Speed/RPM (292's in particular)

[66Submarine]

Just curious, how hard do you/have you all run your trucks? Seems 55MPH/a little over 3,000RPM is real common, anyone here pushed/exceeded the limits? I'm particularly interested in hearing about 292 powered trucks. The hod rod/light truck guys seem to be afraid of them (292's), but I don't see any real reason they shouldn't hold up at high cruise RPM. Longer stroke, sure, but also much longer rods and 3/8" rod bolts. 250's, 350's, 454's, etc can all run 3,500RPM+ at cruise without letting go, I don't see why a 292 can't.

To clarify, I know that at 3,500RPM a 292 will be sucking fuel like air, and not really doing anything that well. I'm certainly not planning on cruising there, I just don't see why one can't. But, they are real hard to find, and I'm not wanting to do my own potentially destructive testing.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

I had a 292 in a '64 C-30 that I would run up to 60 MPH, but not for hours at a time. Not sure what it was revving at, as I didn't have a Tach in it, but it was revving pretty good.

My engine seemed to be the exception as far as fuel goes. I would get up to 15 MPG empty and it seemed not much different fully loaded.

One of the best engines I ever had, but they seem to run much better when they can breathe. I always ran a straight through Muffler on it. It also made it sound a whole lot sweeter.

Bill

[66Submarine]

If your truck had the base option 5.14's that would have been about 3,400RPM. Wound up pretty tight!

I have had real good luck with fuel economy with the inliners myself. Hopefully this one will do good, too. It's actually going in my '65 C-30 to replace the 283 in it. Right now the 283 does good, but with 4.10's it lacks low end (somewhat). Should be a great combo with a 292.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

I believe you are correct on the 5.14's.

The 4.10's with the 292 sounds pretty good.

By the way, even with the 5.14's I always started off in Granny Gear 1st with my SM-420 Trans, fully loaded or not.

Bill

[Dillon Rock]

I'd get goin upwards to 70-ish MPH goin down I-5 to Olympia to see my brother and sister in my 64 with the 292/4 spd. and Eaton HO52 rear end in it. Other than the lack of noise suppression in the cab due to bigger tires, she didn't seem to go upwards of that high, maybe 2,500 RPM's, as mine doesn't have a tach in it either. I just go by ear like I do with tractors and I'm able to roughly estimate what it is.

[S250]

I have one in my 63 c-60 pulling my bobcat around, I don't have a tach either or a speedometer that works properly. The pedal is always to the floor unless its downhill and it seems to do really well on fuel pulling 5 ton plus its own weight around. I don't push it more the 55-60 empty and I am lucky to do 45-50 loaded, up hills can be a crawl.

[68panelman]

My 1970 292 ran best at 28-3000/ 60 ish mph was good enough for me.

[whitedog76]

There's guys that are racing 292's and putting turbos on them.

I think the key is to have a well balanced driveline. From pistons to the crank. The 292 has 7 main bearings, which makes for an extremely stout low end.

The achilles heal is probably the rods. The long stroke puts alot of strain and torsion on them. There's plenty of companies that make h-beam and forged rods for them, so no big deal.

Go to Inliners.org those guys love the 292s.

[junkmandan3]

1966 sales data book shows 170 gross HP @ 4000, 153 net@ 3600, and 255 net lb ft @ 2400 with torque peak almost equal @ 1600, so it's got a good range . So gear it to do what you want .