Hey guys, I've been battling mentally with a 283 that's going into my 32 for several years. It was a gift that supposedly was a good low mile runner that just had a cam put in it yada yada yada. I finally started to pull it down a bit to really see what it had. it was spotless inside... cam which was supposedly installed after the last time it ran is used... lifters don't look new either.. so I'm at the very least in the market for a cam/lifters. motor is as follows. 1965 283 +30 flat top cast pistons guessing about 8-8.5:1 compression 64cc camel hump heads crane 1.5:1 roller rockers cam unknown intake will be a c4b with a 500cfm edelbrock carb. mallory yc-310hp distributor. rams horns with 2" dual exhaust I'm looking to just drop in another hydraulic cam so I don't wipe out the cam, trashing all the bearings in the process. what have you used that would work well with the above motor?? I'd love to have a bit of lope at idle, horsepower isn't that important since im running early ford drivetrain a two barrel would break... just a package that would work well. I was thinking something along the lines of a summit cam/lifters?? Cam and Lifters, Hydraulic Flat Tappet, Advertised Duration 278/288, Lift .421/.444, Chevy, Small Block, Kit http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-k1102/overview/make/chevrolet
It probably came stock with the great old -929 hy-cam in it. It was used in almost all of the base engines from the 283 all the way up to the 400 back then. It is 195/202, 112/108, .390"/.410" or thereabouts.. An old generic "Performer" cam at 204/214, 112/107, .420"/.443" is a dandy one-step up cam, imho... pdq67
3wLarry's right spec-on, right out of the box. I've used this grind a few times, after the first application: my bud Richard's '55 F100, 283 with 350 TH trans. I asked my cam supplier (Cal Cams in Hayward) for a good, 'healthy' grind...Richard had an Edelbrock intake with a Carter Comp 500, Power-Pak heads, and headers. Cam guro Chico sent me the 327/300 HP cam and a set of 'anti-pump-up' lifters, so when Richard got everything else done on the truck... he stopped by the shop, said "Get in, take a ride..." I was impressed. Engine had 'snap', very 'sharp' response for a mid-compression ratio engine...(8.75:1) and torque that'd pull your hat off. This became the all around street cam I recommended for 283s, 327s, and even some 350s! (Street roadsters to pickups, a good all around grind) I had a lot of customers that just wanted 'dependability', NOT in depth tuning and periodic valve adjusting...This was the one.
Revkev6, I used that same cam in my 283 with a 4 speed in my truck. It was I think $105 with lifters. I added a set of edelbrock springs for another $50. It idles nice with a small lope. It really woke that thing up. With the stock heads and rams horns with single exhaust, an hei and q-jet it pretty much runs out of steam around 4k. It starts great cold or hot. Love it. Too bad the next day the rings went belly up on me. It's down to 50lbs compression but still chirps the tires.
I have no idea what the cam that's in it is, I was told it was an "RV cam" that he put in it. I don't think it's anything special, and for $103 from summit, I can grab one of their cam/lifter kits so I have a little confidence going in. from the quicky google search, the 327/300hp cam is as follows: .390/.410 , duration at .050 194/204 this looks to be inline with the summit K1101 cam. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-k1101/overview/make/chevrolet I was looking at the 1102 or 1103.. the 1102 is I believe similar to the edelbrock performer??
