I have 64 Malibu with a 283 2 barrel and a powerglide. Open 3.08 rear. The current carb is in sad shape and instead of rebuilding it I would rather swap it out for a four barrel. I have an old edelbrock cb3 intake with the oil fill tube so I will be using that along with a 500cfm carb and some mid length headers. A buddy has a set of 601 305HO heads fresh from the machine that I can pick up for $150. That is less than I can do hardened seats in my 283 heads so I'm leaning that way. The current motor has about 100K miles on it but runs like a sewing machine with no smoke or noise. Is it worth throwing a new cam and lifters in while it's already apart? Any cam suggestions? Sometime down the road I will be swapping it out for a 327 4-speed combo. For now just want to add a little pep and impove the sound.
IME 283s are among the most forgiving engines in the world.The 305 heads will raise the CR some.Only thing that concerns me is if you do a fresh valve job on an old engine it may well start smoking shortly,depends on how much of the ring seal is left .If you dont have that happen it will work ok.About a million guys ( me included) have done exactly what you are describing to used 283s with workable results over the last 50 years.Summit sells a cam and lifters for 106 dollars that will work ok for you.SUM- K1102 is the pn,Should work with your stock springs.Sum G9001 is the Pn for a set of cheap headers for your car-120 bucks.Good luck and have fun.
You should take the engine out and freshen it up with new bearings, rings, gaskets, timing chain and oil pump before you hop it up. With that many miles it will most likely blow up in a month or 2 if you don't. Have seen this several times, an old engine running good that would most likely last for years if you baby it, blows up if you hop it up.
Sounds like I might be better off just sticking with a new a 4 barrel intake and headers. Pulling this engine for a quick freshen would quickly snowball I'm sure.
Put a small 4 bbl and shorty headers and duals on it, and a Turbo 350 in it. It'll feel like a different car.
These things do escalate when you get into them. I'm with the others in that there is a serous chance that the rings would go away pretty soon with the added sealing on the top end. That is pretty common on engines with some miles on them that get a fresh set of heads. I like your go mild for now secondary plan but If I had the spare coin I think I'd buy the heads and oil them up good and seal the up and put them away for the future. There will come a time when you decide to do the rebuild and you will be that far ahead then. Back in the 70's I pulled the 283 out of my T bucket and put it in the 48 and ended up putting a lot of miles on it in the next few years. That one just had a ring and bearing job, 30-30 cam and power packs with a small Holley on top. It had an early Corvette 2x4 intake and carbs on it in the T bucket.
I defies logic however many times if you pull the heads and (break the seal) on a older in service a long time engine it will soon start burning oil. I just adapted a 625 carter to the stock intake and added hedders to a 283. and with the driving it harder and feeding it more fuel . it started to smoke.
2X x 2X Rattle can it, put some headers on it, drive it. Save the time and energy and money, for what you really want to build. There are people who want the old stock 283's. It's more valuable as a complete running stock core than half rebuilt worn out piece.
If the compression checks out good, and there was no other obvious problems with the heads, I'd be tempted to leave them alone. You might want to consider replacing the valve seals, at least the on the intake valves, with some type of an umbrella seal. Maybe swap the carb and intake if you can fight the urge to bury your foot in it all the time. While the intake is off give the cam and lifters a good eyeballing and leave them intact if everything looks OK. But definitely consider changing the timing chain and sprockets. Especially if the chain shows any slop or it still has the plastic-toothed cam sprocket. A new chain and gear set will also advance cam timing a couple degrees (back to original specs) and improve manifold vacuum and driveability.
My '64 Mailbu SS had a 283 2bbl in it and I hopped it up the easy way, pulled the 283 and replaced it with a DZ 302. LOL Unless I just had mid length headers laying around I would go with a full length long tube header. A good set of headers is your biggest bang for the buck and they don't cost any more then short headers. You also have the added caveat of being able to use the headers on your next small block. If you plan on building the 283 get a good cam if you plan on replacing the 283 why bother. I wouldn't even change the heads, I would just bolt the headers and the 4 bbl on it and fly. Once you get tuned you will notice that it is plenty snappy enough. If you are worried about the valve seats buy Bardahl top oil by the case and throw a can in when you fill up.
