Just a little helpfull insite,The 283 came in two versions, 195 hp. 2 barrel, and the 220 hp, 4 barrel. A pretty stout little engine in the stock configuration.The 4brl carb was a rochester, not a quadrajet. Most of these engines had what was called the power pack cyl heads, look at the front of the heads, look for a small rectangular mark,where the head meets the block. If it has what looks like an pyramid on it that is a power pack head. Good starting point, small valves small combustion chambers higher compression. A little better head would be off an early 327, refered to as fuelie heads/camel hump heads. Look for the rectangal and you will see two humps( like a camel), Many different versions of these heads, 1.94, 202, angle plug and so on. You want the 1.94's, the 202's you'll never need to put that much air through the engine, and not sure but they may make contact with the cylinder bores, bringing about a bigger problem.The 283 had a short stroke which means it will rev high and fast, I found from experience a factory 327/350hp hyd. cam and a quadrajet carb made a nice running stock looking sleeper of a motor. if you want a solid lifter cam(which really isn't worth the hassle if you drive this thing every day)would be a factory cam called a Duntov 30/30 solid lifter cam. nice little rump rump to it but still drivable. Both of these cams cam be bought from the aftermarket cam grinders. The 283 is a good little engine and a lot can be done to it for not a lot of money, think twice before you let someone talk you into spending big bucks to make a high performance engine out of it, it will run out at the top end compared to a 327 or a 350, both which have longer stroke and a 4 inch bore. Remember bore x stroke =HP Sorry to be so long winded, but hope this helps you.
