Need V8 engine advice.., what would you do? Options

[DougC]

OK guys, I have a (supposedly) rebuilt old 283 SBC in my garage, no documentation etc. has an Edlebrock intake and carb, oilpan is bent, no headers. I'm not sure what to do..I'd like to get something a little less obsolete, I'd really like to build a 302 maybe I should get a 4 bolt 350 block, add flattop pistons, 3" crank (to make a 302) , dbl roller chain, aluminum heads, etc.. Maybe I should buy one of the 350s you find on ebay being sold by engine rebuilt companies and are around $2000 or so, claiming 330hp or so (they usually have a warranty). Trouble is I have to watch how much I can spend because, well the conversion parts are gonna be expensive as you know. Which is why I got the 283 in the first place. BTW, I'll be using stock tranny. All Suggestion and opinions are welcome..

Doug C

[propricer]

You didn't say how much HP you wanted or what your budget was but ...

If you're going to stay with the stock 901 which, by the way, is a good idea, I would suggest you build the 283 as necessary to redline at 6500 rpm. This will be the cheapest horsepower you can get and will be the best match for the gearbox.

If you are going to use it for much highway stuff, suggest you go with an H type gear in 5th.

The 283 was and still is a great engine and the stock 901 is wildly underrated.

Good luck ...

[dlee1967]

Doug, I would get your conversion pieces and start the engine on your shop floor. Just be sure to start it with the engine bar mounted, or you will tip it over on your first blip of the throttle. Check hot oil pressure, take a compression reading when hot and do a leak down test. You can have you radiator mounted in the car and just run your coolant lines to the side of the car and to your engine. If it is good then put it in and drive. Save your money for your monster motor while enjoying your driver. If it is bad, you have saved the hassle of cleaning, painting, prepping it to go into your car. David Lee

[skline]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) I built a 283 for mine and I am not sorry at all. The 283 and 302 use the shorter stroke and are better for the stock transmission. It may be an old engine, but the parts are still very available anywhere you go. The heads, manifolds, waterpumps, etc, are all interchangeable with the 283. You could easily get 300+ HP out of a 283.

[Root_Werks]

Is a 327 just a 350 with a 305 crank? Would a 327 also be a good match for a 901? I am thinking as long as the engine could turn 6500rpm, then the stock gears would be fine. Maybe just use the H 5th or something?

[Joe Bob]

283 with a 30 over in mine....

[DougC]

Budget is tight, HP..as much as possible but I want it to an everyday driver too.

Couple of questions on keeping the 283 scenario:
1). What would be the best bang for the buck upgrades to it ($1000 to spend)?
2). Which cam [specifics if possible] for highest redline and torque in the upper curve?
3). It'll need better than stock valve springs, right?
4). A/C setup.. gotta have it, any reason it couldn't be done on an old 283 (mounting points etc)?
5). Could the 283 be opened up to a 4" bore, to build a 302? and still be a daily car?

Doug C

[skline]

Budget is tight, HP..as much as possible but I want it to an everyday driver too.

Couple of questions on keeping the 283 scenario:
1). What would be the best bang for the buck upgrades to it ($1000 to spend)?
2). Which cam [specifics if possible] for highest redline and torque in the upper curve?
3). It'll need better than stock valve springs, right?
4). A/C setup.. gotta have it, any reason it couldn't be done on an old 283 (mounting points etc)?
5). Could the 283 be opened up to a 4" bore, to build a 302? and still be a daily car?

Doug C

#1 Aluminum heads
#2 Get the one that Rod Simpson sells, not sure on the specifics
#3 Stock on the Amuminum heads will work just fine
#4 Everything will bolt right up as the accessory holes are the same
#5 You would be pushing it to bore it to 4" just run the engine as it is.

I am running a 283 bored .30 over, 55cc heads with dome 11.1 pistons. It revs like a motorcycle. Nice and quick, very responsive. Ask anyone who has heard it run. Have not put it on the dyno yet but extimates are over 300HP.

[DougC]

Hey Scott, out of curiosity what pistons and connecting rods are you running? Is your gas mileage as good as it's supposed to be with that cam? Does it come with lifters or do I need to source my own? Thanks for the info.

Doug C

[GWN7]

You can build a 302 by boring the 283 to the 327 bore (4") if I remember. Which is what I am doing when I get the 283 I found this last week. Or you can go with the ZZ4 crate engine. 355 hp for $3,700 and just add a carb

[BIGKAT_83]

Doug I'm with dlee on this one I'd start the 283 on the floor and go from there. I would use it until I got the money to build or buy a better engine.
Get it in the car and start driving it. That should give you a feel for what you need or want.

Bob (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[neo914-6]

Doug,
Don't forget to budget your headers, mufflers, some tubing. That will cost at least a few hundred dollars. The little stuff will drain your wallet too: gaskets, fluids, sealants, plugs, hoses, hose clamps, coolant fill tank, tsat, plug wires, distributor, bolts, throttle cable. And this is above the conversion kit costs. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)
Felix

[marks914]

I bought running 305 ont of a chevy caprice for $300.00 Runs like a champ, still two years later!
Definately buy one that you have heard run, it will make life easier. Junkyards have running 350s still in the cars for 300-500.

305 is a long stroke, torquey with not much rpm, a 283 has some spin, but not too much torque. With my buildup cost was the main driver.
Hope that helps
_ Mark
Oh yeah, just got my car back from Brad Mayeur. He re-geared the tranny and the car is a whole different animal to drive. Its great!

[BIGKAT_83]

Oh yeah, just got my car back from Brad Mayeur. He re-geared the tranny and the car is a whole different animal to drive. Its great!

Mark what was done to the gearing? Are 3/4/5 changed or just 5th.

Bob (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[marks914]

3, 4 and 5th were changed. 1st was locked out. I believe 3rd is a flipped V, 4th is a flipped 3rd and 5th is a flipped H.

_ Mark

[neo914-6]

Oh yeah, just got my car back from Brad Mayeur. He re-geared the tranny and the car is a whole different animal to drive. Its great!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)
Mark,
Is your supercar still budgeted at $5500 considering tall gearing tranny work costs ~$2500+?
Felix

[neo914-6]

I notice some people list metric volunes. I not sure how much the overbore adds but just checked metric equivalents on these sizes:
283 cid = 4.6L
305 cid = 5.0L
327 cid = 5.4L
350 cid = 5.7L
400 cid = 6.6L
427 cid = 7.0L

[BIGKAT_83]

Oh yeah, just got my car back from Brad Mayeur. He re-geared the tranny and the car is a whole different animal to drive. Its great!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)
Mark,
Is your supercar still budgeted at $5500 considering tall gearing tranny work costs ~$2500+?
Felix

Tall gearing dosn't have to cost $2500.


Bob

[neo914-6]

It does if you don't have the hard to find gears, the skills to do it properly, special tools, and time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I like that Mark and Andrew built theirs on a reasonable budget. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Felix

[Brad Roberts]

I'm with the rest of them. Fire the 283 off and leave it alone. Spend the money in the good conversion parts (9inch clutch setup...good radiatior) and go from there.

B