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A 283 or 350 chevy in my project

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 49Chevysled, Jul 7, 2010.

  1. 49Chevysled
    Joined: Apr 29, 2010
    Posts: 66

    49Chevysled
    Member

    I was planning on putting a 350 in my 49 chevy deluxe. I ran into a 283 chevy engine at no cost. I'm not to familiar with the 283 as far as beefing up the engine a bit and parts. Anyone have a 283? Or should just go with the 350?
     
  2. glenn33
    Joined: Sep 11, 2006
    Posts: 1,838

    glenn33
    Member
    from Browns, IL

    The Chevy 283 is a great little motor...That's the one I'd go with.


     
  3. lawman
    Joined: Sep 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,665

    lawman
    Member

    Go with the 350 and you will not be sorry !!! Tom ( Tired Old man)
     
  4. B.coupe
    Joined: Apr 22, 2008
    Posts: 104

    B.coupe
    Member
    from Mile High


  5. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,820

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    is the free 283 a runner? I say if you got to start from scratch build a 350
     
  6. Rebuild parts are cheaper for the same thing for the 350 over the 283 I've found. I had a 283 and sold it and did the 350 I had lying around. Parts were cheaper and since I like power, there's nothing like starting with more cubic inches. If you are heavily into being traditional (regardless of power potential) go with the 283.
     
  7. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    I'm a big 283 fan. The 3 fiddy-3 fiddy phrase has a negative impression for me. To me it means cheap and easy.

    If you decide to use a 283 build the rest of the drive train with it in mind. 283s make horsepower in a higher RPM range than a 350. You might want to use a lower rear end gear. A 49 Chevy is probably lighter than a 57 Chevy but it's not a roadster either. That said, a 283 pulled me around for several years in a 67 Elcamino with no negative effects.
     
  8. uglydog56
    Joined: Apr 8, 2008
    Posts: 331

    uglydog56
    Member

    49's are heavy. Build the 350.
     
  9. Drop in the right-priced 283 while you get a 350 together for it. The 350 has improved crankcase breathing and, for my thinking, better to hop up.

    Bob
     
  10. 49Chevysled
    Joined: Apr 29, 2010
    Posts: 66

    49Chevysled
    Member

    are the motor mounts on the 283 and 350 the same?
    I have a 350 and 400 turbo tranny. What would you recommend for the 283?
     
  11. HEATHEN
    Joined: Nov 22, 2005
    Posts: 8,543

    HEATHEN
    Member
    from SIDNEY, NY

    Any small block from 1958 on should have the same motor mount provisions on the side of the block. No need to use a TH400 behind a street 283--the TH350 will suck up less horsepower.
     
  12. PRIMERDAVE
    Joined: Jun 8, 2005
    Posts: 895

    PRIMERDAVE
    Member

    if your running the TH400 then run the 350....that 400 needs about 35 hp to get it going....and yes the mounts on both motors are the same
     
  13. fab32
    Joined: May 14, 2002
    Posts: 13,985

    fab32
    Member Emeritus

    Go with the 350T when using a small block. They are lighter than a t400, take less hp to operate and will last forever behind a 283

    Frank
     
  14. Arthur1958
    Joined: Jun 29, 2009
    Posts: 230

    Arthur1958
    Member

    The 283 SBC is one of my favorite engines. I currently have three of them. In good shape, it has plenty of power for your 49 Chevy … it was stock in later Chevys that were much heavier. In fact, some 283s had much more power than some 350s in stock configuration. The 350’s only absolute advantage is its four-bolt main journals, versus the 283’s two-bolt mains. But even that advantage might be more theoretical than real: two-bolt SBC are not prone to main failure. For street use, it probably makes no difference at all; for drag racing it might, and I’m sure some serious drag racers here can tell you more about that.
     
  15. 36tbird
    Joined: Feb 1, 2005
    Posts: 1,142

    36tbird
    Member

    Do not use the 283! It will only give you problems. Give me your address in Spring and I will be over to get it out of your way and remove any temptation to using it.

    By the way, had a 400 behind a 283 in a '36 sedan and would get 21 mpg with that car. But again, do not use the 283!
     
  16. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,628

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

  17. Kind of like dating a blond and a brunette at the same time. Gets awkward if you try to use them both at the same time, but you can use both of them!
    ...both are great engines.
     
  18. Skankin' Rat Fink
    Joined: Jun 18, 2006
    Posts: 1,495

    Skankin' Rat Fink
    Member
    from NYC

    Use the 283. Even if no one asks, there is pride in just knowing.
     
  19. Slow55
    Joined: Sep 20, 2009
    Posts: 112

    Slow55
    Member

    The 283 is a great little engine I had in my 64 Chevy 1/2 ton 3 in the tree pickup. I got lots of miles out of it.
    With that said, STROKE the 350 to 383 and have a kick ass SBC power plant.
     
