Wouldn't a mid sixties 292 be easier to come by and much easier to rod? I think I have seen at least a half dozen digger rail cars with what I thought was the 292 in them. I didn't even realize the 302 existed.
A 292 would be easly to come by and mod. The old jimmy engines only have four main bearings were the 292 has seven. The newer engines are much stronger and can take a better beating. But for some reson the big jimmy sound way better!
if what you have found in the junkyard is indeed either a 270 or 302 block, go for it,...speed parts are easy to find,.. go to Patrick's and pick up an intake, and run either 5 strombergs or three holley 94s on it,....then get the cam ground so that it will run as a mild hot setup and pick up a good speed manual,....call patricks for the speed manual. Unless you're lazy or stupid, you won't spend much more than you would if you wanted to rebuild a Ford flathead. I own both a '50 gmc with its stock 228 motor and I own a 270 motor awaiting a project. I have been researching GMC engines, speed equip, etc and was going to run one in the hot rod I'm building however, i was fortunate to find myself a *****in Olds 303 with its driveline intact for a mere $350...so I'll be running that instead, but the more i see people talk about how its almost impossible to find parts or try turning people off to them,...the more I want to build it up and gloat about how its runs and all the moeny I DIDN"T spend because I MADE an intake, rebuilt my OWN carbs and saved cash,....DO NOT BE dismayed by the naysayers.....!!! Go for it. If you have anymore questions concerning what you may have found in the junkyard, feel free to PM me,...i'll be more than glad to help you out and share what I know, and if I dont know the answers I'll find em for ya,...if I can. If not, I'll point you in the right direction of those who can! PS. the often fought after 270 big port heads are fine, but the fact is they were prone to cracking,....as per Patrick's and other reliable sources including two gentleman who used to run them back in the 50s. Better to just run whatever 270 you have and bild her up, or get a 302
Yes, and the 12 port heads are still availible,....if you can find the guy making them,....and YES THEY are costly,....IF you want to run one, which you do not have to run to get a damn good amount of power,....but if you do want one, they can be had for upwards of $3000 a head!! This is the only insane and costly speed part I have seen for this motor,...many other parts can be had!!!
A later 292 might be easier to come by but it is a bit like comparing a 272 Y block ford to 289 small block. A GMC is simply a neater thing to have.
I'm puttin the 228 back in my truck The 302 just makes a bunch-a torque and **** mileage. The only trans I could find that didn't break was a Ford top loader.... ratios are stupid Big port head? SURE?..... don't bother! your not gonna get the thing to rev 7500 for long Why bother? Unless you got one already The 228, well built. is quick,easy on parts I use a Volvo overdrive The '39 drives like a sports car and will go 80 all day long and get 26 mpg doing it I'm lucky to get 15 with the 302 OK So I've only run these engines for 20 years and beat-up lottsa kid's Chevy's Any GMC is better that a one of them Chevy short ''Car motors'' Patrick's engine is that color so you can't see the turd painted on it
I thought the #s are 354,400, and 426 in the case of the 400 I know im right it was there in the early thirties and used in the yellow busses. these big block gm sixes had the intake and exhaust on the right side of the engine and a shielding covering the distributor and ignition wires.
The Jalopy Journal
