283 Chevy

[SteveTX]

@Lowrider post in the carburetor section reminded me of the old 283. Man those 283s will run forever. That rod ratio with the small piston just takes forever to wear a bore vs some of the other combinations.

I built one for a friend 30 something years ago all stock but a modern at the time stock replacement Melling cam, headers, a aluminum dual plane intake, and a 600cfm Edelbrock carb. Put a TH350 behind it in a 67 or 68 SWB Chevy. Man that thing was such a smooth running machine. Not a hotrod but man those trucks rode smooth and on the highway it was a nice ride. That engine was smooth running as any Sanger sewing machine.

 

[raidmagic]

Some years ago I bought a 60 Impala for the title and floors for a 60 Biscayne I had at the time. Played with the 283 for a few days and got it running and driving. Pulled it out and put it In a C cab my Dad was building. Threw a single carb tunnel ram I had on it and that thing ran like a sewing machine and was in it when it went to the new owner.

 

[willisonTfosdik]

Memories

I got one for my 12rd birthday in 1970

Had a spun rod bearing & I got a set of pink rods & a fresh steel crank, a set of Jahns pistons too.

I built it all by myself with a 30/30 cam

By 72 I put it in my 1th car, a 63 nova hardtop with a munchy & 3.73’s gears

After a set of mildly ported fuelies & a posi unit, it went 12.80’s & scared the shit out of me. lol

I sold it to a local guy to build a 331 & it was still running around 8 yrs later in a 61 biscayne 2dr. I think he sold it to someone else if I remember right.

Those things were bulletproof if you kept oil in them.

 

[SteveTX]

single carb tunnel ram

Those things were much easier to get years ago. I never owned one but put several on for other folks.

 

[raidmagic]

I guess my memory sucks, we put a dual carb tunnel ram on it. I may still have that single carb one laying around lol

 

[Gasser 57]

I remember back then some of them didn't even come with a crank bolt to hold the balancer on. That would have had me clenching my ass cheeks every time I got on it. Agree though that they were smooth little motors. When I was a little kid my Dad had a buddy who always had Corvettes. While the only one I can say I truly remember was the 67 427/400 roadster I know he also had a 57 with a 283 and 2 4 barrels on a low rise intake. Them was the days.

 

[Lowrider]

I remember back then some of them didn't even come with a crank bolt to hold the balancer on. That would have had me clenching my ass cheeks every time I got on it. Agree though that they were smooth little motors. When I was a little kid my Dad had a buddy who always had Corvettes. While the only one I can say I truly remember was the 67 427/400 roadster I know he also had a 57 with a 283 and 2 4 barrels on a low rise intake. Them was the days.

The one in my Impala is like this, pretty it's original to the car from what I could tell.
Looked all the casting numbers I could and all say 1965.

 

[Lowrider]

I guess my memory sucks, we put a dual carb tunnel ram on it. I may still have that single carb one laying around lol

Is that what they called the "breadbox" intake?

 

[raidmagic]

Is that what they called the "breadbox" intake?

No, those were just square risers, odd looking. Frieburger's new video had one in it.

 

[Gasser 57]

This is the bread box style tunnel ram. While I have no personal experience with them, I have heard they can go BOOM if the conditions are right (wrong?)

By the way, nice and easy to post a pic.