Theoretically speaking

[Stephen717]

How hard would it be to sell my 250 if I was to get a 292 for my truck, and how much could I get for it. Figured with all the 3/4 ton suspension it should have the beefier 6 cylinder as I don't want it to have the same small block or big block or LS swap. I like the old 6's. They're cheap to buy, easy to work on, and I can find all the same speed part for the same price that I can find for sbc stuff

['68OrangeSunshine]

There may not be a lot of demand for 250 cores. 292 parts are more rare, so more money.
The sad fact is the aftermarket performance industry has brainwashed the public for so long that a lot of people don't save their L6 parts when they follow the pack and get another V8, and original L6 parts are wasted.
Speed parts for Chevy L6s are more expensive than their SBC counterparts. There is a market for high performance straight six components, but it's a smaller market so manufacturers have to charge more to stay afloat.
Try:
www.cliffordperformance.com
www.inlinersinternational.com
www.12bolt.com

[Stephen717]

So true on the brainwashing part. It's sad that you don't see more people putting the old l6 engines in hot rods. I always like seeing them at car shows and cruise ins as they're just so unique

[special-K]

I like the hum of a hot 6 banger. I guess you know you'll need a 292 crossmember, right? Or make one.

[Grumpy old man]

I recently sold this cleaned up good running 250 locally for $350.00 the running un painted 250 sold locally for $150.00 ,

The painted good running 292 in the picture I would have to get $750.00 for and the unpainted running 292 I wouldn't sell for less than $550.00. You need the 292 only right side engine perch to install a 292 in your truck .NO they are not for sale .

[truckster]

I wouldn't call it brainwashing. People like what they like, and most people like power. That's easier to do with a V8 than an L6.

Having owned all kinds of trucks and cars with all kinds of engines, including 250, 258, 292, and 300 CID L6 engines, some bone-stock and some with expensive performance parts, I've settled on the L31 Vortec as my preferred engine. It's a personal preference, just like a 292 or a 454 are personal preferences for some folks.

Of course, my straight-six Cummins definitely has its place, too.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by special-K

I like the hum of a hot 6 banger. I guess you know you'll need a 292 crossmember, right? Or make one.

Special-K. I think only the 4x4 trucks need the diagonal 292-only crossmember. But I don' know nuffin' about no 3/4 tons. C/10s I know about. And I know the diagonal member would be needed to put one in a K/5.

Yes, the passenger side 292-only engine frame perch is needed and rare. Some L6-specific parts houses sell a mid-engine mount that bolts to the 292's fuel pump mount, requiring an electric fuel pump. I hate that for 2 reasons -- I don't like electric fuel pumps, and GM moved the L-25's motor mount forward deliberately, so it would handle the 292's massive torque. Putting it back at the 250's position defeats the purpose.

Stephen717, Your 250's head would work on a 292, if you can only find a 292 block or lower assembly. 292 uses a 6 quart oil pan, so they don't exchange.

Fun fact: The fully-dressed L-25 292 L6 is 100 lbs lighter than any SBC.
Fun fact 2: It only took Ford 2 years to reverse engineer a [MY'63] 292 to come up with the [MY'65] 300 ''I-6''. Reverse engineer is the right phrase, too. The 300's intake and exhaust are on the passenger side, and the plugs and distributor are on the drivers side. [But beefing up the block was a better idea.]

[Stephen717]

I know the 250 runs and just needs a carburetor. So I'm most likely going to throw that in there so I can drive the truck around when I get the rear brakes done and the frame switched over. Then I'm definitely planning on building a 292 for the truck. I'm guessing using the 250 head on a 292 is like putting a 230 head on a 250?

[wesmigletz]

Originally Posted by Stephen717

I know the 250 runs and just needs a carburetor. So I'm most likely going to throw that in there so I can drive the truck around when I get the rear brakes done and the frame switched over. Then I'm definitely planning on building a 292 for the truck. I'm guessing using the 250 head on a 292 is like putting a 232 head on a 250?

I'm not sure the 250 head has a smaller chamber than the 292. The 194 engines had a smaller combustion chamber. I think 230, 250, and 292 used the same head.

[flashed]

I had the original 250 engine and 3 speed trans from my 70 truck for sale for $150 and never got an offer , I finally traded them for 4 5 lug truck wheels just to get them gone .

[Boog]

And that was probably a fair trade. I think I got $250 for the same engine/trans from my 69 24 years ago. And it was a good smooth running engine.
Wheels fetch considerably more these days.

