283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

I have a nice little 283 from a '65 with powerpack heads that I'll be dropping in my '64 C10 to replace the tired I6. I'm keeping it factory looking under the hood as much as possible, but would like some suggestions on some minor hop ups for this engine since I'll be doing a refresh and may as well make it suitable for the purpose of the truck.

I would like to replace the cam with something a little bit more lumpy, but would still be okay for some towing (worst case a car on a trailer). Nothing too rowdy, but adds a little something. Anyone have a suggestion on cam kit? I have a TH400 to back it all up as well.

I'm replacing the 2bbl stock intake with a 4bbl intake (nothing fancy) and would like to get a carb that's correct or correct looking for a late 60's build. I'll make some mods to adapt the air cleaner so it looks correct. Carter? Holley? Something else?

Last, I need a dizzy for the engine. Was thinking just stock with a good coil. Is there anything else I should consider? A later distributor? I definitely don't want HEI.

In case it matters for the sake of discussion, the feel I'm going for with the truck is something that might be seen in the parking lot of a high school in the late 60's/early 70's that some kid lowered and hot rodded just a bit. Mostly stock looking, but with a great stance, and with the right exhaust sounds a little nasty.

Thanks for any suggestion guys!
S

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Great engine. I have one in my 67 impala ss. If you run the exhaust out the back glasspacks would sound great and have that 60s sound.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Definitely!

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

FWIW, i would lose the power pack heads, get a set of 80-85 305 heads, 80-86 aluminum intake, do a HEI module UNDER the stock 283 distributor, XE256 Comp Cam

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

This \/ \/

You do not want a lumpy cam if you are going to be doing any towing, especially with a 283.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

XE256 isn't at all lumpy.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

A 500cfm Edelbrock carb should work pretty good right out of the box.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

I've got a 283 in my 65 Sub and it's all stock looking as well. I put an Ignitor kit under my stock dist. cap about 20 years ago, and its still going strong.
I'm debating whether to have my 283 rebuilt again, or get a 350.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=580055 this was a good discussion from a while back

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Great suggestions and I've heard that about the 305 heads before.

I called Comp and Summit and asked for some suggestions as well, and the XE256 was one that was suggested as well as the next step up, which had a slight bit more lift.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-k12-239-3

The limiting factor is going to be the budget. I can't let this escalate out of control or the truck will never see the road in a reasonable time frame.

Love the HEI under the cap idea. Is this the Ignitor module mentioned by 65chevysub? I'll check that out. Is there a thread on here regarding that conversion?

In all reality, I'll probably rarely pull something as heavy as a car on a trailer. Once a year, maybe? And it would probably be a small car (model A or similar sized hot rod). More likely would be a small single axle trailer for a lumber or gravel load, or maybe a small "canned ham" travel trailer on occasion, if we get one. Nothing serious here, folks.

I've always liked that Edelbrock carb. Nice setup. I have one on a 350 and has always been dependable. Might be a bit too spiffy looking for the underhood appearance I'm after, but maybe I can tone it down a bit.

What about a QuadraJet from this era? Are they still affordable and easy to rebuild? I need to see what 4bbl manifold I have for this thing.

Thanks for all the input guys! Super, super helpful! Hopefully I don't sound too picky. Concerned about budget. I still have to get the rest of the truck together and go through the TH400 also. This truck needs a lot, top to bottom. I want to do the engine right, but I don't want to go down the SBC slippery slope. There's a ton available for these little small blocks and it's super easy to go nuts and replace about everything on them. Just want a good reliable engine I can depend on and have a fun little truck I can drive to work everyday. The era correctness appearance is important to me also, though.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Nice! Thank you!

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

In a 350 it is not, but in a 283 it will idle and run differently.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Keep us updated. I'm interested and wish you well.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

you could use most of this if you can get it for 150 or less
https://charlotte.craigslist.org/pts/5645165451.html

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Now that's some resourceful thinking! Great thought! THANKS!

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Bumping this back up for some carb talk. I think tossing a little Edelbrock 500 on there is probably the easiest solution and I think I may even have a line on one for super cheap (maybe free?).

What 4bbls would have been used by Chevy from 64 to 70 (ish)? Did all the GM standard carbs in this time frame have the same mounting pattern?

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

I use the 500 cfm Eddy (1404) on my 283. It's jetted for performance and dual quad applications out of the box. I had to lean mine out 2 stages in the cruise mode to get it optimized for my motor. Around town throttle response is crisp and smooth, but I had to use an insulating type base gasket because it would "percolate" after shutting down on hot days.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

I ran a 283 bored .030 in high school, screamin little engine! This is the recipe:
.030 over 1957 block
1966 power pack heads
hp std flow oil pump
old Vette double point distributor (remember this was 1969) Later changed to a Sanderson mag
350 cube 350 hp L82 GM cam p/n 3896962 (best little cam EVER for a 283!)
flat top pistons / two valve reliefs
old style Rochester 4-jet carb for a 327
set of Headman full length headers

I raced this car HARD & never blew it! I later changed to a two four setup w/ double hump heads & lost all of the low end power, keep the power packs!
Cam will give a slight "lumpy" idle, not bad like the old 327 / 350 hp "151" cam will.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

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I second & third This...... This is sound advice.......
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Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Great story! Thanks for sharing that!

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Finally got a chance to look at that GM intake I have. It is a 283/327 4bbl manifold for 62-63 Corvette. Is this a standard bore and pattern size? Seems narrow, but might be an optical illusion.

