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Old 12-02-2018, 09:21 PM   #1
Llay R. Rac
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292 rebuild

I am starting to plan a rebuild of my 292, its the original block and head.
It has nearly 300,000 on it. i am sure it will need some machine shop work, that will be determined when my new compression gauge gets here.

I don't know of any local shops that i would feel good about.
Is it feasible to ship an engine to a shop?
does anyone have any recommendations to a shop?
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Old 12-03-2018, 10:49 AM   #2
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Re: 292 rebuild

I have used Dugans in Riverside, Ca many times. They have a SWEET shop and some very intelligent people there. They do a LOT of race engine builds. Thats if you want to ship.
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Old 12-03-2018, 12:33 PM   #3
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Re: 292 rebuild

Check out 12bolt.com Tom Lowe very helpful lots of cool products. Using a bunch of his stuff on my 292 build
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Old 12-05-2018, 01:28 AM   #4
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Re: 292 rebuild

Quote:
Originally Posted by Llay R. Rac View Post
I am starting to plan a rebuild of my 292, its the original block and head.
It has nearly 300,000 on it. i am sure it will need some machine shop work, that will be determined when my new compression gauge gets here.

I don't know of any local shops that i would feel good about.
Is it feasible to ship an engine to a shop?
does anyone have any recommendations to a shop?
I'm in Tucson. I used John Redgate at P.O. Machine Shop, 520/ 888-4010.
He machined my '68 C/10 Stepside's original L25 292 in 2005. He's not afraid of L6s.
My friend and I assembled it.
Build was .030-over, Crane 260H cam, 1.84'' Intake valves, Badger cast pistons, OEM rods.
I would use him again if I were building another 292.

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Old 12-05-2018, 05:18 AM   #5
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Re: 292 rebuild

I would want to deal with someone local...just in case issues arise....
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Old 12-05-2018, 10:47 AM   #6
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Re: 292 rebuild

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I would want to deal with someone local...just in case issues arise....
Agreed. OP hasn't stated what city he's in. Just the state.
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Old 12-05-2018, 11:25 AM   #7
Llay R. Rac
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Re: 292 rebuild

I am in Cottonwood.
I definitely would like do have the work done locally or within driving distance.
I could assemble it myself if need be.

my new compression gauge arrived yesterday, hope to get a test done in a few days, then i can start to figure out a plan . I did a comp test last month and all cylinders read 145-150, that gauge is now in the trash!
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Old 12-06-2018, 01:11 AM   #8
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Re: 292 rebuild

I guess that compression tester was endorsed by the League of Used Car Salesmen. Can you borrow a known-accurate gauge from a friend? If true, your readings are astounding -- I would leave that engine alone and run it another 300,000. But it does sound too good to be true.
A guy's machine shop should not be too far away, as you'll be over there a lot during the process. PO Machine is good, but if it were in Cottonwood, I would look elsewhere, too. You only stated you were in AZ, and that covers a lot of territory.
A PHX area location might be your best bet. I would get in touch with Rich Swick, president of the Arizona Chapter of Inliners International, an organization dedicated to building inline engines. [I was a member from 2004 - 2008 until the economic crash caused me to drop non-essential clubs and subscriptions. At that time there was no local chapter.] I went up to Glendale this October and showed my grubby '68 C/10 with strong-running 292 L6 in a local car show they participated in. Nice guys, but I saw a lot of Fords, and few Chevys... However Rich might have a better idea of good machinists in your area. Here's his email: Rich_AZInliners@outlook.com
Hope this helps.
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Old 12-06-2018, 02:04 PM   #9
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Re: 292 rebuild

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Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine View Post
I guess that compression tester was endorsed by the League of Used Car Salesmen. Can you borrow a known-accurate gauge from a friend? If true, your readings are astounding -- I would leave that engine alone and run it another 300,000. But it does sound too good to be true.
A guy's machine shop should not be too far away, as you'll be over there a lot during the process. PO Machine is good, but if it were in Cottonwood, I would look elsewhere, too. You only stated you were in AZ, and that covers a lot of territory.
A PHX area location might be your best bet. I would get in touch with Rich Swick, president of the Arizona Chapter of Inliners International, an organization dedicated to building inline engines. [I was a member from 2004 - 2008 until the economic crash caused me to drop non-essential clubs and subscriptions. At that time there was no local chapter.] I went up to Glendale this October and showed my grubby '68 C/10 with strong-running 292 L6 in a local car show they participated in. Nice guys, but I saw a lot of Fords, and few Chevys... However Rich might have a better idea of good machinists in your area. Here's his email: Rich_AZInliners@outlook.com
Hope this helps.

Thanks for the input.
that compression gauge was old and had been stored in a garage that flooded. its trashed now, i bought a new gauge.

