The 283 Rebuild Begins

[MacAttack]

The shop driver’s coming in the morning to pick up the motor. I’ve stripped off all the unnecessary stuff off the long-block, leaving the pan and valve covers. I’m securing it on a pallet tonight.

I’m giving the old 3-speed away, eventually, but I’ll give you guys a shot at picking it up first. The clutch assembly looks in pretty good shape, so feel free to PM me if you want it.

If not it’ll go on Craigslist.

10 working days on rebuilding the motor and I’m having him do just about everything - anything that’s not practical for me to handle. So two Saturdays from tomorrow I’ll have her back.

The T350 goes out Wednesday for a complete run-through, with a nice shift kit and a B&M pan. I’ve got a brand new HD radiator, shroud, all new plumbing and kits for all my wiring under the dash that the thief butchered.

I’ve got about 75 hours in the project so far.

[283 Man]

Post some pictures after you get your 283 back, I love the 283 motor so much because they are as tuff as nails! they were in production from 1957 to 1967.is actually one of the best motors chevy built..

[MacAttack]

Will do. This is kind of exciting and I’ve been saving for it for a long time.

I just want to make this as clean as possible and reliable. This will be my daily driver. Driving the Chevelle now and leaving it parked anywhere makes me neurotic.

I’ve got some big Thrush mufflers off the Chevelle that ended up too loud, so I’m putting them on the C10 with some flared tipped chrome units, with inserts, on the ends - both exiting in front of the rear wheels.

Eventually (after I put some money into new rear gears - for the freeway) I want to mount my fat T/A Radials on some chromed and slotted Rally wheels with little chrome hub caps.

[javadoc]

What are you planning for the rebuild? I'm toying with building my 283 or just getting something... like a 327.

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by javadoc

What are you planning for the rebuild? I'm toying with building my 283 or just getting something... like a 327.

New Parts: Pistons, Moly Rings, Rod + Main Bearings, Cam Bearings, Timing Chain and Gears, Camshaft, Lifters, Oil Pump, Oil Pump Drive, Gaskets, Brass
Freeze Plugs.

Machine Work: Block = Clean, Magnaflux, Bore, Deck, Power Hone
Connecting Rods = Clean, Check for Straightness, Hone Big Ends
Crank = Clean, Grind, Chamfer Oil Holes, Micro Polish Heads = Clean, Magnaflux, Pressure Test, Install New Guides and Hardened Exhaust Seats, 3-Angle Valve Job, Mill Bottom, Grind Valves, Set Install Height, Set Spring Pressure, Assemble with New Seals, Vacuum Test.

(Eddings Engine Rebuilding Inc.)

[MacAttack]

I’ll be blocking up the engine on 2x4’s after work today - on a pallet - to support the motor during transport. I should have bought my 3rd engine dolly - but ran out of time. I’ve got a 327 on one and a 283 (original from the Chevelle) on another.

Any ideas on securing this motor properly?

[MacAttack]

Cut two 2x4's at 15 degrees and transferred the bolt pattern from the water pump mount points and drilled two 1/2" holes - then put two 3" long 3/8-16 bolts into the holes. Front "legs" done. Then I used the hoist to support the block level and cut two 4x4's. Straped the hole thing to a new pallet and I'm ready to go for the shop pick up of the engine at 8AM tomorrow!

[MacAttack]

Big Yellow Taxi came and took my Baby away.

Well, it wasn't exactly a taxi - it was a Toyota pick-up and it was black. The '283' is off to the shop for 14 days. Now I've got to get on the stick. T350 to the tranny shop, new coolant lines and cast pan included.

Does anybody have any experience with the old mid-60's style canister oil filters? And can they be modified to run a regular spin-on filter?

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

Does anybody have any experience with the old mid-60's style canister oil filters? And can they be modified to run a regular spin-on filter?

There is an adapter you can buy to convert to a spin on oil filter. Mr Gasket used to make them. I'm not sure if they still do or who else makes them....a quick search at Summit or Jegs should find one.

[Chevy Fleetside]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

Does anybody have any experience with the old mid-60's style canister oil filters? And can they be modified to run a regular spin-on filter?

I think this is what you need. http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...egoryCode=3337 I will try the picture and see if it works..

[MacAttack]

OMG!

