Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Low rpm, high torque build 292

I've got a good, low mileage 292. I'm planning on using a 4 barrel carb, dual exhaust header, all metal timing gears.
I've bought a cast aluminum intake and valve cover. Cast iron dual headers. I bought ARP studs for the top and bottom end. I also have all new bearings and a lump port kit. I need help choosing a cam, and maybe roller rockers and lifters. I'm also curious if porting the head will help with a low rpm build. I haven't been able to find a cast aluminum timing cover yet either.
I might even be able to do new pistons with just honing, as it is supposed to have 28k miles on it.
I'm trying for maximum low rpm torque, mimicking the power curve of the 6.5 turbo diesel I'm using it to replace.
I'm wanting an easier to work on engine in my truck.
The truck is an ex-military CUCV M1008, AKA a 1984 Chevy K30 with 4.56 axles, and a very heavy duty built 4L80E and an NP205 T-case.
I am trying to make this as durable a build as I can.

I am gathering parts for a similar truck engine. Most of what is out there is for "race" or quick street engines. I have not gotten past the planning and parts gathering stage. (usual for me) I have it all now maybe it would be a good New Years resolution. Here are two links to 292 truck engine builds from this site. There is quite a bit of discussion and some differing opinions. Nothing proven from my side but a lot of thought. I hope some of what
you are looking for is covered here.

LINK !

Link 2

Thank you. I had read the second one a few times.
I don't think the torque/ truck builds get much respect.

That is true. The only real 292 experience I have is with trucks. One was a '46 Chevy 7 yard dump truck I borrowed from a friend. He put a 292 in it after using another friend's truck with a truck built 292 to haul his backhoe over the Sierras for a job. He was really impressed with how it pulled.

I used the '46 to haul several loads of gravel up our steep 2 mile dirt road. It didn't even know it had a load. Most of the way I was in 2nd & 3rd gear never used compound low. It would comfortably do 50-55 on the highway. I didn't have an overdrive which would have been even better.

I had Crower going my cam buy the one TLOWE sells almost the same. I plan to use late '80s-early '90s TBI with either a mega squirt I built years ago or the control box from a 4.2 V6.

The baseline stock 292 will make 300 ft.lbs. of torque below 2000 RPM. Anything you do to increase performance raises that torque number farther into the RPM range, defeating the purpose you are describing what your objective is. I'd keep modifications to a minimum, like a good ignition system, good breathing exhaust with maybe a good set of shorty headers or cast iron manifolds. Modifications like cams and intake/carb are tricky because you teter on a fine line of raising the RPM range higher than your objective.

That is what we are talking about. Trying to get them to work as well as they can near that 2000 rpm mark.
Bumping compression some and maintaining velocity at low rpm. I have even thought that this may be a place for a 194 head. It seems they will flow enough to work well up to around 2500. If not a stock 292 head will flow enough. No need for big valves or lumps. Maybe shave it a little. I have an HEI distributer, and a set of tube headers for a truck that may need some tuning. I thing the TBI injection will with well in an area where 3-4 thousand feet of elevation change may be encountered more than once in a day's run. Anyway still planning need to make the truck 4x4 and gearing will play a part too. A 700 R4 will help get it down the road near the rpm goal.

Beater, a small turbo could also increase low end torque in that 2000 RPM range too if you or the OP can factor that into the budget as well....

That was my original plan years ago when I built the MegaSquirt board. I have a turbo setup from a Firebird. The more I thought about the more it bothered me. #1 It is beyond my knowledge zone. #2 The draw through with no cooler and compressing the fuel charge bothered me. #3 I would have to rethink the compression and I already had 9-1 pistons that probably wouldn't take the boost anyway. #4 When it got to actually firing up my test engine with the MegaSquirt My computer skills let me know the full Turbo-TBI thing might not lead to the dependable truck I wanted. It is ALL still here.