The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk i need some help with my 283 please

i got a 283 in my 64 with 3 speed on tree its original as can be im wanting to totally rebuild new everything but i need a combination of parts some say use double hump heads some say 305 heads defantly a 4 bbl and nice cam nothing nasty just enough to possibly squeze out 300 horses ill be using original center dump manifolds with smithys glasspacks x pipe also but as far as what i actually need inside engine im lost as long as it will run on 93 octane im happy you guys help me out and let me know what all you may have or had in the past ..

Hi, I am by no means an expert on power parts for the 283. I'm interested in this as well, since my truck has a 283 and the Rochester 2G and other stock stuff won't cut it forever...

Anyway, there is a pretty good SBC forum over here:

http://www.clubhotrod.com/f28-1.html

Lots of people with knowledge of vintage go-fast parts. There's one guy there who's a real 283 zealot, too.

You are better off getting a set of early 70's power pack 1.94 heads, (rather than the camel humps), that way you get the accessory mounting holes...

I've got an edelbrock intake and 600cfm carb on top.. runs real well... on 87 octane..

If you want to stay with a stock intake, get a spreadbore intake... i've had good luck with them.

I hope this don't up set ya guys.Building that 283 is going to cost some bucks.Say around a grand ++ and no garuntee.Too get 300hp out of a 283,starting with 195hp stock.This is only my thoughts.This is whatI did instead of rebuilding a 305 chevy. I got a crate motor form Jasper.A 350 ci.4 bolt mains.with a RV cam.330 HP.The engine cost $1300. Has a warranty 3 years or 75,000 Mi.which ever comes first.++ labor cost if anything goes wrong to replace the motor.I added headers, 3 1/2" exhuast,750cc carb.Now with these add on I got 350 HP +++.The motor runs like a bear,has 11,000 mi on it now.Stay away from advance auto and auto zone when buying a motor unless you like changing motors about 4 or 5 times till ya get a good one.and You do or pay the labor.Have ya brought rebuilt parts from them??? :confused:
: :o

For the money it will be cheaper to build a 350 that makes 300 horse, and make it look life a 283...

I've got a 283 in my 59 it's got lots of get up and go. The motor has 305 HO ported heads edelbrock intake and cam,block hugger headers,650cfm carb.No problem spinning the tires and does great on gas

If money is the object then go with a crate motor and get a warranty and less sweat equity. If the original 283 is a must, then just run some early power pack heads or rebuild the old heads. Your HP gain is going to really come if you want to spend a lot of money. Keep the carb between 400 and 550 CFM with a RV cam and some good valve springs. Put on a dual port manifold and an HEI ignition. You will get a good low end torque motor that will run for a long time. Don't let some parts house jockey talk you into a bigger carb or a high output oil pump. You will loose the bottom end torque with to big of carb and the stock volume oil pump is just fine. A bolt-on new carb would be the 570 Holley Avenger series. A little big, but it will work.

If you want to build a good HP motor, start with a 350 and spend some money. I wouldn't waste too much money on a 283 if HP is your game. If you stick with the 283, keep it a mild street driver and save your money.

dan-pa,thats a heck of a deal on a 330 horse 350.Most of the guys around here are paying around $2300.and thats with a GM discount.

summits base 350 is like $1400, has 265 horse and a warranty. it is also a genuine goodwrench 350, which makes me feel better, just a thought.
if you want more horse than that i think that it it easier to just buy a crate motor that is what you want. once you factor in the time, money, sweat, blood, time, time, time that it takes to rebuild an old motor it is usually better (in my experience) to just buy a good crate motor. if you are going the origional style way then i would stick to what builder said, a 283 is not a hp monster unless you spend tons of cash, and then you may as well buy a 350 and go to town on it. just my two cents.

You can buy the crate engine for the $1400 but by the time you put the special intake manifold, flexplate/flywheel and harmonic balancer on it, you're talking $2200 for that engine. Most all of the "crate" engines rated at 300 horse and higher are the vortec engines. They require those "special" parts listed above. And don't forget all of the other stuff like the carb, manifolds/headers tune parts, distributor, water pump, etc, etc. To do it right with a crate engine I'll guess you'll have the better part of $3000 invested before it's all said and done,
Scott