Cablemill, this question is best answered in the Driveline Forum so I will move it for you.
....but, I do know that the rear ratio could be a 3.90 (most likely) but I got lucky on a 59 and got a 3.38 gear. There is a way to rotate the tire one revolution while counting the revolutions of the driveshaft and divide.
....what tranny you planning with the 283? that would also help to know. A 700R4, for example, is a good one with overdrive. Just a tat bit more info and the guys can give you more insight than I can.
Post a picture when you can. I've always like the Apache's.