The manifold is just like this one
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KCsAAO...OP/s-l1600.jpg

I'm going to have to ditch this thing, aren't I? Looking like I'll have to run an adapter. I hate adapters. If so, any recommendations on a nice dual-plane intake to run with a Edelbrock 1403 with either of the cams we talked about above?

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

scooter...

Consider the Summit 1101 or 1102 cam if you are sticking with the power pack heads. Anything larger than these two will kill your bottom end torque. If you want to stick to a 60's theme, find some camel hump heads with 1.94 intake valves, utilize an older edelbrock or offenhauser 360 type manifold with a holley or edelbrock 500 or 600 CFM carb with vacuum secondary's.

What is the rear end ratio? 3.55 and above? I ask this because 283's like to rev, making power higher up the RPM range. I had a nearly stock 283 in a 57 chevy with a 2 speed powerglide. Only mods were an offy 360 manifold and 500 cfm edlebrock carb, with electronic ignition module, and dual exhaust...no headers. It was enough to bark the tires at full throttle shifts between 1st and 2nd.

Add headers if the budget allows...best mod you can make for mouse motors, stock or otherwise.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

^Do this^

And do some research on the 305 heads. Some came with pretty small chambers and OK valves sizes for a 283.





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Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Thanks for the info and suggestions!

The rear is stock '64 C10, so whatever is out back.

I have some Corvette rams horns for the engine, but thought later I would swap for headers.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

I'm starting do think more about the 305 heads. There are a couple complete 305's for sale locally for pretty cheap. I have to have the heads gone through anyway, so if I can find some heads cheap around here, I'll probably go for it.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Comparatively the difference between the old power pack heads and the 305 heads is minimal. Combustion chamber on the 283 is 60cc compared to 58cc on the 305. Intake valve size is 1.72 on the 283 and 1.84 on the 305 heads.

IMHO you won't notice much difference between the two, and if you want it to look "period correct" you'll need to deal with the accessory holes in the front of the new heads. You'll also want to make sure you get don't get the vortec version of the 305's...requires a manifold and valve cover change.

With regard to compression ratio, there is a .2 difference upwards if you use the 305 heads due to the smaller combustion chamber, assuming that matters to you.

if it were me, I'd stick with the 283 heads and use the money you would spend on 305 heads for a set of headers or a new intake etc.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

That's the SAME intake I ran & the Rochester 4-jet fits on it. Also a WCFB carter fits, but DON"T mess with those! If you find a 327 intake that has the secondary bores larger than the primary then that intake fits an AFB. I prolly still have a 4-jet up in the barn, intakes, heads, a 360 Offy intake & I know I have a 283 / pg from a '64 Impala.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

This was actually going to be my next question...

...how much of a difference would it REALLY make? I think you answered it.

I think I'll look for a nice dual plane intake manifold and a 500 cfm carb, size up a nice cam to pull it all together and a proper converter for the TH400. The engine doesn't need to be nasty and I simply need to be able to depend on it.

Question. (on a tangent) Wasn't there a factory AC option in 1964 for the C10's and C20's? How did the compressor mount? Not sure I've seen the setup? Comments about the 305 heads having the accessory mounting holes made me think of that...

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

JFYI, that 283 I had was in a pink & white '57 Chevy 210 sedan & would pull from the time you touched the throttle pedal. I ran a set of 3.55 gears during the week & swapped them to 4.88s on Friday after school. That cam had just a taste of lumpy idle & didn't loose so much vacuum that you had to start monkeying with the power enrichment valve / spring combo in the carb.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

NEAT!! I love that!

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

305 heads have hardened seats for unleaded fuel too....

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

That's true. However unless they are truck heads with replaceable seats then they are only induction hardened & after the 1st valve job the benefit is negated. And I don't know for sure if 305 heads were ever produced with replaceable seats or not. Anybody know? I built a little 305 from an '85 Caprice police car & it had some really nice heads on it, don't remember the casting number though. I used the old 327 / 300 hp cam in it. That's a great stock cam that don't lope.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Looking like $6 a seat installed for hardened seats, with the guy that will do the heads. Seems decent.

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Scooter, not all 305 heads are created equal. Run a Google on 416 chevy heads. Those are the desirable 305 heads. They come off the H.O model. As for manifolds, I use a Performer e.ps, but it has no provision for the oil fill spout, like older Performers do. (Which is kind of a bummer)

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

i couldn't agree more ^^^^ if you are gonna do any towing with a 283 you will want to get as much low end TQ as you can ... 283 do not produce very much TQ so headers would be a big help and power pack heads are great heads for what you want . you could also get some 1.6 rockers roller tip . would be a good improvement .. i dont know if you know this or not but all of the early 283 engines came with Steel forged cranks thats why you heaar so many stories like the guy with the 57 never blowing it they were very strong just not much for TQ . but a well built 283 will motor past a 350 alot of times .. you will want a dual plane manifold too

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

the TH400 good trans but not for the 283 the 400 robs power go with either a powerglide or a TH 350

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

The EPS is available with the oil fill tube.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-2703

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

I agree.....but I would not consider a powerglide. A TH350, 700R4 or a manual 4 or 5 speed

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

That's true I didn't think about the 700r4 ... but also there is a well built 2004r which I like for 2 reasons 1 they are the same size as in length as the TH350 . So most times a shortened drive shafts is not required.. and 2 is that the gears of of a 2004r are the same as a TH350 so it shifts much better in the proper RPMS range alot of 700r4s have a huge drop in gearing from either 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd it's been a while so not sure . But I'm sure captain knows what I'm getting at lol

Re: 283 and a Slight Hop Up
 

Well damn, looks like I might have a used eps for sale. Just kidding, I've already went pcv in the valve cover and all so I'm not turning back. .......yet.