Any of you chevy guys have the 283 in their wagon? I got a sweet deal on a running 283 from an impala (64-67) and I was thinking of rebuilding it for economy and as a replacement for when the 305 dies in my caprice wagon. The only reason I ask is because of the weight of the car (4k lbs), not to doubt the 283 as a good power motor, but will there be enough torque to move/accelerate a beastly heavy car like mine. I know for good torque i could just get a 350 or make a 383, but i lucked inot this 283 for 50 bucks and the only thing it doesnt have is a carb. its a 2 barrel intake which i would keep for fuel economy. just wondering really if anyone else has a 283 in their heavy wagon and if they are pleased with them. I am not looking to go fast, just as long as I dont build a motor that is too small for my application. thanks yall!
I've had a couple 283's, great motors. My dad is a big time Chevy guy and has been since the 60's. To this day, his favorite motor is the 283, efficient, and a ton of torque. They also run forever if you maintain them, just like any other small block. It'd be my first pic for a vintage GM.
When I was a kid, we had a 283 (2 barrel I'm sure..) in our '65 Nova wagon. Just by my seat-of-the-pants evaluation as I never drove it myself, I would say that in that application it had adequate power. I would think that in your Caprice you would at least wan a 4-barrel on it. Personally, I would go for a later-model 350.....more torque.
A lot of people poo-poo the 305, but it's actually an excellent engine. If it were my car and i was looking for good economy I'd stick with the 305. I'm assuming you have the Quadrajet four barrel carb on yours. One thing to consider on the 283 is they stopped making them in '67, if it has its original heads it won't have accessory mount holes for your alternator and possibly power steering and A/C brackets. You might also have to change out the water pump to a tall version since it probably has the short style. Also I believe all 283's run a much smaller crankshaft damper than what is on your 305 so accessory belt alignment could be an issue. You'll also need an oil filter adapter to run the screw on style filter since the 283 ran the old cartridge style filter which aren't as easy to find or as effective as the modern style. Not to say you can't sort all of these issues out, but it's not as simple a swap as you might imagine. You can get decent power/economy from the 305 depending on how mild/crazy you want to get.
305 and 350 have the same crank stroke, so interchanging them will gain you no power difference, but you will gain a bad vibration because of the counter weight of the 305 is heavier due to the heavier rotating mass of the 350's pistons over the 305's. To build a 383 or stroked 350, you need a 350 block, a 400 crank that is turned down .200" to fit the 350 rods and since the 400 is externally balanced, you will also need a 400 flywheel and harmonic balancer. Possibly some machine work to the block, depending how clean the casting job was done. Just buy a 350, freshen it up and drop it in. You will me tons of $ ahead and the increase in performance and (if you stay out of it) gas mileage will be worth the swap. It will take more fuel through the 305 to move the same car then it will through the 350, due to the increase in torque. If you have a choice, look for a late 60's to early 70's or 80 and newer motor. The mid 70's through the late 70's were so smogged and choked that they make so little power(175hp and under). Just keep in mind to check if there is the mount for the fuel pump to mount on the block if you go for a 88 and newer block(not sure which yea they blocked off the fuel pump boss), newer blocks did not have a mechanical fuel pump on the motor or even the machining required to mount one to work. I found this out when I bought the motor from a '91 pickup to replace the blown up 305 in my '76 Malibu. There was just a blank spot where the fuel pump mounted. So I had to run a electric fuel pump.
I have a 283 64 impala, 300/327 64 impala ss, and a 250/327 64 belair wagon. The big difference is the 300/327 gas guzzler tire burner, 283 and low horse 327 push the cars about the same but the 283 has much better gas mileage. Straight 6cyl and 283 were the standard engine options for all Full Size in 64, all others were ordered. In 64 accessories were bolted on the Ram Horns and the block or intake not in the heads.
I'll just get a 267, the early 80's smog motor. No one uses them, they're thrown away in running condition, dirt cheap if not free (free if I pull it that is), and they take any common SBC upgrades. I'd love to take a 267 and toss it in a '77-'78 Impala wagon, then use the Vortec 5000 (305cid) fuel injection system on it and use truck valve covers and manifolds and all. It would look like a late 90's 350 truck motor, but it would be a 267 with all the fuel economy benefits. I loved the 267 in that '80 Caprice I had in '96. I tried really hard to kill it, but just like the Toyota HiLux on Top Gear, it kept coming back.
Good thing about Chevy is that parts are everywhere, and inexpensive!! Take your time, look around on C/L, and you could have a torquey 350 for under a grand! Look for a Goodwrench motor! Don't forget, those truck motors could make a lot of power on the small side of a Q-Jet, and get almost 20 mpg!
Thanks for all of the posts you guys, I appreciate and enjoy the experience of other chevy owners. I will say again that for my caprice wagon Im not a speed demon and dont need driveshaft twisting-off the line torque, just something to ensure me I can exit onto the freeway without pissing people off! I forgot to mention my other engine project that will be a torque monster, my 500cid cadillac block that I have out of an eldorado! it is my long term project and in about 10 years will be finished, but for right now, I want(and found) a sbc that I can rebuild and have ready in about a week. which is why I picked up the 283, complete less the carb, which mean I just have to replace some seals and rebuild it back up and itll be good to go for my 700r4 tranny! CapriceEstate: its wierd but ive always heard becasue of the short stroke that the 283 was more of a high-rev/peppy motor and not a motor with much torque? KrashKadillak, thanks for the advice Im sure it would cost about the same to rebuild or buy new a 2bbl carb and to buy a cheap used intake manifold and rebuild a craigslist carb. I am all about being different, which is why I would try to go for a 2 barrel, and the same goes with a 350... not to bash 350 people, but everybody has one. KevinVarnes, You have really opened my eyes, even though I am somewhat knowledgable about engine building, I never knew about the shorter damper and other 283 specific details. I learn something new everyday, so I appreciate your input! Blackfoot, I know all about the differences between the 305 and 350, but like I said if I can help it, id stay away from the generic 350 and go for something different! thanks for your advice 73Super, your right, as long as my chevy moves, it doesnt matter what is under it and no matter what I had Id make the best of it.
You will get better mileage with a 4bbl carb then you ever will with a 2bbl. If you want, lock up the secondary's and just run off the primaries. Example, a rochester 2bbl is say 500cfm and a carter 600cfm on the primaries is only 300cfm. You will run less fuel through a 4bbl then with the 2bbl, until you open the secondaries.
Your Caprice 305 has holes in the front of the heads to attach accessories like air conditioner and alternator. The 283 won't have these holes. For what it would cost to rebuild the 283 you could probably buy a new GM 350 crate engine with a warranty. 283s are good engines. I have the original 283 in my '57 Chevy wagon, but I wouldn't put one in a newer car.
My pop and I have both had our share of 283's and they had plenty of torque, at least for us, and were still plenty efficient.
