283 small block into '67' pick-up

[realsteelGM]

Does anyone on the site have a 283 motor (Stock)
in their 67-72 pick-up? I have a block freshly bored .30 over from 1958 and wondering if it will have enough torque and horspower to power this pick-up without having to go hi-performance.Currently it came with a 292 with a four speed muncie with the low first gear.

[68w/sbc406]

it wont be a race truck. but it will get you around

[wheels67]

Boring it will help the horsepower, but torque will be minimal because of the short stroke. Its a top end racer. I think if you change the crank to a 350 this will help....Im not sure.

[stllookn]

I have an old tired 283 in my '67 stepside and it runs great and has enough power to get into trouble. Not sure what you are looking for but it is fun to drive.

[RACINJASON22]

I had a little experience with the 283, One snappy little 8 I think you'll be happy depending on what your after. Not a torque monster though.

[FarmTruk]

If you add a 327 crank, you'll get a 307...

[special-K]

The 283 is a great little motor for these trucks.V8 power w/6cyl economy.

[bulky]

283 is a real nice snappy motor. You can have some fun with it. If you are looking for a race motor go with something bigger (350 or 400). But we have done a couple of 283's in the past that have plenty of snot. Nothing fancy, GM 327 high performance cam & lifters, LT1 high rise dual plane intake, and a nice set of 1.94 valve heads (if I remember right the 2.02's will not clear the cylinder walls). Good luck

[centsless]

Mine has a 67 283 power pack motor with the 327/350 cam. Has a really lumpy idle, sounds killer. Doesn't take off real strong (350th trans and 3.07 rear) but does pretty well. Also, I'm used to my LT1 Impala and a 345hp Cadillac, so I guess it just doesn't take off like they do. I am very happy with the truck, but I also did not build it to race.

[Canadian694x4]

Currently I have a freshly rebuilt 283 (in front of a th350/NP208) in my '69 K10 Longbox. It's a very dependable motor, nothing special but it gets me down the road. It won't chirp the tires or anything but that could be just the extra weight I'm pushing around.

If I could do it all over, I wish I would have experimented by using some of the things a few have said here when I rebuilt the 283 two years ago.

[airdale94]

I have a 68 C20 that I just purchased and it has a 283 w/ 350 heads and it seems fine. The previous owner said the 350 heads "breathe better". It has a RV cam and a TH350 trans. 410 gears in the rear. It was a 6cyl. w/4-speed and 456 gears, but the previous owner converted it. I just scored a 4-speed and everything to switch it back to a stick out of a 70.

Are you going to stay with the manual transmission?

[FarmTruk]

Here's a good linky for info...It is geared to 307's, but I think alot will also transfer to 283's. After all, a 307 is simply a 283 with a 327 crank (a "stroker" 283)

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=45615

[realsteelGM]

Originally Posted by centsless

Mine has a 67 283 power pack motor with the 327/350 cam. Has a really lumpy idle, sounds killer. Doesn't take off real strong (350th trans and 3.07 rear) but does pretty well. Also, I'm used to my LT1 Impala and a 345hp Cadillac, so I guess it just doesn't take off like they do. I am very happy with the truck, but I also did not build it to race.

Hi Censtless,
Just wondering how your fuel mileage is with the 283 on the highway? How is your R.P.M. @ 60 miles an hour? Are you burning any oil and how is your top end power on the highway. I am not looking for a race unit, more reliability of the famed 283. Mine is bored @ .30 over is a 1958 vintage block, I believe I mentioned, just want to make sure I'm not wasting my time.

[Bishops Trucks]

My dad has a solid lifter, bored 30 over, '65 Super Sport Chevelle style cam and old style LT1 Valvespring 283 in his '67 shortbed with a Saginaw 4-speed and the truck runs great. When he had the stock 283 with the 3 on the tree, it still ran good and would get down the road. You shouldn't have a problem with it at all.

[boundstaffpress]

My 4x4 has a bone stock 283 2bbl. with a granny 4 spd. It has enough power to pull anything. With 3.73 posi gears, it revs a bit on the highway. I try to keep it under 60mph. I haven't hooked my tach up yet, but I didn't get it for over the road driving so haven't worried much about that yet.

I get better than 10 mpg. How much better I don't know. There's been too much snow to unlock the front hubs much since I rebuilt the carb. It starts on the first or second crank every morning. Even at 14 below. I wouldn't trade it for much of anything. I've never had a stronger running lower maintenance engine.

[realsteelGM]

Originally Posted by airdale94

I have a 68 C20 that I just purchased and it has a 283 w/ 350 heads and it seems fine. The previous owner said the 350 heads "breathe better". It has a RV cam and a TH350 trans. 410 gears in the rear. It was a 6cyl. w/4-speed and 456 gears, but the previous owner converted it. I just scored a 4-speed and everything to switch it back to a stick out of a 70.

Are you going to stay with the manual transmission?

Hi Airedale 94,
Yes I am going to stick with the four speed SM420muncie stick shift, had too many problems with automatics plus i love the feeling of pushing the clutch and shifting. Better power ratio control and much more dependable.
How is your fuel mileage with that set-up? Are you getting good highway acceleration?(top end)

[realsteelGM]

Originally Posted by Bishops Trucks

My dad has a solid lifter, bored 30 over, '65 Super Sport Chevelle style cam and old style LT1 Valvespring 283 in his '67 shortbed with a Saginaw 4-speed and the truck runs great. When he had the stock 283 with the 3 on the tree, it still ran good and would get down the road. You shouldn't have a problem with it at all.

Hey Bishops Trucks
Thanks for info, just makes a rebuild that much more inviting.

[realsteelGM]

Originally Posted by boundstaffpress

My 4x4 has a bone stock 283 2bbl. with a granny 4 spd. It has enough power to pull anything. With 3.73 posi gears, it revs a bit on the highway. I try to keep it under 60mph. I haven't hooked my tach up yet, but I didn't get it for over the road driving so haven't worried much about that yet.

I get better than 10 mpg. How much better I don't know. There's been too much snow to unlock the front hubs much since I rebuilt the carb. It starts on the first or second crank every morning. Even at 14 below. I wouldn't trade it for much of anything. I've never had a stronger running lower maintenance engine.

Hey Thanks for the info,
This tells me the story of the little steam shuvle that could, lots of guys tell me to go high performance but, I know a lot of high performance big blocks in the shop to be rebuild after blowing them. The 283 apparantly has bigger cooling jackets and thicker cylinder walls, hence better heat displacement and less wear.

[realsteelGM]

Originally Posted by bulky

283 is a real nice snappy motor. You can have some fun with it. If you are looking for a race motor go with something bigger (350 or 400). But we have done a couple of 283's in the past that have plenty of snot. Nothing fancy, GM 327 high performance cam & lifters, LT1 high rise dual plane intake, and a nice set of 1.94 valve heads (if I remember right the 2.02's will not clear the cylinder walls). Good luck

Hey thanks for the info Bulky, probably get back to you on that.