first question i got is will a 331(i think)53 hyrdomatic caddy trans fit a later 56 365 engine? next question is can 1955 chevy 265 v8 be bored out and if so to what size ci and where can i obtain these parts?...........Mad Marq
A 265 can bored out 0.125" which will make a 283 with the 3.00" crank. It will not take the 3.25" crank to make a 307.
283's were made up to 400ci with stroker cranks, the most popular being a 340ci/352ci version for drag cars back in the late 50's,early 60's. Not the most reliable for longivity. Dan
just lookin for an old 50's look engine with some power for my rod,i'm startin with a chevy 350 then i'll start looking for a chevy engine from the period so i spose i'll have to spend some cash n get a 327 unless anyones got any ideas about what i can put in front of my th350 and i know that aint 50's but you cant see it.........Mad Marq
one year only '55 dual-range hydra-matic (the good one) will work on '55 up to and including '62 390 cadillac.'49-'54 are interchangeable,but only the dual-range are any good for hot rodding.
A 283 can be bored 0.125" and with the 3.00" crank makes a 302(4.00" pistons with a 1.8" pin hght). A '62-later 283 can take a 3.25" crank and be a 307(3.875" pistons with a 1.675" pin hght), or be bored 0.125" and be a 327. 4.00" is max bore and 3.25" is max small journal crank, you could machine to take a large journal and a 3.48" crank...but why?!?
As too why,well i'm a power freak but like old engines so just because really.I love the look of the chevy engines they just look right in a hoodless rod where as a hemi can just look too big(although i love the look of hemis too).The small block chevy is a legend even more so than hemis.I need to squeeze as much power out of this small block as possible,i dont want this rod too just look quick i want it to be quick..............Mad Marq
I meant "why?" because boring out to 4.00" and then enlarging journals to take a 3.48" or larger crank is basically spending a lot of money to make a 350 block, which looks an awful lot like a 283 block. Answering the original question, 302, 307, and 327 are as big as a 283 will get just dropping parts in and boring cylinders. If you **** money, then by all means you can sleeve the cylinders and stroke it to 502.
Ok what are your sugestions with a sbc to make this thing really fly and the engines got to be reasonable early at least late 50's......Mad Marq
The visual cues that identify late and early chevys are mostly in the heads and intakes. Lots of people use later short blocks with early heads and intake, there are a few glitches to getting the later crankcase ventilated with an early intake as has been discussed before. But a garden variety 305/350(cheap$) made to look early is common and easy. But back to what to do with a 283... A 302 is a large bore/short throw, high RPM power range, so-so lowend torque. A 307 is small bore/long throw, strong torque, so-so high RPMs. A 327 is a balance of both. For boring 283 cylinders, the earlier the better. For dropping in a 327 3.25" crank, it needs to be a '62-later block. A '58-'61 block is a good candidate for a 302, thick casting walls will bore to 4.00"stnd, with 1.800" pin hght pistons and using the stock 3.00" crank will buzz til you cant stand it. '62-'67 blocks can be bored to 4.00" but thinner castings make it a hit-or-miss venture, but a 3.25" crank will drop in to make a 327 if you do. Leaving the bore stock with this crank will make a good 307(factory 307s ****, not good) with strong lowend torque, in a light car traction will be your issue. Unless you have an emotional attachment to one, dont think about 265s.
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