Start collecting parts for, and start building the engine you actually want. Anything you do with a 283, that's still hooked to the stock converter Powerglide, and 3.08 rear end gears, will be a waste of time and money; it'll still be a dog. It'll have a heck of a top end, but getting there will be a slow, walk-in-the-park. Seriously consider a rear end gear change when you do drop the new engine/4-speed in the car; that will make a bigger change than almost anything else you do. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
I am running a 283 bored .060 over with 305 heads...used an L79 Corvette cam as well as 500cc Edelbrock carb with a Performer Edelbrock intake and 2 1/2" Ram Horn exhaust. With a four speed manual it is a very snappy little engine, and a lot of fun to drive... So my recommendation is obvious... Good luck, and keep us in the loop on what you do.
I appreciate all the advice guys. Plans are to add posi unit as well as 3.55 or maybe 3.73 gears. I just picked up the car back in January. It had been in climate controlled storage the last 10 years with very little if any driving. I've been through the fuel system and the brake system and put about 1000 miles on it. Trying avoid blowing the car apart until next winter. I want to drive it all summer while rebuilding suspension, upgrading brakes ect. This also allows time to get the motor and tranny ready.
I had a 66 el camino with a 327 and a 4 speed. The most fun car to drive. mine had a 3.36 rear gear it, and was the best all around gear I have ever had. Plenty of getup off the line and cruised the freeway at 70 at around 2400 2500 RPM so it didn't buzz the motor. After that car, for a driver I will always stick with a 3.36 to 3.55 gear. I just works great for a driver.
Nailhead that's good info. This is going to be my good weather daily and will see some freeway use. I was worried 3.36 might not be enough gear.
I loved the 3.36, but have also used 3.55 which is pretty close. sometimes the 3.55 gears are a little cheaper than the less often used 3.36. I'll be swapping the 3.73 out of my 51 in my avatar this summer to 3.36 gear as well.
Just was wondering how your build was coming? I have the exact same combo (minus 305 heads) as you. 283 standard bore with 2 speed powerglide. Only real difference is I have 3.73's in a open diff. I'm anxious to fire it up and see how it runs. Going add some headers as well. Did you decide to go the 327 route? I got a couple of buddies that want my combo, they say the two speed PG is what a lot of folks like to use in the quarter...? -Mark
Honestly I've been enjoying it to much to tear it apart. Every time I had a chance to tear into it the weather was gorgeous so I would drive it instead. I did rebuild the 2 barrel and add dual exhaust. Those two made a huge difference but that's mostly because the carb was in desperate need of help. At this point I will probably wait until winter and then do the 327 swap. A lot of drag guys like the PG because with only two gears you get to high gear faster.
If it has the plastic timing gear you are playing Russian roulette. It's a relatively cheap fix at this point. However, when it strips, and it will, the pastic gets into the oil pump and everything turns to shit! If it where mine I'd put a small CFM (500-600 maybe an Edelbrock 1406) 4 barrel on it with long tube headers and change the timing gear assembly. It will likely last another 100K with those changes. Just sayin!
That's nice to hear. I'm the same way with my SBF 260 in my Falcon. Just really love to cruise it every chance I get. I have been wanting to build another block fir it but have been putting it off.
I didn't realize these engines came with a plastic timing gear? Might be a good idea to pull the water pump and timing cover and see what I got. Thanks for the tip.
It's a steel inner gear with a nylon fiber outer covering. The fiber covering wears and gets old, cracks and breaks off eventually. Looks like this.
I'm not surprised, it's a nice little package. I'm runing a 283 w/ PG in my A, and it scoots it along very nicely. Of course, the A only weighs about 2ooo lbs, which helps. Eventually I'll either freshen up the 283, or maybe upsize to a 327, but think I'll stick with the PG tranny, I like it.
If you want a 327, save your money and build one. Get a wide ratio 4 speed and do the conversion first. It wont be faster, but quicker, and mony towards your ultimate goal.
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