LUVTruck.com

Im considering buying a long block 283 from a friend.

fully restored, maybe a total of 30/40 miles on it.

He has it in his 59' Impala but he says that its just gutless and is swaping it for a 350.

Just wanted to ask and get some opinions from other people who have done 283's

Good choice over a 350?

Because if i could get 300HP(Possibly 325?) from it i'd be happy.

_________________

My buddy has had a 65 Chevelle for over 20 years. It came with a 283, he had it built with a big cam and all. It's pretty quick.

If your looking to just be faster, any V 8 in a LUV is going to be impressive. If your looking to drag race and win a lot, you need a built up 383 or something like that.

_________________
OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

When i first built my truck i put in a 283 with a 4 spd. and it was a kick to drive.300 horse is fairly easy to get out of a 283.

My 283 had a Isky 300 dur.and 500 lift was thumpy but was very drivable i also had the light weight flywheel (14 lbs.) and stock rear end.I drove this truck for 2 years before i turned it into the pro streeter it is now witch i don't drive nearly as much.

Just for thought a 283,alum. intake,comp thumper cam,light flywheel,and a T-5 5 spd would be a very fun and quick little package that will get pretty good fuel mileage as well.This could also work with a 700R4.

_________________
1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

Well im not planning on drag or anything. The "Light Weight Utility Vehicle" should have plenty of giddy up for hammering a couple gears.

my dad put a tremek 5 speed in his 79 malibu and has just been having problem after problem with it


he told me that you could get a 4 spd. with an overdrive switch or somthing like that?

it sounded like the way to go.

_________________

283 motor with a performer kit and some nice headers will be a solid motor but thats all up too you dont for get that the impala was a steel boat i had a few of them

A 283 in a daily if the motor is bought reasonbly. Like Ron said any small block in a LUV would be fun, I know I enjoy it. I say buy it, install it, drive it and have a ton of fun with it.

_________________
Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

Unless its free Id go with a 327 or better

_________________
chevyluv@gmail.com Email me if you want
Back in the LUV game
For the love of the LUV!

I think you will be quite satisfied with a built 283! You have already been given the info to make 300HP or more. These are great litle engines and when installed into a 2400 lb. Luv, they just naturally scream! One thing you won't have to worry about right away is changing out the rear end, 283s will run at 4K RPMS all day long without much work!
Same with the later 305s, some people don't have the bucks to go to a built 383, but they end up having just as much fun as the expensive swaps. One word of caution, do not try to use aluminum heads with the 283/305 bore because if you do and use any cam over .500 lift you will probably have valve to block interference!! Although some people have "relieved" (ground out) a small notch in the block right where the 2.02 intake valves would hit.
Another valid point is that the 283s will easily wind to 7K or more! They will out-wind almost any of the other sbcs! A lot of guys back in the old days bored their 283s out to make them a 301 CI and these engines set many, many records back in those days. Oviously I love these little engines so I wish you the best of luck.
scjconv

Remember the 283 was the "large" engine till the 327, and the 348 came out. 283 Corvettes dual four barrel AFB carburetors. I don't know the horse power off my head. The 283 crank and the 4" bore were the famous "302" Chevrolet engines.

If the engine is complete or priced right go for it. I would not worry too much about horse power. It will be fun, give you a chance to work all the bugs out of your setup. Allow you to use the Luv rear end for a while.

Smaller valves and small intake passages will have faster fuel and air speed, and give you better gas mileage, all things being equal. When we would rebuild a 283, we would usually use the 327, 350 HP ($35)Hydraulic lifter cam with only with a .030 over bore. Most engines back then could not be just re ringed, the blocks were too soft. Most of these were budget rebuilds, so no high compression pistons, just good rebuilds. We liked the factory aluminum intakes too, used. Most of those we rebuilt had AFB carburetors, every now and then a Holley. Nice performing engines. Not up to a "built" 327, but that was not the point.

Just remember don't over cam it, or over carburetor it. You will hate yourself if you do.

_________________
75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

As for my two cents I would go with the 350, there are so many performance kits out there I think you would be money ahead if your just going to rebuild your 283 anyway.

See first post. It is rebuilt with 50 miles.

_________________
75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.