The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop What kind of HP can I expect to get out of a 283?

I was wondering what kind of horsepower can I expect to get out of a 283 V8 in a 58/59 Apache with some work on the engine and some performance parts?

One hp per cubic inch is relatively easy with readily available parts, but you'll have to really bump compression and do some porting. Useability will depend on transmission, rear end, etc. It's not a bad motor with just a little bit of cam and a small 4bbl.

cm

The reason I am asking is I am trying to decide on whether I want to use a 350 or a 258. I would like to stay original but I want an engine that can handle some heavy towing such as a large boat or whatnot. Unfortunately I have no mechanical experience and am trying to learn so that I can make the appropriate decisions. Does any one have any reccomendations on what engine/tranny/rear end combo I should use for a daily driver with the ability to tow efficently?

how much hp you can get depends on how much money you have, as well as what your intentions are for the truck .... the more highly modified the engine is the more time you'll spend keeping it 'just so' instead of just driving it - a 283 blueprinted to the 195hp version can collect lots of traffic tickets without much fuss keeping it running well, and they sound a treat with the right exhaust system

a healthy 283 can do a lot of towing with the stock 3.90 rear, and an OD 3 speed will help on the highway

Bill

Given the choice: mild 350, 700R4, 3.73 or higher rear end.
The 283 could handle it, but the 350 gives you more "headroom".

cm

The 700R4 is automatic correct? I was wondering if there was a manual you would reccomend? I always have loved the feel of doing the shifting myself. Makes me feel more like part of the truck!

yes, the 700R4 is the newish OD automatic - the later version all syncro 3 speed [68+] with OD is nice

Bill

The T-5 from a V-8 Camaro/Firebird would be my first choice for an overdrive stick.

cm

A 283 has one serious drawback for towing, the 3" stroke crankshaft. It just can't develop the serious torque necessary to handle towing loads equal to or more than the weight of the tow vehicle. As long as you keep the towed weight down to 3,000 lb. or so, and use a SM-420 truck type transmission, the engine will handle the load, particularly if you keep the original 3.90 gear ratio rear end. Gas mileage will suck, bigtime! If you go up to a 350 or 400 engine, the longer stroke will give you more low-end torque so you don't have to keep the engine wound tight in the lower gears all the time to get things moving. It would also be possible to use a 3.55 ratio rear end for a little better gas mileage when you're running unloaded. Run a fairly short duration, high lift RV camshaft and some big exhaust pipes. Don't even think about trailer towing with an overdrive 5-speed, unless it's a Clark truck transmission!
Jerry

An overdrive 4 speed tranny should work fine with a 350 shouldn't it?

There is no replacement for displacement. A 366 with a 4 speed would be my choice. Of course a 5 speed with 5th over would be better for economy at highway speed.

FWIW, you can put a little beef in a 350 and still depend on it. I’m running a 350 and a Saginaw 4 speed with a 3.35 rear end. This truck hauls a pretty good load easily and runs about 2800 RPM at 70 MPH.

Engine specs are - 350 bored .030 over, flat top pistons, 64 cc double hump heads (194 intake, 160 ex), full roller rockers, comp 286 magnum cam, holley 650, Edlebrock RPM Air Gap intake.

I built this engine in 2006 and haven’t had one problem since. It starts every time, hot or cold and I’d trust it to drive to Alaska if needed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/Avette4me/My%2058/old%20dogs%20work/Pullingthevette.jpg

Why would some people make the statement that the 283 was the best Chevy motor ever built?

They didn't say so in 1957, when the 265's were outrunning them. The first generation of 283's got the reputation of being slow and unreliable. Once Chevy stopped using one particular design of pistons that shed their skirts faster than a pole dancer, things improved somewhat.

The 283 had a pretty unique combination of displacement and performance that worked out well. Once the growing pains of the size increase from 265 to 283 got sorted out, the 283's set a performance standard that other makes were hard-pressed to match. The supercharged Ford 312's were the only ones that consistently outran them on the drag strip. With the right gear ratio and carburetion, a 283 will run around 8,000 RPM and stay together. When Chevy started increasing the stroke to get 327, and later 350 and 400 cubic inches, a lot of the high-RPM performance went away. The only real issue with 283's is the absolute necessity to turn high RPM to make any noticeable amount of power. A 3" stroke just doesn't make the cut where low-end torque is needed.
Jerry

You do know how to paint a picture.

JDMedic, Hotrod Lincoln is right. Towing requires torque. Here is my experience with small block engines of the same family but different sizes. I have a '71 dodge van that I bought new and use to tow a small travel trailer. It came with a 318 cid small block Mopar engine that I optimized for towing and added a New Process 4-speed Camper Special pickup transmission with gear ratios 4.56, 2.20, 1.31 and 1:1 with a 3.55 rear axle ratio.

When I installed a 360 cid engine with everything the same except the jets in the Thermoquad carb, the longer stroke engine was so much more torquey that the 3.55 gear was unnecessary and I put a 3.21 rear axle under it.

Now there is no measurable change in fuel economy from the 318, there is less gear shifting required, particularly with a head wind or in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming where I go every summer for fishing up to elevations of almost 11,000 feet (Beartooth Pass), and there is less interior noise because of the lower RPM with the numerically lower gear ratio.

I hope this information helps.

Panhead..if you purchase a new engine think hard about the GM 383 truck crate motor. It is made specifically for towing.

Although I like the beef of a 366, I think moneypit probably has the best suggestion. The 383 is probably the simplest, least expensive route to go. It will bolt right in where your 283 was and it gets its extra cubes out of a long stroke which gives it torque.

So you would reccomend a 383 over the 350?

If you want to do towing, the long stroke of the 383 would certainly be boss. And about all you need to change is the carburetor. I think the most disappointing 3/4 ton pickup I ever drove was a 2000 GMC with a 350. It just didn't have it with a trailer. It got rear ended when it was 2 years old, and I haven't had the urge for a 350 since then. My latest pickup is an 09 with a 6 liter. It handles a trailer like what I expect, and a 383 will do the same thing, maybe even better.

I'm with Dave and Crenwelge. 383 stroker for torque for towing. like Jerry said, the short stroke requires high RPM to make hp as the torque isnt there.

since you want it to look original, put the 283 valve covers on the 383.

if you want to use it as a daily driver also, you may want to consider also going simply grabbing a late model salvage yard EFI motor and overdrive for improved drive ability and fuel management.