Questions for 283 owners...

[bobs86silv]

I have had an old 67 LWB sittin out at my dads farm for five years. I got it in a truck trade for the motor, and never touched it. Supposedly it had about 30,000 on a fresh rebuild.(OK, sure!!) It has a 2 barrel, ramshorns, and a top loader four speed. I spent a day with it the other day. I got it running pretty easily. I was expecting some pretty heave smoke action, and atleast some low end noise at first. It never missed a lick. Fired up pretty easy, and idled at about 600 RPM with only a little choke help. Never smoked a bit, and sounded real quiet, no noise at all. There is not much of a truck left. I have an 86 shortbed with a pretty high mileage 305/350/3.08's. I do not know which tranny it is, just a granny 4 speed. Just wanting opinions on how this little 283 mouse might perform. I have headers and HEI I would transfer over. I keep hearing that they like to be spun real tight, like 6000 RPM. Sounds kinda high to me. Is there any truth in that?? Would you 283 owners give it more credit for Torque, Power, mid-range, top end only?? Just wanting a heads up on what to expect if I blow my 305 and need a quick transplant.

Thanks

robert

[Rud's 69-C10]

Originally Posted by bobs86silv

I have had an old 67 LWB sittin out at my dads farm for five years. I got it in a truck trade for the motor, and never touched it. Supposedly it had about 30,000 on a fresh rebuild.(OK, sure!!) It has a 2 barrel, ramshorns, and a top loader four speed. I spent a day with it the other day. I got it running pretty easily. I was expecting some pretty heave smoke action, and atleast some low end noise at first. It never missed a lick. Fired up pretty easy, and idled at about 600 RPM with only a little choke help. Never smoked a bit, and sounded real quiet, no noise at all. There is not much of a truck left. I have an 86 shortbed with a pretty high mileage 305/350/3.08's. I do not know which tranny it is, just a granny 4 speed. Just wanting opinions on how this little 283 mouse might perform. I have headers and HEI I would transfer over. I keep hearing that they like to be spun real tight, like 6000 RPM. Sounds kinda high to me. Is there any truth in that?? Would you 283 owners give it more credit for Torque, Power, mid-range, top end only?? Just wanting a heads up on what to expect if I blow my 305 and need a quick transplant.

Thanks

robert

1. Headers will help the motor breathe (duh), make certain you find a set with small diameter primary tubes.
2. HEI is best for consistant timing.
3. The 283 has a short stroke 3.00, similiar to the 302 found in your 67-69 Z-28's. Unfortunately, it has a relatively small bore, so you power/torque numbers will be on the low side.
4. Look for an EddieBrock SP2P intake manifold. Holley 600-vacuum secondaries.
5. Hopefull this engine has the original "powerpack" heads. They have the ultra small 57cc ports. These will help keep your compression up. Swapping to a later style head will most likely lower your compression, decreasing your power.

Just my $0.02

-Rudi-

[Americanrider]

Mine is still running along fine, but they will start to tick on a diet of unleaded if you run the stock heads.

[Fred T]

Drove several school buses that had the 283. Even owned a car with one. Stock, the engine is a good, solid worker. Personally, I would not recommend spinning one over 5,000 unless I knew it had been balanced and had the proper valve springs and such. It will run for a long time as long as it isn't abused. One friend had a 65 1/2 ton with the 283. He ended up selling it when he couldn't drive any more, truck had over 500,000 miles and the engine had been rebuilt twice.

[longhorn71]

that was the best running engine in chevys history(longest lasting)If not one of the best engines ever made They do not take kindly to high rpms but with a little work they make ok great power.Also this was the first engine ever to lay claim to " one horsepower per Cubic inch"

[Jebb1978]

My Dad used to run a 283 in his 59 GMC and it had lots of git up and go. It was relitivley stock as I recall, headers, cam and a Carter 750cfm carb and that was about it. I can't tell you much about the build in the 350 it replaced but the 283 was definetly as strong or stronger. I decided on a 283 for my 63 Chevy II project because I had it available and it is nostalgic. That one has not yet run but I am fairly confident it will run strong. In the years they built these things they all had plenty of poneys. If you have to run emissions in your area that may be a consern? It is a chore every year to get my stock 78 through. Hope any of my mindless ramblings are helpful and good luck!

[AesC10s]

i have a mild 283 in my 64 c10 and i have bet the hell out of that engine. it runs SO strong its is very responsive , tourqy and just get up and GOES. i have wraped it very close to 7000 with out a problem many times.

[bobs86silv]

WEll, update. I have the motor out and on the stand. The heads are 520's. How are these. They do not have accesory holes. I have a pair of 601's with a fresh going through. I think they would run pretty well. They have 1.84 1.50 and 57 cc chambers, or maybe less because they were resurfaced. I also have the 4 speed from the truck.. I am thinking S-10 mud truck now.

thanks for all the input..

robert

[JRB]

I just got rid of a 1963 C20 Longbed pu and it had a 283 in it. What a great running motor. It had 60cc heads but the valves were 1.70/1.50. If your going to rev that motor I suggest you put a stiffer set of valve springs and hardened push rods in it. Also put a different Camshaft and a four barrel carb on it. If you go to Edlebrock.com they have packages you can buy with all the goodies that will make that 283 come to life. Wish you all the luck with your project. I wish I would have yanked that 283 out of that C20 before I got rid of it and put it in my 63 shortwide.

Good Luck,

Bruce

[u2slow]

Originally Posted by bobs86silv

I keep hearing that they like to be spun real tight, like 6000 RPM. Sounds kinda high to me. Is there any truth in that?? Would you 283 owners give it more credit for Torque, Power, mid-range, top end only?? Just wanting a heads up on what to expect if I blow my 305 and need a quick transplant.

First off, I'd much rather have a 283 than a 305....

About 5 years ago... my buddy had a '62 GMC 920 (3/4-ton) with the original 283 2bbl, SM420 granny box, and 4.57 axle. He did put HEI on it though.

I was in the truck when he wrapped it past 7000rpm After that day, he did it all the time just for the hell of it Too bad the poor thing was so rusted out

It's hard to comment on the 283's torque characteristic... the granny low trans will get you moving even with a hamster under the hood. The fast revving characteristic is a nice match for the broad gear steppings of the trans. You may want to address the 3.08 axle... but IMO not worth worrying about until the 283 is installed.

Damn... all this talk suddenly makes we want to build a short-stroke 8 for my '66