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

[914GT]

QUOTE (J P Stein @ Apr 16 2005, 12:55 AM)

Personally, I'd buy a crate motor from GM....unless you want another project.

I've been hearing quite a few complaints about GM crate motors. Over on the Chevelle board some folks are having high oil consumption problems and broken rings, or rings not seating. My machine shop has told me they are crap. Since GM moved the manufacturing to Mexico they may have some quality control issues.

[Mueller]

QUOTE (914GT @ Apr 16 2005, 07:43 AM)

QUOTE (J P Stein @ Apr 16 2005, 12:55 AM) Personally, I'd buy a crate motor from GM....unless you want another project. I've been hearing quite a few complaints about GM crate motors. Over on the Chevelle board some folks are having high oil consumption problems and broken rings, or rings not seating. My machine shop has told me they are crap. Since GM moved has the manufacturing to Mexico they may have some quality control issues.

I know of 2 ZZ4 crate motors with blown head gaskets, low mileage motors, not abused.....

[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.

[skline]

Well, I am going out to work on it now. I need to do a few other things besides the linkage. I still have to install the aluminum shrouds to direct the airflow into the radiator from the front spoiler. Then I can take it out and test it. I only have a few hours to work on it and then I have to head down to San Diego.

[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