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Spent the evening with my '55.1 and its 283 (1957). As I am still fairly new at all of this it was a sucessful evening for me. It was running a little rough so I did a tune-up, Checked the plugs, New cap, rotor and points (distributor from a 74 pickup, points with condensor attached). Used my dwell meter and got everything set up, then adjusted carb, then timing. I know, a lot of you say go with the Elec. ignition and I probably will someday but for now I am enjoying the tinkering. It also gives me a better idea how these thingamajigs and whatchamacallits work and where to look for problems.

Running smooth.............
Buddy in AK

ditto for me
Maybe for me it's mostly the novelty, but I like the choke and throttle adjustments.
Way to go, buddy.

Husker

Nothing wrong with points or a 283........I would rather have those in combination than a lot of Electronics............, thogh HEI's are preety good.
I still have the special tool (flexible allen tip screwdriver) for adjusting dwell...........a lot easier than a _Ford......... :rolleyes:

Nothing "Screams" better than a "Small Journal" 283...........Do you have the Power-Pak heads on it?

nice to see folks share my love of 283s - nothin beats'em for a driver - easy to get parts, simple, dependable, and lots more power than most new things - have had many over the years - my 58 got a rebuilt one, and I've got a collection of'em for the future

I too think about gettin a pertronix from time to time, but if it ain't broke, why fix it? not hard to deal w/ points

Bill

Yeah, the 283 is a little Jewel! Here at age 45+ I decided to build my first motor. I got the '57 283(2-bbl)from a guy at work, it had been sitting in his garage for 10 years. It was a great fisrt-build project, I'm running my own motor Anyway, I don't see the points as a problem yet either.

Hey gmc248, I don't have the Power Pack Heads on the motor I built, but last fall a guy moving out gave me a bunch of old motor stuff. There is a 283 block and a set of PP heads. What are they? Whats the difference? I looked up the numbers last year and as I recall they are early 60's (maybe '64 Chevelle?). I also scrounged a 4-bbl (cast iron) intake with a Quadrajet. Maybe all that will be my next build.

Buddy in AK

I'm with you Buddy... I remember the good ole days when tune-up was a simple thing. A big advantage with electronics is not having to do it so often. I just bought a "new" in the box dwell tach from the 70's most likely at an auction for $3. Ain't life great!

I'm working on a project ('52 Chevy School Bus,) what kind of mileage do you get out of the 283? Any better than the 350?

By the way... I made a couple of visits to your city; nice town in the summer! Being in the fire suppression business, I don't think I want to live there in the winter though. Are you military by chance?

Good luck with your project!

Jimwill52
I'm Sorta Military by default , I'm not military but Dad was and that is how I got here. That was 30 years ago and I haven't figured out how to leave yet. I just spent my first winter with a garage/shop , I think I can last a few more winters now.
Don't know mileage yet :confused: , I just finally got everything running smooth, tuned-up and on my first tank of gas since. I'll run the calcs. on the next tank or two then post again.

Buddy in AK

I have a simple question that I dont know the answer to. a friend of mine, John, said I should put a 283 in my '55 if I take out the straiht six. So, did a 1955 3/4ton second series chevy pickup ever come out with a 283 in it? or was that just an option later on? Thanks,

- Shane

1957 was the first year for the 283, that is what I got with the front motor mounts. Before that they made the 265 V8. To make life easy, if you change the motor get a later motor with the side motor mounts -OR- I guess you could get the front motor mount brackets off of the front frame of a truck originally made with a V8 (I think they are rivited on).

Actually before, I was planning on putting that 305 sbc thats now in my 73, in the 55. But I decided not too, and that made my Grandpa happy, which is who I got the truck from. I think I will plan on doing a complete resto on it though, and maybe getting a 70's chevy pickup (71/72?) and making that my 4x4 baby. Anyhow, I have brand new front mounts, and rubbers for it, I just never have had the need to use them yet. Maybe someday I will use them. But, if I do put a big motor in an old truck like that with front mounts, I would just get a peice of chain for both sides of the motor and mount it to the frame, that will keep that puppy straped down. Well, thats what my friend did with his anyway, its a 283 out of a corvette.

- Shane