I figured Phx would probably be where i would end up.

The truck starts real easy and runs ok, smokes a little. i switched the rochester b for a carter yf, and my mpg seems to be better.
I'm in no major hurry to rebuild the engine, maybe next year. I am going to do my comp test, maybe a head gasket and drive the truck until then. I bet I could put another 100,000 on it before it dies.
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Old 12-06-2018, 03:16 PM   #10
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Re: 292 rebuild

I ran my #2 292 from 1977 to 2002 -- for 250,000 miles. At the end I was adding a quart of SAE50 at frequent intervals. I took it into a shop that had a Sun analyzer, and they said I had dead cylinders on #3 and 4. I limped home and started my rebuild project.
During the summer of '77, I was stationed at MCAS Yuma. Not much to do in that town besides working. We troubleshot Harriers on the Night Crew, and had daytimes off. My buddies talked me into rebuilding an engine. I bought a junkyard '67 292, and we proceeded to build that up with TRW forged pistons @ .030 over, but HD stock for most of the other stuff. I got a military discount 10% on parts and 20% on shop work from the Chevy dealer and local vendors. That's the engine that ran for 25 years. We disassembled the OEM '68 292 and put it up in 3 surplus Rolls Royce crates. I took the crates home to Tucson and kept them out of the weather. Twenty five years later, I rebuilt the Original '68 Engine. This time with a Crane 260H cam, .030 over cast pistons, larger [1.84''] intake valves. When I opened up the crates, they were not even rusty.
If you can get another 292 block, you can build that while you blow blue smoke rings with the truck that runs, and swap it over when finished.
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Old 12-06-2018, 04:55 PM   #11
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Re: 292 rebuild

[QUOTE='68OrangeSunshine;
If you can get another 292 block, you can build that while you blow blue smoke rings with the truck that runs, and swap it over when finished.[/QUOTE]

I've considered that also, or maybe even a used running 292.

I spent some time in Yuma in the early 70's, many times i would drive(no a/c) Mesa to Yuma in the middle of the day in the middle of summer. i remember many times looking at my temp gauge at 160 degrees, thinking how great the engine was. Never had to stop in Dateland for water, only for a cold date shake. thats the kind of dependability i want to have with my suburban again.

When i get my comp test done, i will have a better idea of what to do. i have limited storage and a not so great working space so logistics will play apart in what i do. I have even considered moving to be in a more active truck scene.
If I were living the ideal life i want, i would have two 292 trucks, one stock and one built up.
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Old 12-06-2018, 05:43 PM   #12
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Re: 292 rebuild

I have two 292 cores. One is the '67 block I ran for 250K miles at .030 over. If it passes the magna flux test for cracks, I would bore it out to .060 over [or .040 if possible] Sixty-over = 301 CID.
The other core is a '63 292 in original Alpine Green. I got it from a guy who worked at Checker Auto. He bought the engine just for its Chevrolet script embossed valve cover for a 250 project. I got it for $100, but with a blue valve cover. This one looks like someone bought a ''barn find'' truck from a farmer -- was ignorant about the value of a 292 L6 -- and ditched it in favor of an SBC in-a-crate. I have not opened the head to look at the cylinders, but the condition of the factory paint leads me to think it got limited use. Could just be lightly honed and rebuilt with new bearings at the stock bore diameter. Or hotrodded out to .030 over like all the others.
One will go in a '67 K/10 Suburban, the other in a '72 K/5 project.
My other truck is a '71 GMC Jimmy 4x4 with a Mr Goodwrench 350.
I think a 292 in a stripped down K/5 would be an excellent runner. I wonder why GM never offered the L25 292 in the Blazer/Jimmy-s?
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Old 12-10-2018, 01:46 PM   #13
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Re: 292 rebuild

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Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine View Post
I have two 292 cores. One is the '67 block I ran for 250K miles at .030 over. If it passes the magna flux test for cracks, I would bore it out to .060 over [or .040 if possible] Sixty-over = 301 CID.
The other core is a '63 292 in original Alpine Green. I got it from a guy who worked at Checker Auto. He bought the engine just for its Chevrolet script embossed valve cover for a 250 project. I got it for $100, but with a blue valve cover. This one looks like someone bought a ''barn find'' truck from a farmer -- was ignorant about the value of a 292 L6 -- and ditched it in favor of an SBC in-a-crate. I have not opened the head to look at the cylinders, but the condition of the factory paint leads me to think it got limited use. Could just be lightly honed and rebuilt with new bearings at the stock bore diameter. Or hotrodded out to .030 over like all the others.
One will go in a '67 K/10 Suburban, the other in a '72 K/5 project.
My other truck is a '71 GMC Jimmy 4x4 with a Mr Goodwrench 350.
I think a 292 in a stripped down K/5 would be an excellent runner. I wonder why GM never offered the L25 292 in the Blazer/Jimmy-s?
Every time I read one of your posts regarding the 292 I know I made the right choice by keeping it in the Wife's K10 SWB. Thanks for all the Info.
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Old 12-10-2018, 03:39 PM   #14
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Re: 292 rebuild