Please consider that if you are thinking about using the stock -929 cam, then install the Performer cam instead! You will really like it, imho.. And for that matter, if you hunt one up from say Northern Auto Parts like this... Speed-Pro Performance Hydraulic Camshaft Chevy 262-400 1500-4000 RPM Part #: CS1014R Chevy 262-400 cid Hydraulic camshaft, 1500-4000 RPM Range,278 intake/288 exhaust Adv Dur, Duration @.050 204 intake/214 exhaust, Valve lift 420 intake/443 exhaust, Lobe C/L 112. It's almost dirt cheap................ Years ago I was at a swap meet and both one new in a white box for $30, but times have changed.. The guy had a dozen of them piled up.. pdq67
Any mild hydraulic cam will be good. Look at Comp Cams high energy I think the # is 268 and 272. Reher of Reher and Morrison said in an interview that the aftermarket cams are so much better than the factory ones if only because the are built to tighter specs than the factories, million made at a time cams. You say you have "camel hump" heads do you know the valve size? Because if it's 2.02" intake it's not benefitting that 283 out at all. I've seen too many people over cam car too often. Pat
Pat that's really the question isn't it?? at what point is this engine over cammed?? how far will a 500cfm carb let me breath?? I'm guessing 5k is the limit at most?? better performance with the specs given for the motor is the priority, but I do want some lope would the summit K1103 be too much?? Cam Style: Hydraulic flat tappet Basic Operating RPM Range: 1,600-5,200 Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 214 Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 224 Duration at 050 inch Lift: 214 int./224 exh. Advertised Intake Duration: 288 Advertised Exhaust Duration: 298 Advertised Duration: 288 int./298 exh. Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.444 in. Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.466 in. Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.444 int./0.466 exh. Lobe Separation (degrees): 112 or the summit K1102 which is almost the same as the edelbrock performer plus 2102 Cam Style: Hydraulic flat tappet Basic Operating RPM Range: 1,500-4,800 Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 204 Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 214 Duration at 050 inch Lift: 204 int./214 exh. Advertised Intake Duration: 278 Advertised Exhaust Duration: 288 Advertised Duration: 278 int./288 exh. Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.421 in. Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.444 in. Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.421 int./0.444 exh. Lobe Separation (degrees): 112
There is also a 305 marine cam that works good on small motors. I put one in a 327 with 2x4 and a supercharger and it worked great. I do not remember the number or specs.
1102 is a nice cam for the 283. I don't know if I would go up to the 1103, it's a little bigger than what you want
No experience with the Comp 268 cam in a 283, but a 350 I had with one was a real sweet runner on the street. I was going to rec. GM's l79 350/327 cam(151) or Cranes blueprint version but I think you are a little shy on compression as the factory was 11.25-1. Not sure, but the Crane blueprint series may include the 300 hp version, as Larry pointed out it may be the better choice.
That carb is plenty I know NHRA super stock guys running Carter 4GC's that are only 435 CFM and spin there motors to 8 grand, don't be fooled by bigger is better. I couldn't copy and paste the specs but here is the part #; I'm not advocating one brand over another, I've used Isky, Comp Cams, Schnieder, Lunati and Racer Brown and had good luck with all. I would not buy a Jegs or Summit labeled cam all though I do buy stuf from both of these places I buy the name brand. Maybe I'm annal but I also only by "Made in the USA" Comp Cams Part Number: 12-210-2 Grind Number: 268H Pat
There's a couple of different ways to look at it. Myself, with a 283, I wouldn't go for something that's all-in at 4K or so. Those little motors like to buzz a little more than that. Of course if you're content within that range or below, cool. (this is going in a '32 hotrod though, right?). Who can't resist winging up a little small block once in a while?
the l79 seems a bit too much for a low compression 283 IMO as well. the summit K1101 appears to be similar or a clone of the 300hp 327 cam Cam Style: Hydraulic flat tappet Basic Operating RPM Range: Idle-4,500 Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 194 Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 204 Duration at 050 inch Lift: 194 int./204 exh. Advertised Intake Duration: 270 Advertised Exhaust Duration: 278 Advertised Duration: 270 int./278 exh. Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.398 in. Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.421 in. Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.398 int./0.421 exh. Lobe Separation (degrees): 112
that 268h is a bit more than the cams I've been looking at... Basic Operating RPM Range: 1,500-5,500 Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 218 Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 218 Duration at 050 inch Lift: 218 int./218 exh. Advertised Intake Duration: 268 Advertised Exhaust Duration: 268 Advertised Duration: 268 int./268 exh. Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.454 in. Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.454 in. Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.454 int./0.454 exh. Lobe Separation (degrees): 110 Grind Number: CS 268H-10
Is there an echo in here? Best wisdom would be to pick the brand that you relate to best and call their tech. dept. Billy Godbold at Comp. Cams would be one example.
