283/700r4 combo...anyone running this? anythng to be concerned with?

[knightowl73]

I figured the guys in the 60-66 forums would have better results but for some reason I cant post in the older truck forums so ill try here.

A buddy is giving me a 283 from a 67 impala that runs so i fgure why not, since i wont be towing nothin and it should give good enough gas mileage that i wont have to worry about getting another lil truck to run around in, so id think twice about sellin it.

I do definately like the lumpy cam thats n my truck now, so can you make a 283 lumpy, I mean what cam numbers would I be lookin for? I was thinkin a summit cam

noisy gear drive?

centerbolt 305 heads? I have some already, $110 for a dual-plane intake on ebay and 500 edelbrock should be fine or maybe even just tbi it with tb from v6

would it be powerful enough to run a700r4, im concerned with the th400 taking too much power to run, heard they take a bit more horses to run. also adding a hd trans cooler.

all this and ill be running a 2.73 rear gear with a 295/50-15 rear tire

what do you guys think? it there anythiing im not touching? besides elec fans maybe to free up some horsies, i already have 2 1/4" dual pipes out the back and hooker headers

[flamingbig10]

Over drive trans are worthless with 2:73 I'd say use 3:43s or lower

[USSkoval]

Agreed, you need a steep gear, other wise OD would be useless, especially with a 283... and even worse with a lumpy cam with even less low end. I vote for 3.73

[knightowl73]

rear gear is really no choice, i have 4.10 n it now or 2.73 available outta my parts truck. dont want to run a tall tire, 295/50-15 is just to get me by, staggered centerline 17's are the real goal.
but i do see what your sayng, if i ddnt get a 700r4 right now and just swapped rears with the 400 trans would that be fine to just swap in my 283 a lill later. or would it be better to just keep the 4.10 and get the 700r4. dont wanna be openeiing up every rea-end at the junkyard, want to use what have available.

[Pyrotechnic]

Just keep the 4.10's and get overdrive. Should work pretty well with the 283.

[USSkoval]

Yeah go ahead with the 283/700r4/4.10, I think that would be a nice little combo.

[Stepsideride]

yank that 283 crank out and find a 327 block with the right main bearing journal size and build ya a quick revving GM 302

[knightowl73]

Originally Posted by Stepsideride

yank that 283 crank out and find a 327 block with the right main bearing journal size and build ya a quick revving GM 302

hmmmm....really have to think about that one. would really be nice. so on the highway should have no problems with the 4.10 and 700r4 with 17s? i was planning 275/40 for the rear but if its a prob guess a 275/60 in back still would look mean.

tbi with lumpy cam? i can get that pretty cheap from a bud or is this too much to ask for and just put a edelbrock 600 or somethin on top?

[STOCKISH]

TBI and a lumpy cam isn't going to work without a burnt chip at minimum. Also, good gas mileage and a lumpy cam dont mix. I'm not trying to sound like a jerk or anything, but I have read alot of your posts asking for different opinions on multiple ways to modify your truck for different reasons and I feel you will get the most enjoyment out of your truck and not have to go back 4 or 5 times and re-do things to better suit your next idea if you sit down, decide what it is you are wanting to do with your truck, and get a game plan laid down. Looks like an awesome truck as a starting point and I cant wait to see where it ends up once you're done modifying it. Also, I have to agree with some of the others, your stock 283, 700r4, and either 3.73 or 4.10s would be a nice little combo to ride around on. Good luck and dont forget to post some pics.

[staggerd86c-10]

trucks! on spike put this on their classix project, it aired this passed week... they thought it was a good combo

[knightowl73]

the problem is that i dont have ANY money, so im workin with what i got or can get. eventually want centerlines in 17s on it. always lked that look, and im a ebay and cl feen, just never have the cash to grab what i want.

right now i cant leave the city in the truck. getting on highway is just not an option. so i had planned on selling the truck after a paintjob and interor work to keep paying for my monte carlo project, which ive damn near gave up on for the same financial reasons.

i love these trucks, but i had originally said i couldnt have 2 toys so the truck was gonna have to go, but if i can afford to drive it then i wont have to sell it forr somethng can. BUT its also gotta represent me and what i like, just sucks cus my budget blows, so i come here and weigh my options with you guys.
basically i try to talk myself into believing i can keep this truck when im on here. way too may ideas to play around with.
and no i dont want to keep redoing everything, thats why i couldnt lower it yet, cus i dont have the wheels/tires yet to get the right stance. i wanted to swap rears that i have but i didnt want to put in the 2.73 gear now so i can ride on the highway, but having to put the 4.10 back in to be able to ride after swapping in a 700r4 later. just too much work. even after all that, then i would finally have the 283 ready to swap in.

i expect everything to take me forever to do, im thinking now though. i wouldnt mind better mileage and being able to go more than 50mph. i got a free 283 i could do something with and know what i have instead of tryin to figure out whats wrong with the current 350 so why not use it? sucks i will still have to pay for the 700r4 but i really cant see a way worth my while yet to keep the 400 tranny. snce its my daily tho, one at a time, and keep it driveable (no longer than a weekend down), and dont make it worse using my stupidity.

[STOCKISH]

If the 283 runs good, put it in there with the turbo 400 if it is working good. And leave the 2.73 gears and drive the hell out of it. That combo will be fine as well. Turbo 400 and 2.73 gears will be very clost to the same cruising rpm as a 700r4 and 3.73-4.10s. Hope you keep the truck. Looks cool.

[Pyrotechnic]

What's wrong with your current engine?

[knightowl73]

Originally Posted by 1972SuperCheyenne

If the 283 runs good, put it in there with the turbo 400 if it is working good. And leave the 2.73 gears and drive the hell out of it. That combo will be fine as well. Turbo 400 and 2.73 gears will be very clost to the same cruising rpm as a 700r4 and 3.73-4.10s. Hope you keep the truck. Looks cool.

thats nice to know. i had planned to run the current 350 and 400 trans a while so i could change the rear first. swapping the 283 should be nothing. but to get my accessory bolt holes ill be changng the heads and so intake and new carb will be coming too, but the 283 does run fine, just the no bolt holes in the heads.

and as far as th e350 thats n it now, i dont know exactly whats wrong with it. it tends to almost run hot now, but still have valvetrain clatter i cant rid of, and really know nothing about the motor except its supposed to have a unknown grind erson cam in it and hv oil pump. rather swap it for somethng smaller since i dont tow, and the 283 is free.

thanks for the help, was worried of running the 283/400/2.73 combo at first, but is the cheapest and easiest way so turns out very well. i think the 295/50-15 tire in the back should help too around town with any "ump" i might be lacking. regardless, this is the plan. now i can start mutating my truck to more my style.

[larrystone]

If you went with a RV cam (high lift short duration) you would have the torque to pull the 2.73s with OD on the level and fuel mpg of 25+.

You just need to keep your weight and aerodynamic drag to a minimum. 50 series tires will also help.