1970 350 vs. 1978 350 ???

[dave6672]

I posted this in engine section but thought I may get some more responses here.

I have a 67 C10, original 283 truck, that needs an engine. I have a 1978 350 I can buy or a 1970 350 that I can buy. Both equal condition and miles and both are truck engines. I would have either one of them gone through regardless. Is there any reason to pick one over the other? Any major differences between those years?

[special-K]

If original heads, the '78 will have the crappy lightened up heads that tend to crack or warp easily. Ok, so probably has other heads by now . In '70 the 350 still had some '60s muscle. The power was less by '78

[dave6672]

Thanks Tim, I was kind of thinking the same. Any other thoughts out there?

[too much stuff]

The performance would be more in the 70, but the 78 would be a little more "todays" gas friendly. (hardened seats and such) If going through either one, i would get the 70 and add hardened seats, or a newer set of good heads.

[HalfBrit]

If the '70 needs any head work, you could wake it up with a set of Vortecs.

[factorystock]

Decode the '70, it might be the better 4 bolt higher nickel block.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by factorystock

decode the '70, it might be the better 4 bolt higher nickel block.

x2

[jimijam00]

Why not stay with what you know and have that 283 "gone through"? After all, you are going to have one of those 350s gone through.

As far as which of the 350s, that would depend on how the truck is going to be used.

[Accelo]

If the '70 needs any head work, you could wake it up with a set of Vortecs.
I agree. I would build the 70 block as it may have 4 bolt mains. And if your lucky the higher nickel block. Although they seem to be rare.
The higher nickel block do wear much better than the standard block. A 100,000 mile higher nickel block typically has .004 to .005 cylinder taper where as the standard block may have twice that. But the typical mileage enthusiasts drive their 50 year old trucks it would hardly be of any consequence.
I would also use the Vortec heads. More power, better mileage, and valves and seats designed for unleaded. They do require a matching Vortec intake.
IMHO a rebuild 283 has almost zero resale value. Where as a properly built 350 does.

Considering a modern GM 3.6-liter V6 has 335 horsepower, over double the HP of the 283 I would go with the bigger 350. With some luck it may get close to the HP of the modern V6.

[special-K]

Resale value? The engine or the truck? I guess either way I can't agree. The 283 is rare and desired. I am one who would like to use a 283.

[67 twins]

Originally Posted by special-K

Resale value? The engine or the truck? I guess either way I can't agree. The 283 is rare and desired. I am one who would like to use a 283.

I wouldn't call them rare. Im sure i could get on Marketplace and find a couple for sale. However they are desirable, they are a great little engine. People have gotten it in there head that bigger is always better, but a 283 will still get the job done. As well as the ones in my signature I have three more 283s in the garage for rebuild.
I recently put an engine in my daily driver another 283 sure I could have dropped any small block in there, but I like my 283.

[jocko]

Unless there's a rod hanging out the side of it, I'd absolutely keep the original 283.

[franken]

Call me crazy, but (given the platform) I'd probably go with either 350 block, a longer crank, the Vortec heads and a minimal overbore. Close to 100 cubes of displacement is bound to be noticeable (in response to the 283 comments).

[67 twins]

Originally Posted by franken

Call me crazy, but (given the platform) I'd probably go with either 350 block, a longer crank, the Vortec heads and a minimal overbore. Close to 100 cubes of displacement is bound to be noticeable (in response to the 283 comments).

Oh I'm sure you will, but I don't need 400hp to get the job done. The best part is there are a lot of people that think as you do making it easy for me to pick up 283s cheap.

[special-K]

So many go to ultimate power considerations as if adequate, or far better than, is unacceptable. Of course, we all whine about what gas is costing us too. Bigger ain't better there. The 283 came in this truck and these Chevy trucks are some of the best designed and built vehicles on the planet. Proof is in the pudding. Yeah, there's always "while you're at it you might as well...", but not everyone is after the same results. Some like to keep things as built or do all original restorations.

283s might not be rare but they aren't laying all over the place like 350s are. I'd like to pick up a 283. have wanted one a long time. I haven't gone out and searched real hard, but I also haven't stumbled across one in all that time. 350s are everywhere. Many 350 zombies (no offense, I hope. I also run them) have tossed 283s and 307s due to their bigger/better only consideration mentality. How many times have you read, "It's a waste of time rebuilding one of those"? The fact is, both those "tiny" small blocks are very long lasting motors. Any I have opened up, due to the top end goes first thing, have had beautiful looking bores and journals. They seem to be easier on themselves than 350s, in my experience. And it's not that a 283 can't let'er rip either. Nothing like the sound of a 283 wound tight.

'66 Nova 283 Super Stocker - YouTube

Real Race Cars Have a Clutch??283 Impala (?80s...

And here is a C/10 build using a built for daily driving. Notice the engine builder said it still had the GM bearings in it.

Rebuilding a 283 Small Block for a Daily Driver...

