Scored a 283!!! a few questions

As a "283 ina Model A" owner, do not use the standard SBC head gasket! The bore on the 283 is too small and you will lose valuable compression with the larger gasket. The Mr. Gasket #720-5780G from Jegs is the one to use. The are sold individually and are a little salty at around $40/each, but they are the correct bore size gasket.

 

Thanks for blowing the dust off this one, and I read ya loud and clear!!! Thanks for the great info.
What's your head/piston/cam/carb combo lowrpmtork?? Nifty lookin coupe BTW.

 

I'd install a pair of 305HO, -601 heads, either .015" or .020" shim headgaskets, a great old -097 Little Duntov solid lifter cam and a Holley 300-36 true high-rise intake with an old 1850, 600 CFM Holley carb.

And right about rams-horns IF they clear the motor mounts/frames? Probably have to install the engine like a Tr-5 to be able to use rams-horns...

Try to hunt up an intake with the old oil fill tube on the front so that you can install no-hole valve covers!

pdq67

 

I am building a 283 right now to go in the fleetline. I had it bored 60 over, have 305 Z28 601 larger valve heads with new guides, etc, and I am running a Sealed Power 327-300HP cam...I had this cam in my old 51 ford shoe with 305. This cam is very smooth, produces a tremendous amount of torque, great light to light acceleration and my gas milage without an overdrive was 25.4 mpg running 70mph....the fleetline will have 700R and 3.42 rear...I have an elderblock manifold with my own personal built quadrajet.

If I want to hear and feel bumpty bump, I crank up my 327-350HP corvette.

 

I have a 283 also for a 1949 chevy truck i am working on. This thread will be very useful to me soon. I already have the early finned cal custom staggered valve covers, still on the lookout for early 283 heads with the stagger. I got an offy 3-2 intake for cheap, still need carbs linkage and fuel log. I plan to get a grant flamethrower distributor. I have my ears open for a 4 speed.


Keep me in mind for parts i need please.

 

Thanks! Yours too. I've actually been giggling a little reading the back and forth from the beginning. I have 461 heads with 1.94 intakes, flattop pistons, a Jegs hyd flat tappet 555-200103 cam (.442"/.465" lift, 272°/282° dur), 1.5 roller rockers, and Edelbrock 1403 500cfm carb. I originally had a 097 cam but didn't want to mess with keeping up with the lash. It has a real nice thump and is pretty snappy right off idle but really screams above 2-3K. My combo really works because I have a 2000 stall (TH350), 4.11 gears (29" tires), and the coupe is really light. I haven't weighed it, but I'm guessing >2000lbs. There are so many variables to consider, but I think with your roadster being so close to my coupe, I think this is apples to apples.

Cheers! Bret

 

FWIW, the old 300hp/327 hy-cam is the -929, 195/202 duration @.050", .390"/.410" lift.

It was used in almost all the low hp V-8 applications all the way from the 283 up to the 400.

A 283 is made for the old -097 little Duntov solid lifter cam! With no more than a set of Z-28, (aka, -142), valve springs and a new set of points, it will go 7,500 rpm easy!

And remember the -097 was also used in the 250hp and 290hp/283's and the 340hp and 360hp/327 engines before the old "30-30" solid lifter cam, (aka, -346), came out in about '64.

pdq67