I recently bought a 64 f100 short bed that is in great shape. It is a numbers matching truck with the original 292 y block that supposedly was rebuilt 20 years ago and driven a few times before the original owner died. I'm waiting to get the gas tank back in the truck see if starts / runs.

With that said, I'm new to y blocks and I want something to go out and play with on the weekends, maybe hit a car show or two, so not too concerned with daily driving.

Would a 292 with ecz-g heads, 2x4 intake and carbs, ram horns, cam, stock 3.89 rear end paired with a t5 be enough to hot rod a bit with? Would I be better served with a 351w or big block swap?

I'm not looking for a full blown strip truck, just want something with some punch. I just don't want to be disappointed with a 292 build, but from looking on this site and others, it looks like y blocks can be built to get pretty good power. Plus, the y block is already in the truck and you don't see too many of them.

Any advice / tips would be helpful.

Thanks.