Save a 283 or replace it with a 350 crate?

I see "I like this, I like that".
My 2 cents. So many get down on the 1-800 gold chainer etc. Yep, might be cheaper to just give a phone call and have a crate engine sent in. Might even find one with the old style cylinder heads so it doesn't look like a ultra modern engine. But, your not going to have the satisfaction of having the machine work done and ***embling it yourself. You won't learn.. Sure you might make a mistake but get help and you should be OK. It'll feel great.

 

yeah, you bet!
nothing like getting jacked off by a machine shop or finding out 1 of your pistons has "issues" or having 1600 in a 220 horse 283 when 1300 would have bought a more powerful 350 with a warranty that gets the same milage if not better....
i wouldn't toss the 283 BUT.....

 

Also, keep in mind that the 350 crate motors are built in Mexico. I'm sure the quality control standards are at their highest there.....

 

Save the 283, but consider boring to 4 in and make a 301. life is good.

 

i vote for pulling the 283, saving it for a different project and going w/ the 350 b/c you said it was a cruiser and those gm crate motors come with a warranty.

 

My niece put a crate 350 in her pick-up, after one year it had a weak cylinder and had to be rebuilt. Already had a bunch of wear in the bores. Those Mexican blocks are soft.

Also, good luck ever getting 20mpg from a 350!

 

283 .

 

The answer is really depending on what type of "issues" you have there, and how much of the job you can do yourself and if you can get a good trustworth machine shop to help you out. But still, my vote goes for the 283 ... I say its a keeper
/ primerkid

 

283-better gas mileage for the future. They last forever for several reasons I won't get into. Good luck

 

i've got a taco block sitting here.
doesn't look too bad, actually.....
i've heard rumors that they have more nickle in 'em but i don't know....anybody know fer sure?

 

been there, done it several times (actually got 25 out of a 72 camaro with a 2bbl)

you prolly won't get it if you're driving a bus or truck but a 283 won't either....

 

Absolutely the 283.

 

I have a 283 n manual box sat outside my garage i got it with a project but put in a 350........was gonna give it away , it could do with a rebuild ...

 

i just swapped out a mexican made 305 for a freshly rebuilt 283. had nothing but problems with the 305. truck cruises better now. now i just have to get a different rearend and trans. not the best in a 65 3/4 ton chevy truck with powerglide. but it runs smoother than the 305.

my vote is 283.

 

Amen brother

 

I'm so glad to see this debate...weird thing because I'm just now trying to decide the same thing. I have a '57 283 in my '48 Ford but it's pretty tired. I'm leaning toward keeping the 283 just because it's more cool. But I need to do a price comparison for rebuilding it compared to a new crate.

 

Right now;

82% to save the 283 (includes my vote)
18% to go for the crate motor

.. if you are going to crate it, why not go for a 383 stroker or even the new GM 427ci small block?

 

Bore it and make a 327 out of it. If I remember right a 327 is a 283 with a 350 crank, isnt it ? little more inche, nice revving motor.

I really doubt building your engine would cost more or the same as getting a crate one.

 

283

I just yanked a 350 out of my truck and installing a 283, cause I missed 327 that I had in it first.

But for a larger car maybe 350 is the way to go.

good luck!

 

No, a 327 has a completely different bore than a 283.

327 - 4.00 bore X 3.25 stroke.

283 - 3.875 bore X 3.00 stroke.

350 - 4.00 bore X 3.48 stroke.

I voted to keep the 'wee 283'.

 

it all depends on how much you have to do to it. if it's just rings and bearings , the $300 rebuild mentioned may fly

but if you need a total rebuild...clean and check block for cracks , bore and new pistons/rings , install new cam bearings and frost plugs , turn crankshaft and new bearings , check and recondition connecting rods , balance , new camshaft/lifters , clean and check heads for cracks , resurface heads, install new valve springs, new valves , push rods , new hardened valve seats , new valve guides , new oil pump , etc....you would eat up most , if not more of the $1500 for a new chevy 350 goodwrench motor


i have about $2200 in the 283 in my `36 , i went a little overboard on a few things..and i'm glad i did. i like working on motors and always rebuild them for my own cars...for someone else's it make more sense (and actually save $$$) to put in a crate . i'm sure many here feel the same way

 

283 because it's a great motor. I've got a nice early 350 in my 55 but I get tired of the looks I get from people when I tell then it's a 350.Everybody thinks it's a crate engine.I ran a 283 years ago in a 57 and it was a sweet running engine.

 

Everyone's an expert...

Here's a 350 I built... that to 99% of the people who saw it, nodded thier heads in belief when I told them it was a 283.

Oh, and it got 21mpg on the hwy.


I would bet that the majority of the people on this thread saying "Go with the 283! Go with the 283! couldn't tell the difference between this 350 after I was done with it, and a real 283.

 

And here's the 350 (383) in my '55... never get anybody poo-poo'ing it either.

 

Here's a 283 poked to 292 in our digger.

 

And I'm not a 283 hater, or anything.

I have a '40 Ford convertable in my garage right now, that is getting a "period" '57 283. We are mating it to the original '40 trans and Columbia 2 spd rear end...

But then again, it's more of a period car than not.

Sam.

 

Ya can't fool me, a quick look behind the intake tells all.

 

Mod for mod, dollar for dollar, a 350 will make more power.

So what's important to you ? There is a reason chevy phased out the 283/327 and replaced them with the 350... It's a better engine.

But "better" is subjective. If you want it to be old and somewhat correct, use the 283. If you want to get the most powerful and reliable SBC you can, build/buy a roller 383.

 

[quote=Bort62;2516168

So what's important to you ? There is a reason chevy phased out the 283/327 and replaced them with the 350... It's a better engine.


That's a rather simplistic view. Not that a 350 is a BAD engine, but it's not "better" than a 283. When full size Chevrolets got to the point of weighing in excess of 4000 pounds, and even the A bodies were approaching that figure, a small engine--especially in detuned "smog" form with rear gears in the 2.41-2.56 range--wasn't going to be able to haul their fat ***es around.

 

Not when you cut a 350 crank to fit in a 327 block, cut the casting numbers out of a 283 and epoxy them on the back, grind the rib in the front and use different "techniques" to disguise the block and heads.

Sam.