anyone using a 283

[long71]

im in desperate need of a motor and i found a great deal on a 283, freshly rebuilt and complete.

my only issue is that this motor was never in this truck from the factory but my build so far has had nothing to do with "what came from the factory" everything from the frame up has been custom made or tweaked for my application.

so my question is, does anyone have an issue with putting this motor in a 71?

i know its my truck and i can do what i want but i like and absorb opinions well. please help me make this troubling decision.

[chevy_mike]

283's were installed in pre '67 car and trucks and was a good engine. They can be built up to really spin some high RPM's. About the only thing they tend to lack (and any small CID engine) is torque.

If you are looking to tow heavy loads or drag race and want max power, then a big block would serve you better but I would not hesitate putting in a 283 for a nice cruiser car or truck.

If you need an engine and found a great deal on it, go for it. You can hop them up like any other SBC, just don't expect BBC power.

My .02 worth.

[Robert8096]

My 69 has a 283/ 3 on the floor in the I6 position. I'm going for a cruiser, not a high output monster. The only issue I see is lack of mounting holes in the heads. I want to add power steering to mine and will need a March pulley setup and long water pump to make it work.

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

283's are durable dependable motors. What the others have said are dead on. They won't win a drag race, but they will get you down the road nicely.

[long71]

a cruiser is exactly what i want. the only strip it will see is broadway for a cruise in... the motor is a done deal. picking it up tonight. thanks for the advise!

[GOPAPA]

Originally Posted by long71

a cruiser is exactly what i want. the only strip it will see is broadway for a cruise in... the motor is a done deal. picking it up tonight. thanks for the advise!

I might be able to give you some info on the 283 engine as I owned a couple of them back in the day..

I bought a new Chevy truck and it had a 283 in it and it had 175 HP ,,the trucks 283' in 1965 were different than the car 283's..

I also owned a 57 chev with a 283 in it and it had a 4 barrel carb so the HP was 220 ..if it were a 2 barrel it would of been 195 HP

Now for some fun,,true story here .. we used to race up this long hill from town and who ever topped it first was the winner ..and of course a six pack or a case of beer was the trophy..

So ,,it sort of depends who you race that really decides if this 283 engine is a racer or not .LOL because there was this guy who had a 4 door Furd that raced me and I beat him pretty easy .. he said one of his rear doors kept comming open was the reason he lost .. His 58 4 door model had no post and to be fare Furds did have a problem with the doors ,,but I beat his butt and I got the beer.. LOL
hope this helps Gopapa

[faribran]

i like my 283. i have just put some late model Vortec heads on....
nothing wrong with a 283....spunky little engines.

[71meangreenc10]

Like mine, hate the heads not having the bolt holes in them.

Pulled mine from a 67 Impala. Sweet Engine.....

Smitty

[El Jay]

In my experience, dang near bullet proof.
Just don't figure on getting in a big, giant hurry.

I had one in a '66 Elco with a Saginaw 4 speed behind it. That wide ratio 4 speed took some doing to get things wound up, but that truck/car would do an honest 130 MPH. (DO NOT ASK!)

I used to help a friend with his race car. He ran a .120 over 283.
Regardless of what the critics will tell you, it never ran hot; but it would "spin" like a mother.

[notsolo]

Another vote for a 283, I had mine rebuilt 31 years ago. Its been in 3 trucks and runs with the best of them.

[Skirkpat]

283/307 engines are great, I loved mine, it was a 307, or stroked 283 as I reffered to it back when strokers were black magic LOL!

[GOPAPA]

A little more info ::I think you can only bore a 283 out to 301 .

[crazy longhorn]

Originally Posted by GOPAPA

A little more info ::I think you can only bore a 283 out to 301 .

You can bore to 301 (.125 over), or stroke to 307 (327 sj crank). Both bore & stroke will make a 327. As a rule, most 283 blocks are best suited to a .060 max overbore(292 with stock stroke)., but some would accept an 1/8" overbore. I ran a .060 over 283 many years back , with fuelie heads , & a 327/350 hp cam. With a 600 dp holley on top,close ratio Muncie ,& 3.73 gears .....the old truck would run like STINK tween 3500 & 6500! You shure couldnt tow anything with it tho..... crazyL

[HoupPhotography]

Here's another vote for a 283.... it's a good motor.

[JameslovesJammie]

My '65 has a 283 with a SM420 tranny. When I used to cut grass, I had the back loaded with yard equiptment and a 4x8 trailer with a riding mower on it. I got 14 mpg all the time. Great little motor.

[IvelDesigns]

also running a 283 in my '69. i drive it daily in the nice months and have no complaints. It's not a fast motor, but with headers and 3" exhaust, it'll still turn heads. I get comments all the time at the gas station.

[stockish shawn]

had a 283 in my 69 4x4 it would spin until the fan belts came off. true story only noticed it when the temp hit 200, and the motor never ran hot. make sure you have vented valve covers and put a freeze plug in the vent hole behind the distributer. fyi find some accesorys from a pre 68 or69 to get brackets that don't require the holes in the heads