The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop High perf 235

I been looking around on the web, and I'm curious about performance parts for inlines. My truck has a 57 235, and I was wondering how much difference it would make to add a 2 or 4 bbl and headers. What kind of difference in horsepower/torque, gas mileage, and highway speed would this make? If this would make significant improvement it would cost considerably less than rebuilding my 283.

Thanks,
GrannyLow

It will help everything but your hiway speed. You need a gear change for that.

On a good 235, with a hotter cam, headers and improved fuel delivery,160 HP is the figure most commonly mentioned.These modification would cost almost a $1000, new parts price, if you did the labor yourself.That makes the 200 hp 283 not so expensive in comparison.

Since I am problaby going to have to rebuild my 283 and put it in my truck eventually, does any body know what you need to do to make a 302 "stroker" out of a 283?

Thanks,
GrannyLow

can ya do that? I thought 302 was 283 stroke 327 bore - think you got a 283 block that'll take 4" bore? hasta be 59-62 w/o badly corroded water jacket

Bill

If you put a small-journal 327 crank in a 283 block with the right pistons and rods, you'll get the 307. Pretty decent motor, but don't know much about their performance.

You have to put a 283 crank in a '62-67 small-journal 327 block to get the famous DZ302.

Ok, I see, It seems I got a little confused around midnight :confused: , But thanks anyway guys.

According to "How to Rebuild You Small Block Chevy" (and my personal experience, I did this once) the earlier 283s could be bored to 4.00 and you'd have a very nice 302. This was the original 5.0 liter race motor used in some late 60s race apps. If you've got a 58 to 62 or so 283, you can bore it. 57s and also post 62s were thinner-walled and don't all take a bore job well.

The 327 is a stroked and bored, 4 x 3.25, motor. A 327 crank yields 305 or 307 or thereabouts, in a 283 bore.

If you can bore to 4, do it, it's cheap enough. Probably needs a bore job anyway. Otherwise I'd run it stock, skip the hassle.

Good luck!
George

I'd stick with the 235 you have and add some goodies...I've been to a few big old car shows, and have seen VERY FEW old trucks or cars with straight-6's, even though that's what they used to have. They all have V-8's (mis)placed in them. I like seeing a nicely redone inliner with a bunch of performance parts, especially since they seem to be pretty scarce. Plus, it's always fun to be different!

Carl

...Oh, and did I mention you will save yourself a TON of time and/or money by sticking with the engine that already fits in your truck without modification of anything? That would play a big part for me.