I found the casting #s for my '46 Chevy Panel Van are for a 1956, 235ci engine. I just bought a 1955, 292ci and now I'm thinking (<-the dangerous part) I want to keep some nostaligic aspects to this 46 Chevy Panel, yet I want to bump up the engine performance. How would I benefit getting the 292 some performance work v.s. pumping up the 235 for this truck. Is it worth the effort or should I just sell 'em and go for something brand new and super big?
Hahaha, ahh ****. Now I'm feel'n stoopid. You're right, I went back and check'd somethings out. Like where did I get the 292's year wrong? Before I checked out the block number on my '46...I was told the motor was from a 1949 AD, or somewhere "around" there. All the previous owner knew is it ran, without smoking. 1rst..I don't know **** from shine-ola. Somebody told me the chevy engines in 54-55 years had pressurized oil systems. Which is suppose to be good. Right? That tid bit of information got me looking for mid 50's chevy engine. I wanted something "stronger" that would have a straight 6. I "think" the 292 is pretty much it for the 6 cyclinder, isn't it? Anyway...that is what led to my next step. Somebody on this board advertised a 292 + Powerglide. All they said is it was a running engine out of their '55. They never said what year the 292 actually was, other than it's was a straight 6. I made the leap that it was a '55, 292. Soooo...I'll get a confirmation on that 292's year (I don't have the motor yet), but let's go with the 6 cyclinder 292 vs a '56 235 ci arguement. What do you think about pumpping one or the other up for the street. Any thoughts.. btw...thanks too! I do appreciate being set straight.
A 292 Chevy 6 into a '46 Chev truck is exactly the same swap as a Chevy V8; the pre '62 Chev & GMC 6s bolt in ... if you're looking for nostalgia plus added power, go 261 Chev or 270-302 GMC. The 292 will cost less $$$, but it's "new". If you stay with a 235, all '54 up Chev engines are full pressure.
If the 292 wasn't offered until 63 then I guess the motor mounts will have to change. I don't know what kind or how old the transmission is, but I gotta do something to make this thing more highway driveable in the short term...aside from dealing with the steering...which is real sloppy.
depends on how much you want to spend and how nostalgic you want it to look. if you want to spend some bucks and have an old engine, go to inliners if you want the 292, contact Twisted6 - he makes those mothers run
6inarow: Thanks for the link and direction to Twisted6! I learned a lot from reading that series on building stroker 6 series... I can drop a dollar or two, but then I begin to wonder if I wouldn't have been better off buying a new 350 crate...
if its about spending lesss money - buy the 350. its not even close. but some of this 6 cylinder stuff (chevy, hudson - all of 'em) is better than ******
The 235 will fit in without modification, but as I learned your trans choices are kind of limited without having to buy a $300 adaptor. A 292 will use a standard v8 bolt pattern, and you can use any v8 trans. The 235 will be much more expensive to find parts for than a 292, or a v8. As has been said though, you'll have to make the 292 fit. Its longer, lower, and has different mounts. You may have to move the radiator forward.
6inarow-it ain't about the cash (everyone says that until they have to pay up). I got a functioning 235 - I'm sticking with the 292 and look into some local hot rod shops...or ship it further down the line to somebody like Twisted 6. Moloko - I appreciate what you're saying. I can move some things around - wtf do I know...as long as things don't get too funky..I sure as hell can't tell you how much room there is in the engine bay for a '46 Panel Van v.s. a 292 engine...how do you check?
sorry but that is wrong! the 292 is different from the V8 swap as the p***enger side motor mount is a few inches foward of the drivers side. the 194-250 is the same as V8,directly accross from each other. buying a used motor without doing a compression check is asking for trouble,helped install many junk motors that were said to be good. "caviot emptor"
All that being said;;; My take is that he could get a lot more scoot for the buck with the 292 vs. the early 235 or even the 261. Just the adaptability is an enormous cost saving, plus the engine architechsure is 2 decades newer, which translates into more RPM's, and an easier motor to live with. Now, if he was more worried about being old skool, that's a different tale.
55 Dude - thanks. I had that experience with a '63 Panhead for my bike...it ran but it was a ***** to kick over...turns out the compression was bad in the rear cylinder. Unclee, whadaya thinking would make a way cool, ol skool power set up? I am totally open to suggestions, not committed in a direction I can't change, and at a point where I can change if I wanna. Don't laugh, but as an outsider a straight 6 "looks" old skool to me. Yeah I want some kick in the engine - but I'm just not just wanting to drop a crate engine in it. Maybe it's better, maybe it's easier - but then the engine compartment looks a lot like a whole bunch of others. I hope that makes some sense.
The 292 Can Be made to Mount in Just Like the 194,230,250,V8 blocks where the mounts are in the center. All you need is a 1/4,3/8,1/2 inch Plate Mounted where The Front motor mount would have gone.To relocate it to the center of the Block to Make center mounting much easier. Then You can have your Pickings Of ANY ****** to go behind it.As for the Olskool Look you can always Get a adaptor plate to Use The Older 4 bolt valve cover or the center Bolted valve cover. sorry I just thought it was kinda time for me to stick my 2cent worth in lol.
I'm with Twisted6. 292's have a ton of torque compared to the 235. And anybody can drop in a SBC. I'm putting a 292 in my current project, the Studebakester. Initially, a basically stock, then a built one with headwork and 3 webers. Go for the 292. Good tip on the motor mounts, too, Twisted6. I'm using the old valve cover, too. In fact I'm looking for a finned aluminum, preferably not Offenhauser. db
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