The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 283 in place of 230

Okay my 230 in my 64 is on its last leg. It leaks and burns more oil then gas....slight exaggeration, but probably has been that way for the past 10 years. I have come across a nice little 283 from a 66 belair. I was wondering what it would take to put this 8 in the place of my 6. Would the bellhousing match up? Could I use my existing transmission? What kind of motor mounts do I need and where can I find them (locally?)? Do I need a BIGGER rad.? Do I have to move my transmission anywhere (driveshaft and shifter problems)? Are their any parts that are interchangable between these two engines (starter or alternator)? Do I need any longer cables(carb/choke)? On this 283, what should I look for to make sure it is good(he claims it is rebuilt)? What kind of gas mileage should I expect from this engine? Thanks sooo much!!!! body of knowledge...

Hey Arcticat a 283 is a straight bolt in you can use the same bell housing,flywheel, clutch, it also uses the same frame mounts as your 230.
As far as alternator you probably need the brackets from the 283 but this depends what you will use for exhuast. Same starter works for both. Radiator is another question some of the 230's had a 17 1/2" wide radiator if yours is the 24 3/8" you will be fine. Most 66 283"s had automatic choke.

beautiful choice articat. i love a 283. and as for MPG...it can get up to aroudn 22-24. atleast thats what i've heard from a few nova boards, and my dads old 68 C20. so, i think its a great choice. and 66/step is right...small block and straight 6...just about everything interchanges as far as bolt up. so hey!

.later days.
.desperado.
.sam.

thanks guys!!! thats exactly what I want to hear!! For the rest of you, I'm not turning away from the straight sixes, I still like them, and have a few around . That gas milage would be nice and a big step up. 66/step, so do I need to change any part of my motor mounts, I thought I might need shorter ones because of the wider engine? My rad is roughly 17 1/2, so i'm assuming that I need a bigger one, right? What do I do about auto choke? or what do I have to do? thanks so much.

Take the motor mount off of the metal piece on the six and it bolts right up to the 8 and it will drop back in the same place as the six. the six mounts are a little stronger then the 8's the six has more torque then most small 8's, did my dads 72 from a six to a 8 and used the same mounts and never broke one. I have never broke one with the six that I run that makes over 200 foot pounds of torque and some were around 165 HP at the tires. most 66 came with the bigger rad. if it does have the small 17 1/2 you would need to change it out. is your a auto are a manual trans.
super250six

the top mount on your 230 where it bolts to the block when removed is the same as the block on the 283, when you get your engine get all the accessories you can, exhaust manifolds, intake, carb, it has been awile since I looked at a 66 head but I don't think they accessory holes drilled in them, alternator mounted on front side on exhaust manifold on drivers side. choke works off spring on intake next to carb should come with engine, I don't remember if the throttle rod is the same length but would be easy to fab if it is longer, radiator saddle may be different for the larger radiator you might want to check how wide the opening is in yours or if it can be enlarged for bigger radiator.

thanks!!! mine is a manual trans. I will have to change my rad some how then. sounds like a relatively easy swap compared to some. thanks I am going to look at this engine tomorrow night. thanks

another thought, does anybody have any specs on a 283, torque, hp, all shorts of stuff...thanks

here a site http://www.carnut.com/specs/gen/chv60.html

thanks

Does all the above data also work for the 1968 C-20 250 I-6 to V-6 conversion???
Thanks, Garry K

about the rad thing. i measuerd the rad of my 60 and it is roughly 22 inches wide, would that do the trick? The engine that I looked at was sold the next day so I wasn't able to get it but I have found another one so we will see how that goes. Could someone please clarify the motor mount situation again? I was looking at it more closely the other night but didnt really understand it, or once I get a small block will I see? thanks so much!!