Technical Let's talk 283s again...

I recently got a 1958 283 2 bbl base engine. It ran when pulled out of a Biscayne early this year. Right now I'm using it in the Whatever project for set-up. Once the 327 is done I'll repurpose it for another project. Popped the valve covers and it didn't have to much sludge, agreeing with the car showing about 30,000 miles.

I do, however, want to rebuild it at some point beyond the use in the Whatever project. There are a couple of options for new heads, World Products 305 SR cast iron, 58 cc chambers and 1.94 intakes, and AFR (I think) 175 something or other, aluminum heads, also with small chambers and 1.94 intakes. Cost relatively the same, so that decision comes down to aluminum vs. cast iron and the differences in what gasoline is available. Those small chambers and flat top pistons should be able to get to 9ish to 1 cr. Cam choice can be used to lower effective cr, so that decision will be made in the future with the advice of Jack Boyd, the engine builder.

That's the easy part. Now the hard part. Pistons. I'm not the best computer jockey, and I've spent some time searching for pistons for a 283. And have been spinning my gears each time.

So has anyone bought a new set of pistons for a 283 lately? If so, what brand? Oversize available? Cast or forged? What supplier and their website?

I know, lots of asks, do my own homework, etc. But I'm lost...

 

here are some pistons, in stock, which is an important consideration these days.

https://www.summitracing.com/search...cayne/filter-options/in-stock/stroke/3-000-in

So....you want to build this 283, but you have no idea what it'll be used in? Seems to me that would make it really difficult to decide what parts to use in it.

 

Well, I actually do, but like you said, getting certain parts might drive its ultimate build. So seeing a source for a given part really is appreciated.

For instance, I have found decent rods, its going to get a solid roller, one of the 2 or 3 choices of small chamber heads, from another thread you can probably guess the intake, and I have an idea for its residence (TBD, but just a difference in the era of body).

As an aside, I have a lead on a Powerglide, shorty, that's all set up. Only decision there will be stall speed. Hint, hint, hint...

Thanks for the response

 

Stock flat tops going in mine. Nothing fancy.
Rebuilt power packs.
But I could care less about going fast for this one Stock is double the flathead it’s replacing

 

We get this sort of request about once a week. Start by explaining it costs more to build a 283" than a 350" and when properly dressed, hardly anyone would be able to tell the difference, but the driver certainly can when he puts the hammer down. Why spend more money knowing the result will be less performance?

jack vines

 

I didn’t want a 350
I wanted a 283
If you have a 283, it’s probably cheaper to use it than source a 350 then build.
ive got both sitting on the floor.
Machine work is the same. Small journal bearings and pistons cost a little more than a 350. That’s about it
Lower performance?
I could have used a 265

 

^^^^ I can't argue with Jack, he is absolutely right. That said, I am one of the idiots who illogically continues to build 283's for myself, just because I like them. The Sealed Power pistons Jim indicated are pretty decent cast pieces and great value but with four valve reliefs and the 1.780 compression height you might want to do some decking beyond a clean up. The other choice is the KB hypereutectic flat tops (KB165-030). Quite a bit more money but they are beautifully machined, 2 valve reliefs, coated skirts, 1.805 CH, ready for spiralocks if you want to float, and they call for .0015-.0020 wall clearance (pretty stable in a street engine). Forged pistons for a 283 are custom orders these days.
The aluminum heads you would want for a serious little engine are the Trick Flow Super23 175's. (56cc chambers).

 

What's wrong with a blueprinted version of a 270 HP/ 283 long block? Even when reduced to a single 4 barrel, they are still respectable performer's.

 

The why is nostalgia. The same reason why people still build flatheads. The stock 283 will outperform a decent Street flathead, not some exotic mutant, but what guys would have run in the good old days. Let's face it, if pure performance is all we're all after, then an off topic modern electronically controlled engines you'll find in late model performance cars will kick the ass of most anything we revere. That's not the point, however.

Back to the 283, and 350s. 350s came out after this site's cut off date. So I guess if we want to respect the limits, they would be taboo. A stroker 327 small journal would be okay. Nailhead, 331, 354, 392 hemis, rocket Olds, Caddy same era, nostalgia.

And how about inliners, and bangers? My point is for most of us performance is important, as long as it was doable in the era respecting the site cutoff date. Absolute maximum balls to the wall performance belongs elsewhere. I'm glad for the restrictions, it makes me work at getting the most from the old stuff I've been dragging around the country with me since too long ago to recount.

I'll get off the soapbox now. And back to the subject at hand, sourcing parts for Son of Whatever, which will eventually get the 283...

I appreciate any and all suggestions for vendors and previous experience in the modern age of marketing. After all, as I've stated many times, I'm computer illiterate, mostly, you guys all seem to find stuff that I have no clue how to get there. I still order most stuff by phone, Speedway, Jegs, Summit, and a few other companies that I used to deal with that are still in business.

