1964 short step 292 "AZ Valley Cruiser"

[T.W.Dustin]

I am starting a new build on a truck I am planning to use in the metro Phoenix area. I have a plan in mind. It's going to sit outside all year round and the sun is brutal here June thru Sept. Where do you all think all those nice "Patina" trucks come from anyway
I like being a little different so I am planning to go with a 292, 5 speed (need to figure out the right solution here). Suede or satin paint (but not black). Bench seat, air (something retro looking), lowered some, stock steel wheels and stock bubcaps w/ black radials.

I have a pretty straight, clean truck to start with. It came with a running 350 2BBL and a turbo 350 automatic. Those will be sold off and I have already sourced a nice running 292 that I will take apart, inspect, clean, paint and re-gasket at a minumum. The engine came w/ what I think is a 3 speed and that is going but I have the bell housing, clutch, etc.. (still mated).

The doors were cut for speakers but I found a couple of nice clean shells in Apache Junction yesterday that I swapped a 60-63 door for.

Does anyone have a good transmission solution for this 292? As stated, I have the engine, bellhousing, etc.. already and I would like to go to a 5 speed if possible and keep a stock bench seat.

Here are a few pictures - yes it's kinda ugly:

[Bigru]

Nice Plan, I have a 292 with a 700r4.

[T.W.Dustin]

Originally Posted by Bigru

Nice Plan, I have a 292 with a 700r4.

Hey Bigru, Does the 700R4 bolt right up? An automatic is a possibility. I would like to at least know what options I have for the transmission. Thanks, Tom

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by T.W.Dustin

Hey Bigru, Does the 700R4 bolt right up? An automatic is a possibility. I would like to at least know what options I have for the transmission. Thanks, Tom

Welcome to the forum Dustin! A good 5 speed would be a tremic or richmond. If you get a richmond I would get the 6 speed instead.. because the 5 speed is a non-overdrive. Another would be an S-10 5 speed out of a 95 chevy S-10 or something other....You can talk to Tom Langdon as well on a good transmission.

[T.W.Dustin]

Originally Posted by T.J. MCCAULEY

Welcome to the forum Dustin! A good 5 speed would be a tremic or richmond. If you get a richmond I would get the 6 speed instead.. because the 5 speed is a non-overdrive. Another would be an S-10 5 speed out of a 95 chevy S-10 or something other....You can talk to Tom Langdon as well on a good transmission.

Thanks TJ. I have a few old trucks but my other 2, a '55 GMC 150 and a 64 Chevy C10 long stepside are both bone stock w/ 6 bangers. The '64 is a 292 w/ 4 speed and the '55 GMC is 248 w/ 4 speed. This one I want to have some fun with. So it's the first time I really thought about anything different w/ a 292. Are they the same as a SBC when it comes to bellhousings? Or is the bolt pattern different? Thanks, Tom

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by T.W.Dustin

Thanks TJ. I have a few old trucks but my other 2, a '55 GMC 150 and a 64 Chevy C10 long stepside are both bone stock w/ 6 bangers. The '64 is a 292 w/ 4 speed and the '55 GMC is 248 w/ 4 speed. This one I want to have some fun with. So it's the first time I really thought about anything different w/ a 292. Are they the same as a SBC when it comes to bellhousings? Or is the bolt pattern different? Thanks, Tom

HAHA! Small world...my name is Tom also. Anyhow, Yes they are identical allowing full interchangeability between bell housings....you will need a different bell housing for the 5 speed.

[Bigru]

Originally Posted by T.W.Dustin

Hey Bigru, Does the 700R4 bolt right up? An automatic is a possibility. I would like to at least know what options I have for the transmission. Thanks, Tom

Tom, I'm pretty sure it will, it was in there when I bought the truck.

[T.W.Dustin]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the input! Seems that the transmission will be relatively simple since the bolt pattern on the 292 is the same as SBC.

[Riveted1]

I'm always in for straight six builds. Looks like a nice project you got there.

[rusty76]

I'll ride along with this one.

[hopped up]

nice truck and good plan but id have a hard time not leaving that paint as is. looks pretty nice to me. oh and throw that rear bumper as far from ypur truck as possible lol

[T.W.Dustin]

Originally Posted by hopped up

nice truck and good plan but id have a hard time not leaving that paint as is. looks pretty nice to me. oh and throw that rear bumper as far from ypur truck as possible lol

I threw it so hard it landed in Mesa That was the first thing I unbolted from the truck. Next came the bucket seats, those rectangular tail lights, the wide chrome rims and 60 series rires.

hey Hopped Up that paint looks better than it is. It is starting to peel in areas and likely had bad prep underneath so it has to go. The doors and hood are off now and further dissassembly will commence very soon.