That's it - exactly what I need!

Thanks mucho! Mac.

[MacAttack]

I’m continuing with the detailing of the C10’s engine compartment, while the engine’s out for rebuild, and the T350 transmission is going to the rebuild shop tomorrow.

Parts are starting to arrive now - via UPS and I’ve got to dig my engine stand out and find my ‘Grade 8’ bold set. I’m going with flat black for the sheetmetal under the hood and actually thinking about gloss grey for the engine - just to be different.

With chrome timing cover, valve covers and Edlebrock triangle air cleaner - with a black distributor and grey ignition wires - it should be fairly trick, no?

[mr48chev]

Unless that filter adapter kit is different than most I have seen you need to run the stock check valve under it to make the filter work right.
It sounds like you are going to put together right and make a nice driver out of it.

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Unless that filter adapter kit is different than most I have seen you need to run the stock check valve under it to make the filter work right.

Good catch - I'll make sure. Thanks.

Mac.

[MacAttack]

Friday night I'm going on Craigslist with the 3-speed tranny, bell housing and clutch assembly - if none of you guys want to come to Huntington Beach to pick it up - for free. Just saying.

[Chevy Fleetside]

Ask the machine shop for a filter adaptor. I am sure they can get you what you need.

[Fastrucken]

MAC not sure if it too late or not but have you concidered a 700r4. I promicie you will be 100 times happier. The deeper first gear and overdrive makes driving our trucks MUCH better. If I had a 700r4 insted of the th350 I probably wouldn't of done my 5.3 swap so quick...

Graham

[MacAttack]

I believe you, Graham, and I’ve heard that elsewhere.

Just that I’ve already got this T350, had it running in this same vehicle previously - behind a straight six - and I already own it. For the $450 to freshen it up and another $100 for a deep-dish pan, the cost is hard to beat.

I’ve already projected about $3,500 to get this ol’ girl back on the road - for everything, including new springs in the front, new brakes, new radiator, new exhaust, etc - so my budget’s screaming already.

But I will take it under advisement.

[MacAttack]

Found this:

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t...kit/index.html

Will go to NAPA Saturday and have them line me out on the conversion.

[Chevy Fleetside]

Napa is where I got mine from when I had the 283

[MacAttack]

Well - just found out the block is cracked in the ‘283’. Lucky I’ve still got the old motor (original) from the 65’ Chevelle as a rebuildable back-up. Eddings is coming in the morning for my second motor, and luckily, it’s on an engine dolly.

At least I won't have to worry about the oil filter adaptor issue any longer.

[Fred T]

And the price of scrap is still high enough to offset the cost a bit.

As for crating the engine. When I had the machine work done on my old six I cleaned and stripped it myself. Put the block, head and crank in the trunk of my Bonneville and took it to the shop. Kid at the shop stepped outside to unload and asked where the engine was. I thought he was going to have to change his skivies when I told him.

[MacAttack]

Funny story, Fred. In my case the ‘307’ heads are coming back to me and the vendor’s picking through the parts he can use and scrapping the block and intake manifold (both of which are severely cracked - off to the smelter.

The shop’s sending his truck down this morning to pick up the original motor that came out of my 65’ Chevelle. If that goes up-side-down then I’ve got a stock ‘327’ requiring mucho work and if that fails - I’ve got a ‘350’ in pieces - requiring machining only.

I hope to actually drive my C10 again someday.

[Chevy Fleetside]

And here I have a drop in running 5.7L

[justcuz]

What kind of cam are you putting in it? I would suggest staying mild, something like a HO 305 Camaro cam. Ask the machine shop, but those small engines do not like a lot of cam, won't make much vacuum for power brakes if you do. HO 305 cam is like 403 in and 415 ex. I forget the duration and lobe seperation, it is slightly bigger than a stock 350 cam which is 390 in and 410 ex. Are you running a 2 barrel carb? How do you crack an intake manifold? Does this guy build hobby stock race engines? Old stock Chevy 2BBL intakes are worth bank to these guys for some reason. I swapped 3 of mine for some cast iron 4BBL intakes for Qjets and the guy was practically overjoyed to get them. Not worth much to me, I would rather have the Qjet and drive the primaries most of the time and still have the ability to tromp on it if needed.