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Every time I read one of your posts regarding the 292 I know I made the right choice by keeping it in the Wife's K10 SWB. Thanks for all the Info.
Thanks, Man. Makes me feel good knowing I kept at least one Old Chevy Trucker from listening to the lemmings and dropping a perfectly good 292 L6 for some cheesy chromed-up V8.
If you want a really good boat anchor, get a clapped-out SBC. Weighs 100 lbs more and the wedge shape kedges in the silt much better than the sleek slim shape of an L6.
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Old 12-27-2018, 08:56 PM   #15
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Re: 292 rebuild

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Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine View Post
The other core is a '63 292 in original Alpine Green. I got it from a guy who worked at Checker Auto. He bought the engine just for its Chevrolet script embossed valve cover for a 250 project. I got it for $100, but with a blue valve cover. This one looks like someone bought a ''barn find'' truck from a farmer -- was ignorant about the value of a 292 L6 -- and ditched it in favor of an SBC in-a-crate. I have not opened the head to look at the cylinders, but the condition of the factory paint leads me to think it got limited use.
I actually had it given to me as I was looking for a 292. My wife's family gave me a inline 6 which turned out to be a 292, guess which one I had to keep?
I still have the 292, and a 250, and the valve cover......

And to put credibility here, you picked it up near Campbell/Grant in Tucson in your Blazer.
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Old 12-28-2018, 08:00 AM   #16
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Re: 292 rebuild

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I actually had it given to me as I was looking for a 292. My wife's family gave me a inline 6 which turned out to be a 292, guess which one I had to keep?
I still have the 292, and a 250, and the valve cover......

And to put credibility here, you picked it up near Campbell/Grant in Tucson in your Blazer.
Warren, you're the guy from that Checker Auto, who sold me that green 292 block? That's incredible. I don't remember using the Jimmy to pick it up -- usually the Stepside gets that kinda duty. The store location was Prince and Flowing Wells. Around 2002 or 2005? I was rebuilding the Stepside, getting ready for the engine F0627XAE, So I might have taken whatever truck was available. That was a long time ago.
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Old 12-28-2018, 10:33 PM   #17
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Re: 292 rebuild

A different color-
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Old 12-29-2018, 12:59 PM   #18
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Re: 292 rebuild

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A different color-
Well, Howdy! You're the guy I've been telling stories about for years!
Coincidentally I painted one of my valve covers cast iron gray, just to see if I'd like the look of a cast aluminum finned valve cover. [Which I can't afford].
Here's a snap of the Green '63 L6 292. Still faithfully standing by. I might rebuild it into a turbo 296 for my '67 K/10 Suburban. Did you know much [or any] history on that green block?
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Old 12-29-2018, 04:35 PM   #19
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Re: 292 rebuild

The guy I got it from, his dad owned the truck since new, and at approx. 150k pulled the motor in favor of a BBC. He always wanted a BBC in his truck, and since he and the truck were "retired", he made his dream a reality.

The paint on the valvecover is silver mist blue or some name like that. Like an old time light blue silver
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Old 12-29-2018, 05:40 PM   #20
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Re: 292 rebuild

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The guy I got it from, his dad owned the truck since new, and at approx. 150k pulled the motor in favor of a BBC. He always wanted a BBC in his truck, and since he and the truck were "retired", he made his dream a reality.

The paint on the valvecover is silver mist blue or some name like that. Like an old time light blue silver
150 thousand. OK, cool. That excuses it from the ''picked while still ripe'' bin.
I have run a 292 to 250 K, but my last one was smoking a lot and burning a quart of 50 weight at alarming intervals for the last stretch. Probably not lose much cylinder wall 'meat' in going straight to .030-over. Santucci's book says the first year [MY 1963] has forged iron 6-lobe cranks. He said the '68 cranks were cast steel, but with more dowel pins, bigger bolts and 12-lobes were better balanced. But you can do machining tricks with the iron crank, like knifing or feathering the edges.
Also thinking about a lump-ported head.
When I rebuild this one it will likely get Detroit Diesel Green again. Just to be different. Actually, I think I saw some VHT engine paint in O'Reilly's as "Alpine Green''.
Although Chevy Engine Orange would be period correct for a '67 K/10 Suburban. That Sub had a BBC 454 when I got it. I liked the torque, but it got 6 City and 8 Highway MPG. With gas more than 25 cents a gallon for Premium Leaded, as it was when new, that gets expensive.
Thanks for the info.
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