The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 283 Power??

Howdy,
Picked up a 283 out of a 65 Chevy sedan. Want to have it rebuilt. My goal is to put it in my 59 Burb. I'm not into speed, just comfortable pulling/driving. 60MPH. I'm going to pull a 2200 lb 1963 travel trailer. Questions:

-Can I get enough power out of it to effectively take this combo down the road? What would be recommended for the eng rebuild to get me set for this?

-My Burb has the 4 speed granny tran. It that a decent trans for this combo. Should I look at a power glide or something else?

-I'm gonna run an alternator and a/c compressor.

Thanks! Maddog

a 59 truck, pulling a 63 trailer, with the strongest engine that was available back then .... what's to wonder about? get on with it I'd want an overdrive 3 speed, don't see much use for the granny low unless you'll be crawling around farm fields a lot

Bill

That engine / transmission combo will have plenty of power to get you up to speed.
What about stopping it in an emergency though?
The Muncie SM420 trans is plenty tough for downshifting with a load but for safety I'd want a front disc conversion and trailer brakes.

I've got a 59 Burb with a 307 engine, a 4 speed, and a 3.73 ratio rear axle. It towed a heavily-loaded Datsun station wagon full of clothes and household goods all the way from California to Tennessee with no problems, plus the Burb was loaded down so heavily my wife barely had room in the drivers seat for herself. I was driving the big rig- - -a 1970 Cadillac Fleetwood towing an 18-foot 3-axle trailer with over 10,000 pounds on the trailer axles. We looked like the Beverly Hillbillies, headed back east! I also used it to tow a HEAVY Norris 22 foot travel trailer on occasion. No problems! Set the 283 up with a Quadrajet carburetor by using a factory aluminum intake and carb for a 305 engine, a set of ram's horn exhaust manifolds and dual exhausts, and a Comp Cams 260H High Energy cam. It will handle your towing chores without any strain at all.
Jerry