The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 283 oiling and cooling problem?

I installed a 283 in my 1962 c10 with stock v8 mounts. I have been told that I would have overheating issues along with oiling problems. Is there any truth to these statements, or was this person talking about his own experience with nothing to base it against?

Let me guess: he's 12, he was reading "Street Killer" magazine, wearing short pants and a tin-foil hat?

Close, just want to cover all the bases, got a lot of time and money invested and don't want any suprises.

you will have overheating if the stock setup included a shroud and you don't have one .... you'll have oiling problems if you forget to check and change the oil regularly

Bill

Don't know what the stock setup had, maybe I'll go electric fan instead, unless anyone knows where I can get a shroud?

I have a 350 in my 63 1/2 ton and I run a single 16" electric fan and it keeps it nice and cool. I just bought a dual fan setup cause finally breaking down and putting a/c in it. So you may want to think about that if you plan on cooling the inside in the future. I had a 283 in a dirt track car in a slightly modified class and had no oiling problems. I ran that motor for 2 seasons before I tore it apart. The bearings and journals had a little wear but it was ran hard. I also overheated that thing several times due to the mud on the track so you should be ok.

http://img834.imageshack.us/g/trucks015.jpg/

Thanks for the advice.Did you need to use a larger amp alternator with the electric fan?

The size and efficiency of your radiator will have a lot more to do with the cooling than the type of fan you run. The only problem I can recall with 283 oiling happened back before we learned that worn camshaft bearings can leak a lot of oil before it gets to the rod and main bearings and cause low pressure at hot idle. This was long before the introduction of the Melling high-volume oil pump for small block Chevy engines. If you're not planning to do a full overhaul, at least install a high volume pump when you drop the pan for a cleanup.
Jerry

Maybe he thinks you are running toilet paper for an oil filter/ eg, canister type

IIRC some 283s had a hole in rear camshaft journal to provide oil to the lifters. Later 283s had a groove around the journal to allow constant flow of oil. Also make sure the camshaft bearing in the block is properly lined up with the oil passage. I had a 283 in my 67 Chevelle that took several minutes to get oil flowing out of the pushrods to the rocker arm. I recommend running 5w30 Synthetic oil to get oil pressure quickly to the bearings and top end. A high volume oil pump is recommennded for lighter oil.