The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 283 rebuild

I am building a 283 for my 1-ton, and have a questions about my setup. I am running new TRW 60 over pistons with a set of (601 casting) 305 HO heads, Edelbrock intake and Carb. I'm stuck on what size cam I should put into it. I was originally going to use the factory power pack heads and a Crane #968711 blueprint 300hp Cam but soon found out from the shop my power pack heads were not economically repairable. Now I have the 305 HO heads I'm not sure this would be the best Cam for this setup and looking for a little advice. I am not trying to build a street rod but more of a weekend cruiser. I am using a SM465 4 speed and a 14 bolt rearend 3.73 gears if this helps any.

Check out the Comp Cams 268H cam and the appropriate installation kit- - - -valve springs, retainers, keepers, etc. If you choose to run a double-row timing chain, don't forget to use a thrust button so the cam doesn't "walk" back and forth and cause the ignition timing to fluctuate. I would always braze a big flat washer to the middle of the timing cover (on the outside) to prevent it from "oil canning" from the pressure of the thrust button.
Jerry

Thank you Hotrod, That's a fairly choppy 350 cam isn't it? Would that give me better performance over the 300 Hp 327 cam? Never thought about a thrust button for a Gen 1 small block but I see they do make them. I am using an aluminum Timing chain cover so I will not be able to reinforce it.

There's just a bit of idle lope, without needing to have a much higher than normal idle speed. I've used it successfully on several 350's in the 350-400 HP range on the dyno. It pulls strong from 1800 to about 7k RPM or a little more and starts building noticeable torque and acceleration above 2K. I had that cam in a 305 claimer engine on a 1/2 mile round track and outran some pretty well-built 350's. It will have a bit more of an idle lope in a 283 than with a bigger displacement engine.
Jerry

One more question. With the stock 305HO heads its my understanding they should just be a straight forward bolt on replacement without having to do any major modifications? Is there anything you can think of that might be an area of concern?

If they're the ones with the 58CC combustion chamber volume, they will have the same compression ratio as the 283 "power Pack" heads, which is about 9.5-10:1, I believe. That's premium fuel range, or at least mid-grade. They should bolt on without a problem, but don't use the 305 head gaskets. The gaskets might overlap the cylinders with the 3 7/8" 283 bore. Here's a handy cross reference chart that gives casting numbers and combustion chamber volumes of a bunch of small block heads.

http://www.enginelabs.com/news/quick-ref-small-block-chevy-cylinder-head-casting-numbers/

Jerry
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GM part# 10105117 would be a good choice for a head gasket. It's designed for up to but not exceeding a 4" bore, and the compressed thickness is .028. Available at Summit for $21.50 each. John

John,
Im using the felpro 1003 Performance Head Gasket.