I agree with the Vortec head solution, but I disagree with the largest diameter pipes available. That's a contradiction.
The Vortec is an excellent designed head with a high swirl chamber and high velocity ports to keep torque up. Put huge headers and exhaust on that and you'll kill your torque. 283's could use a little help with torque.
So I'd stick with no bigger than 2.5" pipes and a header with a reputation for torque, such as a tri-Y header...the only one of which I know of today is Doug Thorley.
And the comment that the 350 is pedestrian???
What in the...???
The 350 is one of the best small block engines ever built. Sturdy, reliable, and very torquey.
It's the 283's bigger brother, actually.
But I agree, I wouldn't pull an original 283 out of it, but I WOULD improve on it!
