Good engine for 62 chevy truck?

[twotallswan]

Ok I have a feeling that I'm fixing to start a big fight, but I need some ideas. My truck is a 1962 short stepside and has a 283 that runs (or at least it did the last time I started it) and it still has the generator on it. Trying to decide on wether or not to leave it and just supe it up a little or do a transplant. If I do the transplant here's what I want to do the truck. I want to drive it around town and maybe take it to some car shows. I'm not really interested in racing it or creating some super custom. Probably gonna add some updates inside the cab and I'm going to put a tank under the bed.

Brass tacks-- I want to know what y'all think I should put in my truck. Open to any opinion as long as your polite about it.
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[markeb01]

Well you can’t really go wrong keeping the 283. Back when they were new it was about the most desirable engine to have, at least until the 327 came along. This would also keep it original. The trade off may be cost and convenience. It may be the same price or even less expensive to just buy a new 350 crate motor with a warranty. There’s a practical and financial reason the 350 is so popular.

I prefer the 350 myself. Often it can cost so much to rebuild the original heads it’s less expensive to buy new ones, and if the machinist isn’t top notch you can spend a lot of money and not get what you paid for. Also if the heads have been resurfaced too many times, it can result in intake manifold leakage problems that are hard to correct. The 350 Chevy crate motor in my 46 Ford traveled 300,000 miles in eight years with never a problem, and the one in my 60 GMC has about 20 years and 140k on it and is still going strong.

[Str8axle]

If there's nothing wrong with the 283, why replace it? Upgrade to an alternator and switch to electrinic ign. You can do a lot of things to a 283 and still keep it reliable.

[steve'62]

x2 on the thread, I also have a 62, but mine has a 235, I also want the same route as two tall.

http://www.automotix.net/engines/196...gmc_283lb.html

http://www.automotix.net/engines/196...gmc_283lb.html

[steve'62]

I messed up the second link but they also have a 327 as well

[Clyde65]

I say run what you got, if there is something worong with it, rebuild the lower end and put some aluminum heads on it for better breathing. n sense in throwing a bunch of $ into a running play vehicle.

[chevyrestoguy]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. The fastest way to turn a good, usable truck into a cadaver is to pull the engine. I've done it before. Usually, once the engine is out, you get into a mode where you want to rebuild the suspension, paint the chassis, etc. The next you know, 5 years pass you by and it's still a cadaver in the garage. But, it has turned from a $1000 runner into a $10,000 cadaver.

[twotallswan]

Thanx for all the advice.
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[scotts62]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

If it ain't broke don't fix it. The fastest way to turn a good, usable truck into a cadaver is to pull the engine. I've done it before. Usually, once the engine is out, you get into a mode where you want to rebuild the suspension, paint the chassis, etc. The next you know, 5 years pass you by and it's still a cadaver in the garage. But, it has turned from a $1000 runner into a $10,000 cadaver.

Have you been spying on me?? couldnt have said it better myself.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Well you can’t really go wrong keeping the 283. Back when they were new it was about the most desirable engine to have, at least until the 327 came along. This would also keep it original. The trade off may be cost and convenience. It may be the same price or even less expensive to just buy a new 350 crate motor with a warranty. There’s a practical and financial reason the 350 is so popular.

I prefer the 350 myself. Often it can cost so much to rebuild the original heads it’s less expensive to buy new ones, and if the machinist isn’t top notch you can spend a lot of money and not get what you paid for. Also if the heads have been resurfaced too many times, it can result in intake manifold leakage problems that are hard to correct. The 350 Chevy crate motor in my 46 Ford traveled 300,000 miles in eight years with never a problem, and the one in my 60 GMC has about 20 years and 140k on it and is still going strong.

I agree Mark.


twotallswan,

Is your 283 the original factory?
Building a mild 283 is what I would do.
If you are not wanting a hause of a motor.
283:
Camel Hump heads..
650 Eldebrock or Holly Carb.
Nice Eldebrock or Holly intake
Dual pattern cam.
Long tube headers.
SLP Loud mouth/ Borla Singers/Magnaflow Magnapacks/Bassani/Cherry Bomb/2 or 1 chamber Flowmaster mufflers.
Dual Exhaust/X or H pipe

She would be one bad little screaming 283.
Come rolling up at a crusin or car show with that bump stick rat a tat tatting. . .
People will rubber neck and say, "Who dat in that '62?"
Come on lets check it out! You here it camming? Sick!
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[twotallswan]

According to the vin number, the truck should have been an inline 6 with three on the tree. When I got it, it had the 283 and had been converted to automatic. My fuel tank at the moment is a five gallon bucket. She needs a lot of work but she runs.
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[63sbssbbw]

