Hot Rods The $75 283

Well this could be fun casting #3756519 maybe 1958? Does not have the triangle for the Power pack heads. Turns free and he gave me the bellhousing and everything else needed to start this right on the ground for free! Just an awesome guy!

 

I see a road draft tube. the non pyramid heads where commonly found on truck engines. Is it a truck bellhousing?

 

it is a truck bellhousing and that's funny because the date stamp basically says two door passenger car? And the truck bellhhousing has an adapter plate to mate to the transmission of a j20 jeep truck? What he pulled this 283 out of.

 

You might be able to sell that adapter plate at:

http://www.ifsja.org/index.html

https://www.fsjnetwork.com/forum/

 

It doesn't matter what it originally came in. its a 185 Hp engine. the powerpack heads adds 10 Hp. Soak the cyls on a 50-50 mix of diesel and ATF. after a week put on a carb and get it firing and crank it up.

 

the oil's drained and the cannister is off were getting it on the stand and yes we already got some crazy stuff and poured it down the plug holes.. It's soaking Edit: Forgot to mention it's not stuck.. Spins over very free and the crank and surrounding were still a bit shiny

 

I would go ahead and pull the oil pan. Its very likely that it has sludge. Those 283,s can be a lot of fun. I have a 283 power pack in my 55. 100,000 mile engine. I pulled the pan and cleaned it. replaced the nylon tooth timing chain with a steel gear link belt chain . adapted a larger carter carb and hedders. Runs like a raped Ape. I just got a set of 456 rear gears. should be even more fun.

 

I got a free, .060 over 283, with the .125 tall dome pistons; it's been balanced, has a factory dampener that's been "degree'd", and an 097 cam/lifters. The heads were the strangest thing however. They had a single hump on one end of the rectangle; not a single hump in the center like the Canadian Power Pack heads have. I asked about them on this site, and on a couple of others, and stumped everyone. The casting numbers did't seem to match the single hump (???). The opposite end of the heads had just the normal rectangle (???). What the ????????. Then, while I was cleaning them up, I "knocked" one of the humps off (???). Someone had carefully made some single hump heads with bondo I guess; now WHY would anyone do that? Anyway, I gave the heads away to a guy who bought some other heads from me, tore the 283 down, and it's sat since. It's inside, not too dirty (needs a tanking and cam bearings/plugs), already cut the small ridge out, and it's free to anyone willing to come get it. A FREE "292". I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

We have the oilpan off it wasn't sludgy and the crank and surrounding was pretty clean.. Still a dull shine. Popped the valve covers and as luck has it there is a broken push rod snapped in half? So ya the intakes coming off but that's tomorrow.

 

PUT IT BACK ON!

 

^^^^^ I remember that all to well.

 

G'day, I have a 283 that has been sitting on a stand in the shop for 20 or so years. It came in an ot truck that it didn't belong in. I have never opened it up to see what is inside but it did run well enough. Weird thing is it has a q-jet intake with an oil fill on it. Only manifold like that I have seen and I have sold over 50 of those intakes to the round track street stock racers.

Also picked up a 350 engine I haven't opened up yet but it looks interesting. The guy I got it from claimed it was a Corvette engine like everyone else selling a 350. I peeked in through the oil fill hole and noticed screw in studs and guide plates. It also has a wide raised portion on the back of the crankshaft. It supposedly was a warranty replacement for a 1977 ot fiberglass car. It is date correct for my 1978 ot fiberglass car so might be an L82.

 

The photo isn't too clear, but it could be 1959 -1962.
If it was a 1958 it would have staggered pattern valve covers.

Yum Yum.
It looks like the "tomato can" is missing. You need that as an oil separator for the Road draft tube OR PCV system [which I recommend]

 

yes I have it packed full of sludge it was just one screw so I popped it out right after pulling the intake.

 

@vetteracer your Q-jet manifold with the oil fill pipe would have been found on a ‘67 327/275 engine, and also on the inaugural 350/295 L48 available in the ‘67 Camaro SS.

 

That valley has the typical sludge found in engines that dont have a PCV. there is manifold heat from the crossover under the carb. So a lot of heating & cooling takes place and makes condensation which causes that sludge. Ive found I can pretty accurately guage the condition of a chevy engine by simply looking at the spark plugs. If they are not crusted with burned oil its worth the gamble to try and run it. Fords sometimes have oil fouled plugs and only need new valve umbrella seals. The Rams horn manifolds you have are decent performance wise. Put on a 4 bbl and rework the dist timing and that little 283 might scream. If you decide to change the heads get a set of 305 with the small chambers . I think its a 601 or 602 casting.

 

That looks like some low buck fun if you don't get carried away with grandsons plans for it.
Re-Ring kits with rings, rod an main bearings and gaskets don't cost much from either Northern Auto Parts or Lopers.

 

To date I only have about a $1000 in the 55 wagon. I bought a re ring over haul kit for less than a $100. rings bearings, main rod & cam. gaskets new oil pump and timing chain. Bought two kits one for a 283 the other for a 327. Already put together the 327 with 57 Power pack heads and a 30-30 cam. I just like the 283 so much I hate to pull it out and install the 327.

 

When were the heat shields introduced? I'm thinking later, past 1963.

 

I have a set of cylinder heads. 3782462 But I was told 202 160 valves in a 283 is a strong no without some kind of work? If I can't drop those heads onto it I'm cleaning it slapping it back together the way I got it and leavin it alone.

 

I think the issue is the valves come close to or might contact the deck due to the small bore.

 

not sure about the pistons contacting the deck? And I must confess I put these 462 heads on my first 283 and it dented the valve reliefs. I filed the dents out and put 305 heads on it.runs fine after all this time. Damage must have been minimal

 

Valves, not pistons.

 

here is the last 283 I put together. I put 462's with big valves and the top of the pistons a hair above each notch was dented terribly. filed out the dents and stuck 305 heads on it. This had A four barral q-jet intake with the oil fill tube.

 

that's better

 

Not sure where you're located...but I have a free set of power pak heads off of a 1964 or 65 Chevelle that was an 85,000 mile runner.

 

Almost lost my cool there.. But like always we have exactly what we need.

 

Very unusual saddle mount you have there. Homemade or store bought? What's the engine in?
I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

The valve that broke the pushrod was stuck stuck went and got me mallet and banged that sucker into submission. Grabbed the starter and ran the negative directly to the starter housing and the positive to the starter lug. Can confirm the starter works great.. And that brings and end to my day. Maybe it'll run tomorrow

 

the swap was done in the 70's not sure if it was home made.