914 V8 Guys or SBC gurus, Need help on a 283 SBC build Options

[nine14cats]

Hi folks,

Working on my 914 V8 dreams...made an offer on a car that will give me the vehicle, have the kit selected, now onto the motor.

I have spoken with several shops concerning the 350 V8. Lots of options to choose from. I also have access to a fellow 914Club members 283 V8. I like the thought of a 3 inch stroke motor.

When calling around local machine shops (SF Bay Area) not as many 283 gurus as I would have thought. The older guys are dead and the younger guys only know 350's.

I would like opinions of what components to use on my motor if I go 283. I want:

1. Reliability
2. A quick rev machine
3. Off the shelf components (as in manifolds, heads, carbs.)

The car will be carbed. Alum heads. I have headers. HEI disty.

It will run a Renegade or Desert Hybrids kit. It will have heat and A/C.

The purpose of this car will be:

1. California Cruisin
2. No Track time
3. No Autocross

For tranny it will run a tall gear 901 fully rebuilt.

I am looking for at least 283HP (1 HP per cube) but torque no greater than 300 ft/lbs to make the tranny last as long as possible.

A revver would be fine with Alumininum heads, roller rockers or cams. I am intriqued by the Rod Simpson camshalfts that use the Miller high static compression ratio.

But I want you folks to chime in with recommended combos including part numbers if possible.

And any good machine shops in the SF bay area that specialize in hot rod SBC's would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your help!

Bill P.

[nine14cats]

The comments about not much around anymore for a 283 is valid. Different cams out there will take the torque out of a 350, and the roller goodies around will make them spin. The 283 is near to our hearts (at least my dad and me) since we built up a 283 when I was in high school and placed it into a '54 chevy pickup for my grand-dad.

I've talked to Rod Simpson and he has a combo of his cam, Alum heads and a few extras that he says will take a 283 to 300+ HP and ~280 ft/lbs torque. It will be great to hear from Scott Kline once he sorts out his linkage to see how he likes this combo.

The 283 I can get is fully rebuilt ground up and completed. But it has a stock cam, heavy duty crank, and stock heads on it. Wiend maniforld and a 4bbl I can't remember. So it will need a cam at the very least and heads.

Since we won't be racing it, we probably would have no problems running a 327 or 350. Hot August Nights cruiser only. (with the occasional romp (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif) )

If I go 327/350, anyone have a good Alum head / camshalft / intake match? Remember, I'm going to run a 901, so not a torquer.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

JP,

The crate motors all put out a ton of torque, so I'll still have to do a cam change with a crate motor, although it's still a very attractive price.

Bill P.