[67 twins]

Originally Posted by special-K

So many go to ultimate power considerations as if adequate, or far better than, is unacceptable. Of course, we all whine about what gas is costing us too. Bigger ain't better there. The 283 came in this truck and these Chevy trucks are some of the best designed and built vehicles on the planet. Proof is in the pudding. Yeah, there's always "while you're at it you might as well...", but not everyone is after the same results. Some like to keep things as built or do all original restorations.

283s might not be rare but they aren't laying all over the place like 350s are. I'd like to pick up a 283. have wanted one a long time. I haven't gone out and searched real hard, but I also haven't stumbled across one in all that time. 350s are everywhere. Many 350 zombies (no offense, I hope. I also run them) have tossed 283s and 307s due to their bigger/better only consideration mentality. How many times have you read, "It's a waste of time rebuilding one of those"? The fact is, both those "tiny" small blocks are very long lasting motors. Any I have opened up, due to the top end goes first thing, have had beautiful looking bores and journals. They seem to be easier on themselves than 350s, in my experience. And it's not that a 283 can't let'er rip either. Nothing like the sound of a 283 wound tight.


'66 Nova 283 Super Stocker - YouTube

Real Race Cars Have a Clutch??283 Impala (?80s Flashback & Ride Along) - YouTube

And here is a C/10 build using a built for daily driving. Notice the engine builder said it still had the GM bearings in it.

Rebuilding a 283 Small Block for a Daily Driver C10 - HorsePower S12, E7 - YouTube

I'm sure if you really want one they won't be hard to find. This one I just put in daily driver I did basically stumble across. Talking to one guy at work about my blown up engine situation he turned me on to another guy at work who had pulled one out of a 68 Camaro. Turned out to be a 283 from a 67 truck from the casting number.

[dave6672]

Unfortunately the 283 in the truck is not original to the truck. It decodes as a 65 model from truck and is painted gray. It runs poorly, and although I haven't had the time to diagnose it (I will), my feeling is that it is very tired. Since I don't have the original engine anyway, I figured that I'd pick up a 350 to get a few more cubic inches. I have considered rebuilding the 283 that I have, just not sure yet.

I assume that the 283 will work OK with a 200R or 700R4? It currently has a powerglide, and I tend to get my trucks out and go, so it would be nice to have OD.

[67 twins]

Originally Posted by dave6672

Unfortunately the 283 in the truck is not original to the truck. It decodes as a 65 model from truck and is painted gray. It runs poorly, and although I haven't had the time to diagnose it (I will), my feeling is that it is very tired. Since I don't have the original engine anyway, I figured that I'd pick up a 350 to get a few more cubic inches. I have considered rebuilding the 283 that I have, just not sure yet.

I assume that the 283 will work OK with a 200R or 700R4? It currently has a powerglide, and I tend to get my trucks out and go, so it would be nice to have OD.

Yes it will work with either. Are you opposed to a manual transmission? A 5 speed OD transmission is a great combination with the 283. A T5 makes a good swap, or if you have the bucks for it a new Tremec TKX would be nice.

[dave6672]

I have had Tremec 5 speed in my 57 Chevy for 20 years and love it but want to keep this truck an automatic. Thanks.

[67 twins]

Originally Posted by dave6672

I have had Tremec 5 speed in my 57 Chevy for 20 years and love it but want to keep this truck an automatic. Thanks.

Well either automatic will work for you then.

[cwcarpenter98]

The 65 283 block has thicker cylinder walls than the earlier 283s and are good for boring out to make close to a 302. That would be a pretty fun build. Since it still has the gray paint, that probably means it's an original 65 truck motor that hasn't been rebuilt before

[davischevy]

Buy a short block and buy some aftermarket heads. You can get better flowing aftermarket heads that will use your original intake and valve covers for about the same price as redoing the originals.

[special-K]

We had a member here with a short bed Stepside he swapped a 4.3 V6/700r4 in. He drove it a lot, got 25 mpg I believe. I could be wrong on the mileage, but in threads about fuel economy he won! (IIRC ) It worked out well, anyway. (I'm sure about that)

[dave6672]

Thanks for the responses and ideas.

I just found a nice 350 on FB Marketplace, but as with everything I ask questions about on a Marketplace ad, I get no response from the seller.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by franken

Call me crazy, but (given the platform) I'd probably go with either 350 block, a longer crank, the Vortec heads and a minimal overbore. Close to 100 cubes of displacement is bound to be noticeable (in response to the 283 comments).

Originally Posted by 67 twins

Oh I'm sure you will, but I don't need 400hp to get the job done. The best part is there are a lot of people that think as you do making it easy for me to pick up 283s cheap.

Nostalgia is great but that doesn't mean it makes sense.

We are talking about trucks so the additional crank stroke & cubes of a 350 w/the right choice in heads = more torque. Additional torque is a difference maker when doing truck stuff. There's absolutely nothing wrong w/a 283. If his current engine was in a good state of repair, I wouldn't swap a 350 just to have a 350. But if it's worn & wounded, upsizing to the 350 makes sense here.

He can continue to utilize what's currently there while building the next power-plant. If he's buying an extra sbc to build, building for increased torque makes more sense than the nostalgia of being able to say "It's a 283".