283 questions for my 66

[mismith]

OK guys, I was just posting earlier about my air cleaner swap on the old original 250 in my 66 to accommodate the new power booster. Now I am going a slightly different direction.

A good friend called this morning and offered me his original 283 that he pulled from his 1960 Parkwood Wagon. It was a daily driver and the engine runs excellent. The engine has the original 2 bbl Rochester carb. It still has the script valve covers but the original Air cleaner is missing. Looks like I am going V8!

Is there a difference in the base opening of a 4bbl air cleaner v/s the 2 bbl? I plan on going to the salvage yards today and looking for one to fit the 2bbl.

I have a good original 2 row radiator now and No fan shroud. Do I need a 3 row? Is the correct fan shroud metal or fiberglass for the '66?

Thanks,
Michael

[66Submarine]

The 4bbl air cleaner has a much larger opening, 5-1/8" vs 2-5/8". You can just buy a little plastic adaptor for this, though.

The radiator and fan shroud is a personal thing IMO. I have a big $130 aftermarket aluminum radiator with an aftermarket six blade flex fan 7" from it with no shroud. I don't drive in messed up traffic and it works fine for me. Idling at a long light it'll creep up some, but IIRC stabilizes at about 200º. (Kind of surprised me) A 283 shouldn't take much more than the 250 to cool, but the fan will be further back, so you'll be flowing less air at idle when stopped. May or may not work for you depending on conditions. A shroud is always a good idea.

My 2 cents, worth what you paid for it, lol.

[66Submarine]

Also, if you use the six cylinder radiator mounting your fan will be a lot closer than mine is. My truck was like that for what seemed to have been a very long time before I got it and it must have worked, lol. I'd say try it, if it doesn't work you aren't out much.

[Captainfab]

I would go with a V8 radiator and a (fiberglass/composite)shroud. A 2 row core with a shroud will cool a 283 with no problems. Something that is often overlooked with radiators and cooling ability, is with used radiators, often times a lot of the little fins between the tubes are bent over, and don't allow air flow. If the air can't flow thru the radiator, it can not extract the heat.

So now you are going to need power steering pump brackets for a small block with a short water pump. If you can't find them locally, let me know, I can set you up.