I wouldn't be afraid of the 283 but it depends on your expectations. My 2 ton grain truck has the original drive train, I replaced the cam, lifters, timing chain and gears due to a wiped out lobe. While I had the motor and tranny out I de-sludged the engine, I did not pull the heads, did not change the rear seal. Put her back together with new gaskets of course. It doesn't leak or smoke. I'm happy the way it runs for a 62 year old motor. One other thing about the small blocks, the cam, lifters, timing set I had on hand because I kept them from another build 20+ years ago. It was a 355 and I went with a different cam after about 2000 miles. Just saying this to note the interchangability of small block parts.
