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.

[messix]

thanx JP & Joe
blown head gaskets? did they retorque after first run in?
doesnt everyone nut & bolt after after first fire off?
loosing push rods at high revs usual causes; bad rocker to valve geometry, improper valve lash or preload on hyd. cam [i had a 350 with hyd. cam that could rev to 6500-7000. i think i used rhoads llifters cant remember] and floating valves due to spring rate to valve weight issues.
so yes matched set ups of cam, heads, intake are the way to go. that used to be the realm of engine wizards. now just open a cataloge. beware though, torque is the goal of v8s. if you try to cam out low end torque you get high end power and torque.
bore to stroke ratio and rotational weight along with head port design and intake manafold design will be the rev range determiners.
if the 283 you have a line on is a deal [needs rebuild = free. or low miles 50k or less 500$] it might be the way. if your going to build one find a very good v8 builder/machine shop and research them.
or go with a recycled [junkyard] ls1 motor, it will out last the old sbc. they are very strong stock both in power and component wise. the lower end is bullet prof. up to 500hp. roller cam, great heads. and last of all lots of wreaked trucks and suv's out there now. the 4.8 is less popular to the hot rod guys so that = cheap.
enough for now
Troy