  20. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,013

    belair
    Member

    Run the 283, a 2004r or 700 r4 and some steeper gears in the rear (if needed). Can't loose.
     
  21. chopt top kid
    Joined: Oct 13, 2009
    Posts: 959

    chopt top kid
    Member

    Use the 350 and ship the 283 to me. All kidding aside... We once had a .060 over 283ci with a 280 isky, a rochester 4bbl and a 4.88 gear in a '57 chev. The car ran in the mid 13's and we had a lot of fun blowing the doors off unsuspecting big block muscle cars on the street. The bottom line is though... "All else equal, there is no substitute for cubic inches".
     
  22. 56sedandelivery
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 6,695

    56sedandelivery
    Member Emeritus

    You should use the 350 short block, then have a set of Power Pack heads reworked with larger valves, and some bowl/port work, to go on the 350; then TELL everyone it's a 283. Script valve covers, 283 stickers, cast iron square bore intake with oil fill tube, 4 jet Rochester; who's to know? 350 will be cheaper parts wise, you'll have to have heads redone anyway, might as well have a little fun. Butch/56sedandelivery.
     
  23. Ace50coupe
    Joined: Apr 7, 2010
    Posts: 122

    Ace50coupe
    Member
    from Indiana

    To be traditional do a 283 they are good engines. But you wont be able to get the power out of them like you can a 350. Also depending on the year the 283 is you might not be able to stroke it because of the bottom of the cylinder walls.
     
  24. 36tbird
    Joined: Feb 1, 2005
    Posts: 1,142

    36tbird
    Member

    chopt top kid, sorry, but there is an embargo in this state against shipping 283's out of the state. You understand that it ain't me, it's the embargo. OK?
     
  25. Rudebaker
    Joined: Sep 14, 2007
    Posts: 1,598

    Rudebaker
    Member
    from Illinois

    X 2. :cool:
     
  26. poboyross
    Joined: Apr 29, 2009
    Posts: 2,142

    poboyross
    Member
    from West TN

    If a 283 can put up with all the crap that I've put it through as a complete NOOB and still run, it's a winner in my book. My only problem is that you don't have that bolt in the center of the stock harmonic balancer to make it somewhat easy to turn the engine over manually when working on it :p

    I also have a thing for not going the easy route....all the rust that my car had when I bought it is a testament to that ;P
     
  27. mart3406
    Joined: May 31, 2009
    Posts: 3,055

    mart3406
    Member
    from Canada

    -------------
    Ditto on that. A 283, if you have to build it will cost more to
    do than a garden-variety 350. And if you're really hung up on
    having the looks of a 283, other than the front balancer, it's
    pretty easy to disquise a 350 to look like a 283.

    Mart3406
    ===================================================
     
  28. pdq67
    Joined: Feb 12, 2007
    Posts: 787

    pdq67
    Member

    In a '62 Duece, I can build a 283/292/301 that when geared and tired right, that I can go BIG cars w/ big engines hunting!

    But my next junk301 that I have parts for in my bedroom closet, I will shift at 8,000+ rpm just for the fun of it in my '67SS/RS Camaro, M-20, 3.31 posi, like 25.5" tall tired car!!

    I'm looking for a "mild" 301 at I think will be like 410hp up top which is nowhere near like 475hp that somebody posted a dyno slip over at team camaro a while back.

    (Solid cam motor to boot!! NOT solid roller!!)...

    BUT, back to the REAL world, Street Ride, install at least a mild hopped up 350 OR even a 406 and go.

    I have owned and driven a '55 265/P/G, a '57 non PP 283/3-speed, my Mom's '65 Chevelle el-cheapo 195hp/283 3-speed and IT w/ no more than a cheap set of 8.00/14 recap REAL slicks, it supprised more than several big engine cars.

    Beside's my bought new '67 Camaro 350SS/RS car w/ it's stock 350, then 1200 miles later w/ a 350hp/327 cam, next my junk301 and then my hopped up .060" over 409 "W" engine at 11.5 to 1, NASCAR solid cammed along w/ a hogged out 348 trip intake on it! Sucker ran like a SB on drugs!!

    And I've been there, done it all or I wouldn't post back.

    pdq678
     
  29. teddyp
    Joined: May 28, 2006
    Posts: 3,197

    teddyp
    Member

    i had a 283 270 hp in a 57 conv. 4 speed 4:11 open rear ran great 14.01 in 1/4 f/stock 63-66 had a 400 sbc,s in my 50,s coupe around 370 hp as ran good now have a 350 crate 290 hp in coupe 4 speed 3:77 rear uses reg gas fast and cruzes nice quick good on gas WAIT DID YOU SAY THE 283 WAS FREE? IS IT A RUNNING MOTOR? never mind use the 283
     
  30. ShastaStyle
    Joined: Jul 10, 2009
    Posts: 178

    ShastaStyle
    Member
    from Nor-Cal

    My vote would be for the 283!
     

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