The 283 experienced some growing pains from 57 through 59 or 60- - - -mostly piston failures due to a poor design in the way an anti-expansion strut was cast into the wrist pin area. The oil pump was also less than adequate, resulting in low enough oil pressure at hot idle once the connecting rod and cam bearings wore a little (7-8 PSI) to make the oil pressure warning light flicker. This happened mostly on automatic transmission vehicles. The crankcase ventilation system was also pretty ineffective. Unless I was building a "100 point" concours car show vehicle, I wouldn't even consider going "all original" on an early 283. In 57 and 58, the older 265 engines were outrunning the 283's like they were roped to a utility pole! I rebuilt my first small block Chevy engine as a high school junior in 1962. I've built roughly a thousand engines of all kinds since then.

That being said, I'll be building an upgraded small block V8 based on the 283 bore and stroke soon, but it will also incorporate more than 50 years' worth of upgrades including cylinder heads for a 305 V8 and custom connecting rods and pistons. Nostalgia has no place in engine building- - - -a basic stock engine is like a blank canvas for the engine building "artiste" to use while he creates his own masterpiece.
Jerry

"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!