I got a mess of Chevy stuff. Thinking I'd like to build a street car from something 50's/60's for my blog as a way to do tech stuff and tool thrashes. Thinking about a 51 Chevy right now that is nearby. Anyway, here's what I have right now. 3755550 heads 3789935 block (283 from 61 or so) not sure if overbored yet. Pistons had no markings on the domes. Fitted for spin on filter. Road draft setup. 822 forged small throw crank that's marked as 10/10 under. All of that decodes in my reference book to Corvette stuff. Which is, I guess, a big deal. I guess I could punch it out to a 301, but I'm kind of interested in building an old school car with an old school engine. I'd like to see what the 283 can do. So, what's a good combo that's good enough for cruising and still some fun on the strip/autocross/standing mile. Probably will hang with a single 4v just for simplicity sake. TIA, Kraven
Those parts were used on Corvettes, but also on normal Chevys. Which might show you that they're decent parts to start with. If the block has a Corvette suffix code stamped on it, then it could be worth a bit to a restorer, but the odds are slim. I would not bore the block more than needed to clean it up, but you could tell folks it's a 301 if you want, no one will be able to tell. Sounds like a good plan....there's not a lot to building a decent 283, aside from picking a cam that will match the RPM band you plan to run it.
I am running a 283 with the following: Bored .60 over 305 HO heads Corvette L79 350hp cam Edelbrock Duel Plane intake with a 550cfm Edelbrock carb HEI Ignition 2 1/2 Corvette Ram Horns with full 2 1/2 exhaust Saginaw 4 speed manual with 3:11 first gear 3.73 rear end This is in a '63 Biscayne two door and is a wonderful running and behaving little engine. Drives great and has plenty of ***** when I want to play or going thru the gears. Cam really kicks in at about 2800rmp and will very quickly reach 5000rmp, where I personally choose to shift, but will go higher. I average about ~12 mpg if driving like my Dad LOL I absolutely love to drive this car, and being (73) years old it brings back all the wonderful memories of the early small blocks. Good luck and keep us in the loop...
There are a couple guys on here that should get together and write a book about 283's and 327's, Squirrel and '****** are some of them.
Here in AZ you cannot bore an early 283 .60 over and get it to cool well. Has to be the later 65-66 heavy deck block. Learned that the hard way with another 283 block in my
Not my avatar, but I have a '59 283 in my garage that my Dad and I put in a '67 GMC 3/4 ton farm truck and worked it. It had come out of another farm truck my Grandpa had owned. I want to make a nice reliable beast out of it one day. So I'm paying attention to the conversation.
Ran a ton of 283's bored to 292 with domed pistons early double humps and flat tappet solid cams. Can't believe those little rod bolts took the rpm's we used to turn them. Very good motor behind a stick shift. They liked dual quads.
Not sure I would build a 283 anymore for a few different reasons. The first reason is when someone sells a car with a 283 engine it screams that it's an older restoration and for many potential buyers that will stop them from going any further. It the exact same thing when someone builds a car with a 348 in it. If you have the parts and you want to keep the car go ahead and build a 283 because they were great running engines that could make great horsepower. Just my opinion. Jimbo
Thanks for the ideas, y'all. That's an interesting point, Jimbo. But I'm actually interested in building just that kind of car. Something ratty and old that looks like it was built in the early 60's with junkyard parts. There's some value to building ****og in the digital world, or revisiting how grampa did it when he was young.
I guess you could build your car based on resale value...or you could build it based on the fun you'll have with it. I generally do the latter.
I guess you could build your car based on resale value...I did that, at the request of ex wife. 40 years ago... my '55 F100. Then, I had an opportunity to get rid of the ex wife. Needless to say, Thank God and Greyhound she's gone! Oh, and when the smoke cleared, the F100 got rid of the 'resale' stuff. Looks more like me every day...
A solid lifter 283 with a 4 speed and 4.11 gears are so much fun. I like little high winding small blocks.
I have had a few good running 283's. After a night of drunken stupidity, my friend would come by the next day and ask...how's the car running today? I would respond, fired right up this morning and sounds like it's ok. He would just shake his head and say, damn that's a tough little *******. And it did it repeatedly. Never did blow up just started smoking so I pulled it. Lippy
If the car originally with a 283 then tossing in a 350 would make it a resto-mod.... Not a restoration. I see the word restored too much on cars that are not a restoration. The 283 is a great little motor to build and have fun with. The sound of them revving thru the gears is music. Solid lifters.... Must have. Sent from my Moto G Play using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Lots of great and interesting comments here.. Only thing I would respectfully respond to is building a car for resale... That is not my choice for building a HAMB qualifying car... Also I have put ~12K miles on mine and totally trouble free. Love it as much now, as the first time I drove it... And bondolero, mine does run a bit warm...will hit ~200 on hot days on the interstate...
In my old age setting valves has lost its attraction, a hot hydraulic cam and Rhodes lifters is the best of both worlds; performance as well as a little audible ticky ticky, without all the work. Probably not quite the same but priorities tend to change with age.
I still prefer solid lifters. and a stick transmission. I am pretty fond of those 283 engines also. Ive got a few good running 350,s and I would sell them in a heartbeat. I wont even let anyone look at my 283 & 327,s
Denny, that's why you teach your kids how to do it then get them to set them for you while you relax in the chair and tell them stories about how you did it with a beer in one hand and in half the time. Lippy
I love my 283s too. Still picking up stuff for 'em, here and there... Duntov 12/18 stick almost got away, the 'seller' gave it to me after I I.D.'d it for him. Found a 'Vette 2X4 intake, looking for carbs...
LOVIN' your '46, I have a '47 Fordor...but I have grandkids, too. That Coupe is SOOOO cl***y! 283 makes it +++.
Thanks mike, I really like driving that car. Still has the original trans and rear end, all in good shape.
I finally was able to start dis***embling the short block and found 098 cam hiding in there. (and thanks to the search function I know what it is! ) Looks like I have a good pile of parts to start a good nostalgia engine build. Thanks for all the help, y'all.
The Jalopy Journal
