularly use highways so top speed isn't much of a problem. I don't like to go over 3000 rpm with the 6's.

3.5 with 31" tires would be about perfect for good rpms at highway speed.
http://www.crawlpedia.com/rpm_gear_calculator.htm

[ole dollor]

Originally Posted by 62k10&84k20burb

woah woah woah. wayyyyyyy too tall gearing IMO. at least 4:10s...maybe 4:56s

yes it is a tall gearing , but its great on the hwy and in town driving, and at 65 mph I am tacking 2000 rpm, with the 373 gears I way tacking 3000 rpm. I like to keep the rpm down...any one is welcome to drive ole dollor and see for them selves what a difference it makes....I like it a lot .