283 V8 performance

[Mike Van Veghten]

While this is a very old thread, colt45's thought (the T-200-4R) is a very good one for both the Chevy and the Stude engine.
And if the HEI fit's (the firewall), that's also a good idea.

Mike

[EHarnett]

Hey guys! Thanks for all the info! Since I last posted, the original 283 packed it in, I got a 283 that had low miles on a rebuild that I believe has been bored 30 over, it does have some sort of RV cam, and I put an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, along with an Edelbrock 600, that was about five years ago. Also I have a Dana 44 with 3.31 gears, came from the factory with that, no TT for me. So the car sat for three years while I slowly fixed the drivers floor and body mounts, then this summer I took her to the drags, best run was 16.5, I forget the speed though...I think it was 85 mph...Very slow, even starting in first by shifting manualy, but that 283 pulls hard in the high rpm, it was still pulling at 6500, No idea what heads are on it, probably stock ones. But I was impressed with the old girl, also the first time ever for me drag racing. My boss did 15.6 in his 66 Charger, and my co-worker did 15.7 in his 67 Galaxie Convertable.

[DEEPNHOCK]

Fascinating...
32 positive replies to this thread....
But if it were a 259/289 that was being swapped for a 283, the boobirds would be all over it...

Glad you found a good solution, and you are having fun with your Studebaker!

[sweetolbob]

What he said ^^^^^. Bob

[Treblig]

What he said ^^^^^. Bob

Double DITTO!!

Treblig

[conrad01]

If you have a power glide tranny you will have to put something like a vortec 350 from a 97 car/truck. It would be more fun. If you want to keep the 283 then start with a th200r tranny swap with a 2500 stall, performer intake and a 600cfm carb and duel exhaust.. Then it would be seat of pants fun..

I have a 68 chevelle with a 307 (200)hp stock powerglide and we did a cast intake 4bbl and exhaust. It only woke it up after 35 mph..

[StudeRich]

Studebaker V8's (even '65-'66's) have "REAL" Transmissions, Cast Iron Case Borg Warner, 3 Speed Flight-O-Matics, H.D. Oil Cooled on '65-'66, NO Powerslides!

[conrad01]

I figures with Chevy engine meant Chevy tranny. MY BAD. Then slight cam and 4bbl upgrade will be good.

[Mikado282]

Back in the day the fastest revving street engine I ever saw was a 265 built to 327 365 hp specs except for naturally the bore & stroke. The engine was in a '55 Chevrolet 2dr sedan than had the rear seat area cut out. Think the rear package shelf just 2" behind the front seat. It was named the "Frog" because it just jumped out when street racing. In the 1\8th mile no one could touch it and few in the 1\4. A friend of mine had a '64 Malibu 2dr HT with a 327 365hp and an M21 4 spd. It was a fast car in it's own right(could lift the front wheels off the ground under right conditions)but it could not beat the "Frog". I suppose a 283 built to 327 365hp specs would also be a screamer, although a 350 crate motor like the SP360 Turn-Key would be faster at almost double the amount of money in today's dollars that my friend paid for his 327 365hp in 1970. There are lots of options out there. Speed costs money, it is all a matter of how much you want to spend.

[Dan Timberlake]

[QUOTE=EHarnett;19592]Hey, Ive just been wondering all winter, what would be an easy way to get some extra power out of my Cruiser's 283, its not the greatest for power, but its not bad either, still has the original Rochester 2 barrel, any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Eric

==============

FWIW this is what Chevy said in the 1955 SAE paper happened when they added dual exhaust and 4 bbl carb to a 265.
Basically it maintained and extended the torque curve over 2200 rpm.

Do you routinely rev over 2500 rpm when you drive?

Regardless, optimizing the centrifugal advance curve and timing will likely make a noticeable improvement.

[colt45sa]

Later (461-462 casting, 1.94 int. valve) heads with some pocket porting. A good int. manifold and a good 600 or 650cfm carburetor.
Wake that little sucker right up.
My brother and I did a 292 (bored 283) this way many years ago. great little engine.

Mike

Some years back in a magazint tech article I read where a set of late model Vortec heads and an Iskendarian cam made over 400hp.

[dannyo]

do you know any one that would want to buy a 283 ? i have one in a parts car it turns , has ps, auto i would sell , dannyo

[wittsend]

Nothing wrong with a 283 but for the money the 350 will give you the most bank for the buck - especially as noted with 3.07 gears and 2nd gear start. What you want is torque and the 283 is a shorter stroke, higher revving motor. Most 283 power increases will only come at the sacrifice of low end torque.

If it is any value to you I bought 66,000 mile '85 Corvette long block off Ebay for $171. $23 each got me an Edelbrock Performer Intake and Carb. at Pick Your Part. $24 got me a rebuilt distributor with a Pertronix module from Ebay. The total cost of the swap was right about $250. And as noted the 283 has value. Especially if sold as the McKinnion it should be. Mine sold (complete) for $160. So in the end I spent under $100 and probably added 75-100 HP.

These things don't happen overnight but the hunt is at least half the fun.

BTW, this is an 2008-2009 post that jumped to 2015. Missed that before I replied.

[colt45sa]

Studebaker V8's (even '65-'66's) have "REAL" Transmissions, Cast Iron Case Borg Warner, 3 Speed Flight-O-Matics, H.D. Oil Cooled on '65-'66, NO Powerslides!

If you were running a monster and launching at 5000RPM with a hi-stall speed converter, Powerglides are great! Other than that, 'outta here'!

[colt45sa]

You wanna 'run like stink'? Find a small block 400. drop in a 283 crank (if you can find the saddles), a set of 6" rods and hang on. Revs quick and revs into the ionisphere !
Smokey wrote extensively about 'rod length to stroke ratio' and how seriously it impacts power.