The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Refurbing a 283

Wanted your thoughts on refreshing the factory 283 ci motor in the truck.
It currently has some mismatched parts and was thinking about returning it to stock. ie, Valve covers,manifold,coil, etc.
Thoughts on this or recommendations? Where to source stuff like this if its a viable option.


Thanks as always

Also appreciate any info on the stock parts as far as brand or manufacturer. Does anyone know what the model/manufacturer of the transmission is being a 3 on the tree.

The factory 3 speed was a Muncie SM-318. There are lots of them around- - - -at last count, I believe I've got 5 or 6. There are very few variations other than the length of the output shaft and some differences in the side cover and shift levers from 1955 to the mid-1960's. There's a 3 speed overdrive version of the same transmission, the SM-319 that was an option on most cars- - - -not sure if it was ever installed in pickups.

The 283 engine was original equipment from 1957 through the early 1970's in cars and trucks, with a very wide variety of options from twin 4 barrel carbs and radical solid lifter camshafts on Corvettes to heavy duty trucks with governors, intended to run wide open throttle hauling heavy loads all day. "Returning it to stock" will depend on your interpretation of what "stock" means. Have fun!
Jerry

Jerry,

Thank you for the great information! Im thinking of returning it back to the way the vehicle was delivered. Unless of course there are some things that logically counteract that. Anyway to tell from casting numbers what transmission it has? I believe it came with a 2 barrel, but not positive.

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

Way back in high school (1973-74) I had a '67 Chevelle Malibu with a 283. As purchased it burned oil and I eventually tore it apart for a rebuild. My neighbor (Don Nikolich) was an automotive machinist and he did all of the machining. He bored it .030 over, ground the crank .010 under and he ordered all new all new TRW parts, cam, lifters etc. He also went through the heads installing new guides and I believe new exhaust valves, springs etc.

With a couple buddies help, we completely re-assembled the short block by ourselves. Before that 283, the only other engine I had ever tore into was a 4 HP Briggs & Stratton from my minibike.

Anyway, it ran great although the chrome moly rings never did seat properly and it still burned oil. I took it apart about year later, honed the cylinder walls and replaced the TRW rings with Perfect Circle rings. That solved the problem.

I later swapped it into a '68 Chevy shortbox stepside and drove it for a few years. I then ran it one summer in a '63 Chevy demolition derby car before eventually installing it into a '63 Chevy shortbox fleetside and driving it for a few more years. Unfortunately, around 1987 I sold the truck with the 283. By then I was married, with a kid on the way and had more important priorities.

A couple years ago I picked up a 283 that supposedly came out of a '66 Chevelle. It's a future project that I may someday install in one of my '59 Apaches.

Not sure about the '59-60 283's but my '67 was a great engine.

I say go for it.

John

The first place to start would be looking at the engine numbers. Chevy production numbers are stamped on the block in front of the passenger side head. These numbers will identify year and engine size.

Once you have the engine ID you can really do your research. A great source for GM engine specs is NastyZ28.com.

Search Lugnutz 283 engine build in the engine forum, he did a tone of research building his 283.

https://www.nastyz28.com/chevy-engine-code-stampings.php

Rovertech If your engine runs OK and you just want to look stock you could do that fairly easily. If the 283 needs more done you'll have to spend more. Could do a crate engine but that would be a 350 run of the mill. A rebuild on your 283 will be kind of tedious but doable,if you can do your own work you''ll always be proud of your job. I fixed my own 235 with a bearing noise I was able to shut up at home with undersize bearings-- proud of it !! Go for it...we'll help !! Have battled em for over 60 years now. On your tranny nothing wrong with it,but you could go to a fully synchronized saginaw used in the later trucks. I think you could still use your column shift,someone will chime in on that change.

Well, looks like it might be a 327ci. The engine code is V1129YK
Kind of bummed that it’s not an original motor, but who knows the story she could tell…. Guessing by a 4bbl Holley, mismatched VCs and an edlebrock intake, someone started some performance work.

YK = 1968 327, 4-barrel, 240 HP. 327"s are good engines.

http://www.1968ss.com/sbcsuffix.asp

A 327 has a 3 1/4" stroke and a 4" bore- - - - -sort of a short stroke version of the 350. Back when they were new, they had the reputation- - - -"It can pass anything on the road but a gas station!" I ran a 327 on 1/4 mile dirt tracks in California for several years back in the mid-1970's, and the deep pocket competitors with the beaned-up 350's had a hard time outrunning the cars I built. You've got a good base to build on, and the longer stroke will give the engine better low end torque that the original equipment 283 that came in the truck.
Jerry

I’ve got a 327 (2 barrel) in my Nomad and I believe it’s the best engine I’ve had. Nice low end torque and good acceleration.Was a daily driver for years. A Super T10 is behind it, so that helps.