I've owned two of the earliest 283 engines and both were the power pack setup. Both drank gas and leaked oil...especially in summer months and especially at that oddball oil filter. In town the one from 1957 struggled...it would frequently stumble at intersections and in slow traffic it made you want to stop and go drink a Coke or something. It did have good and steady vacuum and good compression. Once you got on the highway and got it over about 2200 rpm, it was ok. The one from 1957 ran hot no matter what you did and did so at nearly all speeds. The one from 1958 didn't have those problems. Good luck with it. I'd take one if it was given to me, but I don't believe I'd buy another one.