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by T.W.Dustin

I threw it so hard it landed in Mesa That was the first thing I unbolted from the truck. Next came the bucket seats, those rectangular tail lights, the wide chrome rims and 60 series rires.

hey Hopped Up that paint looks better than it is. It is starting to peel in areas and likely had bad prep underneath so it has to go. The doors and hood are off now and further dissassembly will commence very soon.

LOL! Now I am not afraid of admitting that I almost fainted when I saw the rear bumper. lol.

[T.W.Dustin]

For the guys that loved that bumper :-)

[Jeff La]

Originally Posted by T.W.Dustin

For the guys that loved that bumper :-)

Nice truck

[T.W.Dustin]

Chasing parts this weekend. Got a set of stock clutch pedals, a needed wing window, PS pulleys and brackets for the 292 today. Making a run tomorrow to Vegas to pick up a complete 292 4 speed setup and misc parts from a forum member. Leaving at 4am. I may see if there are any other parts I need on Craigslist while I am out there. 600 mi round trip. I'll be home by dinner if everything goes well :-)

[T.W.Dustin]

I went to Henderson, NV, on the outskirts of Las Vegas, to pick up a super clean 292, 4 speed, bellhousing, brackets, and more from Bob who is a forum member (ZouchaR) and has a '63 build going which is really going to be an awesome truck. He made me a great deal because he knew I had to go 600 miles round trip to get the engine. I left Chandler at 4am and was back in my part of town by 2:30 this afternoon. Bob had the engine on a pallet and ready to load when I arrived. Thanks Bob (that's Bob in the first picture)!

[ZouchaR]

Originally Posted by T.W.Dustin

I went to Henderson, NV, on the outskirts of Las Vegas, to pick up a super clean 292, 4 speed, bellhousing, brackets, and more from Bob who is a forum member (ZouchaR) and has a '63 build going which is really going to be an awesome truck. He made me a great deal because he knew I had to go 600 miles round trip to get the engine. I left Chandler at 4am and was back in my part of town by 2:30 this afternoon. Bob had the engine on a pallet and ready to load when I arrived. Thanks Bob (that's Bob in the first picture)!

I know it's going to a good home and will be used the correct way, I didn't want to see it go somewhere for scrap weight!!!

[T.W.Dustin]

Originally Posted by ZouchaR

I know it's going to a good home and will be used the correct way, I didn't want to see it go somewhere for scrap weight!!!

Let me speak for all the 6 banger guys and say "we love you (and all other guys that find good homes for old 6 Bangers) " Bob

[T.W.Dustin]

I am continuing taking things apart. I removed and stripped and sold the door shells and I pulled out the 350/turbo 350 and sold those too. I am building this truck on a very tight budget with mostly all scavenged parts since I just had my '55 GMC painted and that put a pretty big dent in my old truck fund.

I am keeping a log of everything I buy, sell and trade and I now have a grand total of only $2628 in the project (including the price of the truck). Not too bad. I now have almost everything to put the truck back together except for wheels, tires, bedwood, hardware, etc... I got a bench seat as partial trade on the 350. I have 2-292 engines, a 4 speed, pedals, all the body panels I need (except for the front bed piece). I have just about run out of things to sell off it so the price tag will mostly just be going up from here.

[TJ's Chevy]

I love the 292 you where able to purchase! That thing is in awesome shape! Any guy who like 6 bangers is a friend of mine! LOL! Hmmmm....I am seeing a future turbo!

[T.W.Dustin]

A couple of items to note in this picture.

First, it is originally a light blue truck.

Secondly, some @#$^%!@#$ cut the stock transmission crossmember in order to put the 350/350 turbo in. The replacement was a piece of angle iron. I will be replacing the original piece when I can locate one.

[T.W.Dustin]

More progress today disassembling the truck. I like the second pic it looks like a truck bomb went off.

[T.W.Dustin]

And some more parts come off. It seems there were some issues with a leaky battery somewhere over the past 50 years. There was some rust where this occured and things were a little less cooperative. But overall the truck is coming apart nicely. On a "PB Blaster" break right now. I like to hit all the bolts with a little PB Blaster before I work on them. It helps prevent stripping or twisting off some of those tougher bolts.

[T.W.Dustin]

No sense in trying to salvage much of this. What a mess of spaghetti under that dash. I have a Rebel 9+3 kit leftover from another project that I will use.