Thanks

 

When I picked up my engine kit I had 2 options they claimed was in stock.
Flat top and dome.
So I guess those high comp pistons are still ez to get

 

My 1962 vintage .040 over 283 with flat tops is going in my '46 Merc 4 door which is never going to be a high-performance machine. Stock with a 2 barrel, it makes 170 hp and with a 4 barrel, it makes 230 hp. The newly rebuilt stock '46 flathead makes 90 hp. A 1946 Mercury 4 door's curb weight is 3440 pounds. The math is easy, 140 more horsepower than stock. Luxury and comfort at today's highway speeds. What's not to
like ?

 

Hope mine makes 230

gonna row all that power through the ford 3 speed.

better stay outta my way

 

I found a mid-70s fully synchronized Chevy 5 bolt 3 speed that appears to be like new. The guy I bought the 283 from gave the tranny and matching aluminum bellhousing to me for using my F350 crane truck to move a bunch of engines for him .

 

Another vote for the 283, actually I'm so against 350's that I'm building a 283 block .030 over with a 327 forged crank yielding 310"

Pat

 

Here’s some 283’s I’m messing with
The problem with a 350 is you can’t really call it a 283

 

I love 283s, I'm putting a fresh one together now......

030"over, bowl ported 56 265 Vette Power Packs, early Cal Customs valve covers (not the heads in the pix) some cast flat tops, rebuilt stock rods with ARP bolts, vintage Weiand 4GC with 4x97s, 214/224 hyd stick out of my stash, an early Mallory flat cap dist, 2.5" rams horns etc. If I'm not happy with the cam, I'll look at a couple of Howard's cam grinds I have in reserve.

Going into my 3W coupe with a 5 speed and 3.9 rear, I figure the cam should be OK with around 9.5:1 CR in a light car.

Should be nice n peppy in the coupe with the rear gearing and the 5 spd.

 

These were in the running when I was head-hunting in 2015. Cast iron and 67cc.I have seen them in 58 and 64-ish ccs.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Dart...ck-Chevy-Super-Stock-Head-Complete,34612.html

 

And, for those of you who want to make others think you have a 283 instead of a 350, here's an adapter kit.

 

That looks cool as hell!

 

Back in the hot rod days of the 60's, they didn't have a 350. What I've been taught about the 283 is don't kill its compression with valve overlap, @olscrounger is a wealth of knowledge on these little mouse engines, like he told me, when he was a young hot rodder, it's the only thing they had to work with, they had to figure out how to make them work lol. And I just like telling people I have a 283, 1. It's an excuse for my weak time slips 2. I'm tired of hearing 350 lol... kinda like the whole 383 stroker thing.

 

Makes my heart all warm and fuzzy to hear you say this

 

They actually also sell a version called "DHC 175cc", aka "Double Hump Clone 175" that is cast to look like a hump head casting, no bolt holes in the ends and camel humps cast on.

Speedway Motors also has an aluminum "hump" head, made for them by Flo-Tek....it is a Flo-Tek 180cc just cast to look like a hump head.

Be honest....all you are really building is the same as an overbored 307.....just in small journal block.

 

Fancy way of saying a .030 over 307 with a better crank.

 

X actly X-cpe but just the mention of a 307 and you get all of the misinformed coming out of the woodwork.

Pat

 

I’d drive a 307

 

I did.

 

Wow a 307….one of the most despised Chevrolet stroker engine of all times only surpassed by the 262”

 

I’d rock a 262

 

I've heard the World S/R Torquer 305 heads are the best head available for the 283. I remember reading an article showing that they will outperform any head available at the time. If I were building a 283, they would be my choice.

That said, I have nothing against 350s and other post-64 SBCs. IMHO, the operative issue is when the engine family began, so here it's 1955, and well within HAMB guidelines. I dig the hell out of a nice 283. Admittedly, it does seem a bit ironic that we're discussing how not traditional a 350 is while contemplating the use of aftermarket heads that didn't come into existence until 30 years after the 350 came out. I'm having a bit of a difficult time wrapping my head around that logic. Folks around here didn't seem to take issue with French flathead blocks made in 1989, so I'm not quite sure why there is such hate or the Chevy alternative.

If I had to guess, people just dump on the 350 and SBC in general because it's the cool thing to do, not because there is any valid basis to do so.

 

I have 350's in 2 vehicles. They work great and require very little maintenance. I am putting a 283 in my 28 RPU for a few reasons. 1) It was free 2) It's more nostalgic 3) I've never had one in something 4) I want it to sound like a hot rod, and a 283 will sound more aggressive with the same cam specs than a larger engine.

My build ideas are a bit different. On my road trips I can't guarantee there will be good gas, and I'm cheap. So I want low enough compression that I can run 87 octane in everything I own. I also want the look of the old heads with no accessory holes. So I'll be going with flat tops, the power pak heads with 305 valves put in, and a hydraulic flat tappet cam that emulates gm's 300 HP 327 cam. So far Summit seems to have a lot of stuff.

It also looks like Egge https://egge.com/ has a bunch of stuff as well.