The summit k1101 in my opinion is going to be too mild for your needs. My k1102 could use a tiny bit more lope, and I'm a guy who hates big nasty cams.
I've been running a comp xe262 in a similar small block (307 ci though). Works good and it's not so big- like that summit with 288 duration would be. Figure out what you think you need and then get the model 1 step below it. Resist the urge to Overcam it.
yeah, I've never dealt with any before though... only camshaft I've had any experience with is Autocraft engines... and I highly doubt I can get a full race type 1 VW camshaft would work in my 283
Revkev, I'm running a engle 110 in my vw. But that's besides the point. I chose to go with the summit house brand because I only expected the motor to last me another year. If I was expecting this motor to last me till the end of time, I likely would have bought a name brand cam. Turns out my bottom end wasn't up to the task and the motor quickly finished itselfe off from there.
Keep it closer to a torque type deal. Your rear gear is left out of the loop. What is it? Keep the lift under .450. A wide power band for street-street is ideal.
I agree on carb we ran a 4412 2 barrel on a 350 with an isky 410-410 total on ex and in with 9to1 compression turned 7200 no problem.
I built an almost identical 283 for my wife's 34 pickup with the Performer plus cam (204/214 duration and .420/.442 lift) and I am very happy with the cam choice. With a TH350/stock converter and a 3.5 rear with 7.00 x 16 Firestones it drives great around town and on the highway.
This might be the ticket for your 283 Modern edition of the 300hp GM grind http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=106&sb=2
The 300hp/327 used the old -929 cam!! Now if you want some lope as well as go, consider an old Crane 266/210 Energizer, PN 266 H10, cam. I think it is .440" lift and 110/105.. As for big valve heads on a 283, they came stock with medium valve -461's and the great old -097 Little Duntov solid lifter cam in the (I think?), 290hp/2x4 carb. and FI engines. You can get by with the big valve heads IF you run a lift limited roundy-round type cam because the lower lift won't allow the valves to hit the tops of the cylinders. I think Crower is big in this?? pdq67
Running the same cam in a 307 with 39 ford trans and 3.78 banjo rear behind it. Runs great down the road at 68 - 70 spinning 3k + RPM, has a little lope at idle. I'll be putting a 283 together pretty soon and will be running the Comp Cams 262XE in it too.
hey guys, thanks for the input! I pulled the rockers and heads off last night to see what I had. Looks like at one time it had a big cam in it... I pulled off the crane roller rockers and found that they had all been heavily ground for spring clearance. A couple of the rockers had marks from the pushrods which is what really made me want to pull the heads. I was concerned I would find some carnage inside. pulled everything apart and aside from having a bit of crud inside them, all the cylinder walls were clean but shiny smooth with no cross hatch left. I was told it had 8k miles on the rebuild, pistons were ok etc one nick on the edge. I think I can clean up the rockers enough to reinstall them. Heads have 1.94 valves. the motor already had a thin metal shim head gasket. I will want to be putting one back in. anyone have a recommendation on one?? since I pulled it down this far I think I will be go with something a little better than a summit cam. i'm going to check into some of the other brands suggested and see what I like. I'm going to go replace the springs too while I'm at it since I have no idea what they are and they were apparently used with a big cam long ago. it doesn't sound like I will be buying a gasket set since I need the special thin head gasket. anyone have a favorite gasket for oil pan, intake etc?? supplier/PN on the thin head gasket??
Even the 350 horse (L-79) works well. A .030 283 will handle it just fine. I built a .040 283 with power pack heads a couple of years back that I used a lunati cam in. It was billed as an RV cam (what a joke that term is). It is number 06103 high efficiency cam. Mild lope at idle wide ower band. The engine went in a '60 El Camino (not a light car) and with the 700-R motivated well down the road and consistently got 20 MPG on the highway. Anyway I have used all three came mentioned here in 283 and they all work well. if you decide to go solids the Duntov 30/30 will also work well for you.