Engine Decisions

[ChrisDollins]

Just sitting here while it's cold outside, and wanting to talk engines. I can't seem to make up my mind on what to do engine-wise with the old truck. Trying to find the right balance between money, power, and coolness.

The 250 that is in it works well and runs good, but it doesn't quite have the power or sound I'm after. I will keep the engine for something else I drag home. I do have a 283 that was in my Dad's 55 that I have heard run. I've thought about cleaning it up, throwing a set of trick flow aluminum heads with the 56cc chambers to bump compression up to around 9.75. Then put a good size roller cam (looking at Comp XR288HR-10), white powder coated headers, intake with the oil fill, and a 650 holley in the dichromate color for a kind of vintage hot rod look. Finish it off with some Offy finned valvecovers. The only thing is with spending all of that money, I'm thinking maybe a BBC would be cooler... lol.

Most of my hotrodding has been with the LS engines. When I was younger my DD was a 2000 Z28 with MS3 cam, 4500 converter, spooled 4.30's and no a/c or radio with Corbeau forza's, no back seats and on et streets most of the time. I've thought about going with a similar setup, but with a T56. But it doesn't have the old-school coolness to it.

Really wanting a set of chrome cragar s/s bigs-n-littles with bias ply tires, and have to have a different exhaust note to pull it off lol.

What are some of yalls ideas, or thoughts?

Chris