Either way I'd run the 283 with the upgrades mentioned
If it's got too many troubles, run a 350.
LOL pretty much what Mark and 1Bad said
T

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Originally Posted by twotallswan

According to the vin number, the truck should have been an inline 6 with three on the tree. When I got it, it had the 283 and had been converted to automatic. My fuel tank at the moment is a five gallon bucket. She needs a lot of work but she runs.
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Gimme the casting number off it and I'll tell you what year it is and what it came off of.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=382583
Is the tranny a TH350, Powerglide?
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[78 Chevyrado]

If I'm at the car show and somebody's car has a 283 or 327 in it, I look at those cars 10x more than cars with 350's or even big blocks. I think either way as long as you don't get a 305 or 350, you'll get the looks. 350's just arent very special. 283's and 327s are though. and the number sounds cool.

[Indyuke]

Originally Posted by twotallswan

According to the vin number, the truck should have been an inline 6 with three on the tree. When I got it, it had the 283 and had been converted to automatic. My fuel tank at the moment is a five gallon bucket. She needs a lot of work but she runs.
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I say add ta 'nother five gal bucket "fuel cell" and yer well on yer way ta upgradin'.

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by 78 Chevyrado

If I'm at the car show and somebody's car has a 283 or 327 in it, I look at those cars 10x more than cars with 350's or even big blocks. I think either way as long as you don't get a 305 or 350, you'll get the looks. 350's just arent very special. 283's and 327s are though. and the number sounds cool.

I agree completely. I wanted the looks of the 283/327 so I simply engineered a hidden smog valve installation so I could run the intake manifold with an oil fill pipe and closed valve covers. To further the effect the engine should run an early distributor and a short water pump.

Here's a link to how it was done should anybody want to modify a 350 to look older:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=366853

[62 short step]

I vote for the 283, im a little biased too though. Thats what im running.

[11echo]

I'd vote for the 283 too! AND definetly up-grade the Ing. to HEI!!! And a set of headers! Good Luck!

[62ShortStep]

283.
But if you want to upgrade a bit...235.

[twotallswan]

I really appreciate all the advice and everybody's sense of humor. This my first rebuild that I'm attempting. I have an 82 k5 but all I ever did was take the motor out because it had thrown a rod. It was given to me for 17th birthday by a doctor my mom worked for. It's missing alot of parts but the body is in good condition, the frame is straight and it still has the tranny and the four wheel drive. I bought the 62 from a guy I used to work with for 700 bucks. It runs but it had quite a bit of rust damage and needs new wood, a fuel tank, a tune up and the taillights rewired. Not to mention a new paint job and seats and interior and a stereo and........ Wait a minute. Anybody wanna but a couple of old junkers. Not really I could never sell them. Unless my wife leaves me and I need beer money.
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[Dino Driver]

I had a 283 with the front horseshoe mount. I put a RV2 cam in and put a Edelbrock performance intake and carb with a TH350 tranny. It ran great with good torque. That truck is not the heavy, stock. It won't take much to get it to move. I pulled mine for a LS motor only because I'm a glutton for punishment. Stay with what you have!

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Originally Posted by 1Bad62Pro/Street

I agree Mark.


twotallswan,

Is your 283 the original factory?
Building a mild 283 is what I would do.
If you are not wanting a hause of a motor.
283:
650 Eldebrock or Holly Carb.
Nice Eldebrock or Holly intake
Dual pattern cam.
Long tube headers.
SLP Loud mouth/ Borla Singers/Magnaflow Magnapacks/Bassani/Cherry Bomb/2 or 1 chamber Flowmaster mufflers.
Dual Exhaust/X or H pipe

She would be one bad little screaming 283.
Come rolling up at a crusin or car show with that bump stick rat a tat tatting. . .
People will rubber neck and say, "Who dat in that '62?"
Come on lets check it out! You here it camming? Sick!
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Here is the perfect cam for that 283.
Nothing too wild like a Mother Thumper!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGyyJdhegFY

Camel Hump Head Combo
Chevrolet 291 327 Double/Camel Hump 1.94 Int 1.50Exh.
Camshaft Hydraulic Dual Pattern (Lift .443” Int., .465” Exh.)
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...+Dual+Pattern+
Camshaft Tips & Definitions
Life or Death Cam Knowledge:
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/c...ons/index.html

Dual Pattern Cam Idel= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onglWzXTveQ

[TheManInBlack]

Originally Posted by 62ShortStep

283.
But if you want to upgrade a bit...235.

Awesome

[twotallswan]

Man y'all make me feel dumb.
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[60n60Apache]

Hey, GUys
I'm am fighting the same situration, but I have a 60 with a 1956 265 V8.
It came in it. It sound ok but can't drive it because of no exhaust.

Is the 265 a keeper?