292 Chevrolet Distributor Specs

Named for the number of cubic inches of displacement it features, the 292 is an inline, overhead-valve six-cylinder engine. It produces approximately 120 horsepower and 215 foot-pounds of torque.

The distributor point gap should be set to 0.019 inch on a new distributor; set it at 0.016 inch on a used unit. The cam angle should be set to between 31 and 34 degrees. The 292's cylinders fire in the order 1-5-3-6-2-4.

The precise timing adjustment specifications depend on the year of the engine. For 1965 through 1973, most engines should be set to four degrees before top dead center (BTDC). The exceptions are 1969 and 1970 vehicles featuring a manual transmission, which should be set to zero degrees, that is, top dead center. The same applies to 1968 vehicles equipped with a manual transmission and Air Injection Reactor (A.I.R.) system; 1967 vehicles so equipped should be set to two-degrees BTDC. 1973 California engines should have their timing set to eight-degrees BTDC. For 1974 engines, eight-degrees BTDC is the correct setting. 1975 and later engines have electronic ignition, so timing is not adjustable.

1965 engines use AC type C42N spark plugs. For 1966 through 1968 engines, type 44N plugs were used; while for 1969, CR44N plugs were used. From 1970 through 1974, type R44T spark plugs were used. 1975 saw a switch to type R44TX plugs; from 1976 to 1980, type R44Ts were again used.