VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION New User Forum 1951 chevy engine block/head combination

I have a 51 chevy with a 292 engine with a 235 (848) head installed and want to know if this is a good combination or should i try and find a 292 head? thanks in advance for any info

You do not have a 292 engine. A 292 engine is a late thin wall 7 main bearing truck engine. You probably have an earlier 261 truck engine. The 848 head will work fine if the installer drilled the required "steam holes". To check this out it will be necessary to remove the head.
The 848 will also raise the compression ratio which is desireable.

Get the casting # off of the block and the numbers stamped behind the distributor so we can determine what you have.

I CHECKED THE ENGINE BLOCK #3789716 WHICH TELLS ME IT IS A 292 BUILT BETWEEN 1963 - 1972. I'M JUST NOT SURE AS TO WHY THE 235 HEAD WAS USED VICE THE 292 HEAD AND IF THIS IS A BETTER OPTION. I WOULD LIKE TO DO A MILD BUILD UP. THANKS FOR ALL HELP. I'M TRYING TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO AND WHAT I'LL HAVE TO HIRE DONE.

There is NO WAY a 235 head would fit on a 292 block.....impossible...not even close.

Could you double check eng number?? Perhaps the number might be 3739716 instead of 3789716. The 8 might be a 3, and if so, you would have a 58-62 235 engine thus allowing the 848 to mate to the engine.

Jim.

The stamped number would also tell what it is.

Well I've checked the block # three times and with my neighbor and we both agree the block number is 3789716 and the head numbers are as follows B58 848 with 850 under the 848 on the spark plug side (passenger) and the other cast # is 3836848 on exhaust (driver)side. I guess my question now is why cant a 235 head fit on a 292 engine?

The 292 engine is longer than thae 235 head. Still asking for the stamped number.

Not sure where stamped number is located. there is a plate aft of the distributor which I will try to read tomorrow. also I'll look at the bell housing which is supposed to be cast as part of the engine on a 292 according to the internet. thanks again to every one for info provided so far.

The bell housing is not part of a 292 engine block.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. MEANT TO SAY CAST IN BELL HOUSING PATTERN. I LOOKED AT THE NUMBER ON SMALL AREA OF BLOCK AFT OF DISTRIBUTOR AND IT HAS A # FI 207A. TRIED TO CROSS BUT DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. HOPE THIS HELPS. THANKS AGAIN

A 292 is a completely differnt engine. It has the modern stamped steel rocker arms and they are mounted on studs like a small block V-8...The "848" head is for a 235 -261 and had cast rocker arms and solid front to rear shafts.
There is NO WAY possible to mount a 848 head on a 292 engine.....as they are COMPLETELY different engines. Also the 292 has the distributor closer to the front of the engine where as the 235-261 has the dist. in the center (from fron to back) of the engine with a full flow spin-on oil filter (on the 292) which screws into the side of the block next to the distributor.
The 292 engine has two push rod covers and the 235-261 has one long 5 5/8" by 27" push rod cover.
Engine numer
F = made at the Flint plant.
1207 is the month and day it was made.(Dec 7th)
F= A basic 235 small truck engine.
These number used from 1960-1962 and do not designate the year.

THANKS GENE, I WENT BACK FOR THE FOURTH TIME WITH A MIRROR AND A CAMERA AND TOOK A PICTURE AND THE 3RD NUMBER WAS A 6 NOT A 8 SO IT IS A 235 AND NOW IT MAKES SENSE. I COULDN'T SEE WHY ANYONE WOULD PUT IN A 235 VICE A 292. IT WOULD OF BEEN GREAT TO HAVE A 292 BUT I'M HAPPY WITH THE 235. NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SEE WHAT I CAN DO TO GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE POWER. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. AGAIN I'M SORRY FOR ALL MY QUESTIONS AND MY POST BUT NOW I'M SATISFIED THAT I KEPT CHECKING THE NUMBERS AND CLEANED MY GLASSES SO I COULD MAKE OUT THE 6 VICE THE 8 THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS. LOL THANKS AGAIN.

When you type in all capitals on a chat forum it is usually considered as yelling.

As for more power there are a lot of bolt on goodies which will do the job. You can get dual carb set ups with dual carb manifolds, headers, etc.. Patrick's Trucks also has high lift camshafts. I've heard you can crank out about 200hp out of a 235.
Most people just go with the multiple carb and headers set up.
Good luck.

The problem with upping the horsepower and torque too much is that the crankshaft is not designed to take the stress. Neither are a lot of other parts. Four main bearings are much better at taking the higher force but seven are even better. Can it be done? Yes, but engine life will be less particularly if it is run hard.

Just my 2 cents worth.
Why do you want to modify your engine? A 51 doesn't need any more horse power and as Chipper said, it might cause you problems later on.

I recently attended the 45th Anniversary rally for the Queensland VVCAA (Chev club) and drove my 34 Master to the rally doing over 1600 miles sitting on 50 miles an hour. Just for your info, I've done well over 100,000 miles in my 34 Master over the last 38 years, with the longest trip being over 5,500 miles.

All my life I've had modified cars and still do, including a race car, but I leave my early Chevs as original as I can.
Chris

The late 235 with full prssure oiling will take the modification well. The same engine and crankshaft was used in the 6 cylinder Corvette and they never had a problem. Butttt-I would rather have a good running stock engine than some modified thing that you can never get to perform correctly.

Chev nut knows of what he speaks!! As with any engine, it depends on how it's driven. Even a 7 bolt main will blow up.

Look at the 800hp NASCAR engines. They blow too.

I'm sorry about the capital letters didn't know that was yelling??? anything else I should know about posting?

I appreciate every ones information and I quess maybe I'll leave everything alone. I'm having one problem with my speedo its off by 10 miles an hour. at 55 I'm doing 65 any gear change to tranny or cable change. any help would be great. thanks again for all comments and help on my engine number problem. the only problem I really had was not seeing very well.

Take your speedometer to your local speedometer shop and have it calibrated.

It may well be that someone has changed the rear end ratio and not adjusted the speedo drive to suit.
Tony

OR INSTALLED A USED TRANSMISSION FROM A MASTER 85 WITH 3.73 REAR END and used the 3.73 speedo gears.