Stock 6 in a 67 C20

[Surfdaddy]

I have a 61 GMC so I'm over in that fourm mostly. A guy ar work has been lookin at the progress of my truck and said he has a 67 C20 fleet side sitting on the side of his house, and has been for many years. It was his fathers (this guy is 62) and after we talked he said it has a straight 6 with a 3 spd that they put the shifter on the floor. He though it was a 230 and I though it was more likely a 292. Any thoughts of what it really might be? If it's a 6/3on the tree combo I'm guessing it's a base model with nearly no options. but I would't know until I looked at it.

[Longhorn Man]

no 230 engines used in 67 - 72, base engine is a 250, optional would be a 292. The 3 speed is the base trans. Gearing unless opted otherwise would be a 4.57, so freeway speeds would have it reving 3500-ish, but still doable.

[Surfdaddy]

He said they had a camper on it for the longest time, though I would think unless it's a 292 it would be real doggy.Even then I would think it would be under powered. I think he wants to give it to me but might ask he son first. His son has a 66 Nova sitting behind the truck which also has been there for MANY years. The last 3 projects I've done have all started th same. Some thing sitting at someone's house for 20+ years and then they decide to get rid of it and look for someone who will restore it. They say, hey why don't you come by and get this thing. It's free and let me see it when your finished. Nothing is ever free, 6-10K later you have a free car that looks ok.

[RUSHNBOBO]

Originally Posted by Surfdaddy

He said they had a camper on it for the longest time, though I would think unless it's a 292 it would be real doggy.Even then I would think it would be under powered.

It all matters what you mean by under-powered. Are they fast no, unless modified to do so. But they have great off idle torque and pull loads very well when geared right, especially the 292.

I had a '64 Chevy w/ a 230 and a three speed and it was a clutch frying machine when trying to move a load from a dead stop on a hill. Later put in a four speed SM420 and a 292; it became quite the workhorse.

The easiest way to identify between the 292 and 250 is the motor mounts, the 250 will be directly across from each other same as sbc, and the 292 will have a very obvious stagger (one side sits ahead of the other in different holes in the frame)

Remember these 292 engines were designed to work, and their durability, and reliability is legendary.

[Surfdaddy]

I had a 292 in a 64 carryall / suburban with a 4spd. Worked great very smooth and dependable. I"m actually really a big fan and love the 6, just wouldn't buy a truck that way, 6cyl 3spd, when I knew I would have a 1500lb camper on the back. But that's just me. My 61 has the V6 and it had a 10 ft 1500lb camper on it and is only 160hp, though tons of tourqe. I guess it's all in the gears. I bought a 67 camero for my girlfirend way back when that had a 230 and three speed on the coloum. That was a fun car that you didn't see everyday.

[stsalvage]

the inline 6 engine have more power then the V8 do low end tourq I love the inline 6 250 I building a 1968 longhorn 3/4 ton that had the 396 and th400 pulled the 396 and 400 put it in my 1971 nova converting the 3/4 ton to a 1/2 ton with the 250 and 700R4 Tran's and a 4 bb intake from offanhouser with 500 CFM edalbrock thinking of putting a gear vender behind the 700R4 to give me a 8 speed

No inline 6 engines like the 1966--70 250 engines and the 1971--77 292

[RUSHNBOBO]

Originally Posted by Surfdaddy

I had a 292 in a 64 carryall / suburban with a 4spd. Worked great very smooth and dependable. I"m actually really a big fan and love the 6, just wouldn't buy a truck that way, 6cyl 3spd, when I knew I would have a 1500lb camper on the back. But that's just me.

I totally agree about the 6 cyl and 3 speed combo, never thought it was very useful in a working vehicle. But then again a sbc or a bbc in front of a three speed can be very hard on clutches (when loaded) once you get moving your fine. If it were mine and I had a tight budget (which I do) just swap the tranny out to an auto or a SM420-465 granny 4 speed....plentiful in wrecking yards.

Note: if you ever swap to a SM465....this will be helpful .....The index boss on the SM465(5.125") is larger than the hole in the bellhousing(4.7" approx.) and there is not enough room, between the index hole and the clutch arm pivot bolt, to machine it out large enough. {The index hole is just big enough for a SM420 or most GM car transmissions with an index of 4.686"} ..so if you had the notion to grab a SM465 get the bell housing with it.

[RUSHNBOBO]

Originally Posted by stsalvage

No inline 6 engines like the 1966--70 250 engines and the 1971--77 292

The 292 was only used in Chevrolet and GMC trucks; the block deck is taller, along with a relocated passenger-side engine mount. These were produced between 1963 to 1990; production of the engine shifted to Mexico after 1984.

[Surfdaddy]

The guy will be back up in my work area tomorrow. I'll talk to him more about it then. He said yesterday that something happened to the 6 and he took it to a friends shop to get it fixed. Had something to do with the water pump. Anyway the guy took some money and skipped town had the truck impounded and it took him days to get it back. He said he still has a 350 sitting in the driveway covered with a tarp ready to put in the truck when he pulled it to the side of his house. That was 20 years ago!!. If I get the truck I'll try and get the 6 going. But I'l have to look at it first. If it's a rusted pile then I don't need two (my 61 being the other)