[Sheepdip]

Originally Posted by Stephen717

How hard would it be to sell my 250 if I was to get a 292 for my truck, and how much could I get for it. Figured with all the 3/4 ton suspension it should have the beefier 6 cylinder as I don't want it to have the same small block or big block or LS swap. I like the old 6's. They're cheap to buy, easy to work on, and I can find all the same speed part for the same price that I can find for sbc stuff

The lowrider crowd is still very much into those old 250's.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by wesmigletz

I'm not sure the 250 head has a smaller chamber than the 292. The 194 engines had a smaller combustion chamber. I think 230, 250, and 292 used the same head.

That's my understanding, too. While an urban myth persists of more compression from a head from a smaller-displacement block, it's only true of the 194 head. GM used the same heads on the 230, 250 and 292.

[Stephen717]

Good to know

[toolboxchev]

A good fuel injected, L6 performance build would be interesting to see. Know it can be done. Clean efficient burning long lasting internals probably go 300K or more.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by toolboxchev

A good fuel injected, L6 performance build would be interesting to see. Know it can be done. Clean efficient burning long lasting internals probably go 300K or more.

I got 250,000 on a 292 [@.030-over] built in 1977, ran to 2002. It had TRW forged pistons. Most of the other components were stock or GM-HD. Changed Valvoline Racing oil every 2000 miles, gradually upping viscosity til I was running 50 weight at the end. Stock points. Four Bbl Holley 8007, 390 CFM on Offy intake and Clifford headers.

[Stephen717]

The 292 sold before I could get my hands on it. I think I have a good plan for the 250 though. I'm thinking comp cams 212/212 k kit SKU K61-233-4, then a standard high flow bolt in lump kit from 12bolt.com SKU: HI FLO 6CYL, a set of flowtech 11510FLT long tube headers from speedway motors, and either a 5 or 7 angle valve job (depends on what my engine shop reccomends). Top it off with a Weber 32/36 and throw a 4 speed behind it and I think it will be a fun setup. Everything motor wise should cost around $800-850 and then I just have to figure out a transmission. As instead of selling it I'm going to throw the 250 into an old 3-5 window Chevy coupe when I upgrade the motor in tetanus

[Boog]

Yeah buddy! Recycle America right?

[palallin]

Originally Posted by Stephen717

As instead of selling it I'm going to throw the 250 into an old 3-5 window Chevy coupe when I upgrade the motor in tetanus

Dontcha just LOVE Autocorrect?

[Stephen717]

Originally Posted by palallin

Dontcha just LOVE Autocorrect?

I actually pride myself on my spelling and penmanship. With computers and smartphones fixing everything it's something that most people don't care about anymore.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Stephen717

The 292 sold before I could get my hands on it. I think I have a good plan for the 250 though. I'm thinking comp cams 212/212 k kit SKU K61-233-4, then a standard high flow bolt in lump kit from 12bolt.com SKU: HI FLO 6CYL, a set of flowtech 11510FLT long tube headers from speedway motors, and either a 5 or 7 angle valve job (depends on what my engine shop reccomends). Top it off with a Weber 32/36 and throw a 4 speed behind it and I think it will be a fun setup. Everything motor wise should cost around $800-850 and then I just have to figure out a transmission. As instead of selling it I'm going to throw the 250 into an old 3-5 window Chevy coupe when I upgrade the motor in tetanus

What about the intake?

[Daner]

Guess I need to start buying old grain trucks and parting them out. Lots in the 60s had 292s. Don't know how the mounts would be different though.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Daner

Guess I need to start buying old grain trucks and parting them out. Lots in the 60s had 292s. Don't know how the mounts would be different though.

Sure, grain trucks, schoolbuses, UPS trucks, bread vans, 3/4 ton longbeds... A lot of rigs came with a 292.
The RH motor mount on the 292 is forward of the fuel pump. Only on the 292. I believe this was done to counteract the 292's massive torque. It is shaped differently. Other L6s, 250, 230, have symmetrical passenger side mountings. The LH and RH mounts are the same.
Also because of the asymmetrical mounts, 4x4 trucks required a special diagonal 292-Only crossmember. On 2wd trucks the stock frame will fit. Maybe it will need new holes, if not an original 292 truck, IDK.

[Stephen717]

Honestly im having a hard time finding a good intake cheap and I would love to have a 3x2 intake on there eventually so for now I'm going to run the single 2 barrel progressive carb on the stock intake with a heated block off plate and eventually either buy a vintage 3x2 intake, buy a 3x1 intake and 2 more 1 to 2 adapters or have a custom 3x2 intake made up. The thought of cutting the holes for 2 more carbs into the stock intake also ran through my mind but I don't know how well that would look or function

[Stephen717]

Far as the 292 goes I might know of where ones sitting in a junkyard. If I can get it for a reasonable price I might freshen it up and sell it