New cam and heads for a 283!

[Mr Handy]

So my truck has a 283 with a great bottom end, but it had 307 heads. So over the last year or so I have been collecting parts. A set of 305 TBI heads for $20 bucks. I rebuilt those around Christmas by doing a valve hone and installing new seals and springs. I was given an edilbrock intake with the correct bolt pattern for the heads. Picked up a Q-jet on here and rebuilt it. Already replaced the water pump and have restored and painted core support and inner fenders, new body mounts... also have a 4 row rad to drop in and a few other odds and ends. So a simple head swap turned into a fairly extensive rebuild... I also decided to Swap the cam and lifters and Installed a Summit 1102, should be plenty of cam for the little 283.
Started tearing down the front end Friday night after work, and by 3 Saturday afternoon was putting stuff back together, Not bad as I was gone till 2 on sat to get tires on my daily driver. I didn't get to drive around the block, but I decided to replaced the left motor mount so that took a fair amount of time... The planets did align and I Installed the Intake to Freebird ! It just happened to come on the radio at the perfect time, I think it was a sign. Anyway enough of that here are some pick from the weekend, I hope your Easter was as productive as mine.

[notsolo]

Looks Good, Nice productive weekend. What did the heads come off of and what are you using for a carb? I need to do the same thing.

[special-K]

I like to see the little small blocks built/pepped up. I want to do another 283 or 307, great motors! What is the advantage of the heads you used over 307s? I don't know the differences between those heads. I agree on heads/more flow playing a vital part in picking up the ponies out of the smaller displacements.

[Mr Handy]

the 307 heads have 76cc chambers while the 305 head should be 55cc's. The stock 283 heads should have been 54cc. The heads I am putting on are not known for being a great head as far as flow is concerned, but in a small displacement motor that most likely won't do anything north of 5000 rpm they should do just fine. And with a little more cam than stock and the better compression ratio and a qjet the engine should be a fair bit peppier in the 2000-4000rpm range, at least that is what I am shooting for. For under $400 it's worth a shot.

[Saclandman]

Looking good.

[Coley]

Great effort!!....and good to see those 283's still kicking. They were good little motors and when could provide surprising power when built.
Keep us posted on how the 'start up' goes!!
All Good
Coley

[Boog]

Gosh. And to think i hauled a complete running 283 off to the scrapyard back in the 80s. Nobody wanted them then .

[Mr Handy]

I think the only guys that want 283's now are doing number matching builds. I figure I will run the 283 until I'm ready for paint, then pull it, paint and drop in my 350. Then when the truck is done I want to find an early 50s Chevy coupe to drop the 283 in and do something fun like a trip two barrel setup... If I don't just leave the qjet on it.
This block has also never been boarded just dressed and re ringed. So I could bore it and stroke it and make a real runner out of it once I pull it, if I want to...

[Mr Handy]

Got the 283 up and running. Also got my bumpers powder coated and installed. It was a busy week with the In laws visiting, I get along well with the wife's family, always have so it was a good time.
anyway on to the pictures.

[Mr Handy]

Here are what the bumpers started out looking like.