This message is more of an opinion poll to see how you guys feel about this..I'm building a '32 hi boy coupe and I already have a 283 block,crank and rods in the garage. I plan on running a 350 turbo, 9" rearend ( not sure of the gear ratio yet, somewhere between 3:00 to 3:70's) 9:1 compression for pump gas, performer intake, 600cfm carb, hei dist. ( either old style fuelie heads or vortec,that's another subject for another day). Etc, Etc. Now, what would you guys do if it was you, run the 283 or dig up a 350 and build it basically the same?

Rat, i like the 283 myself . I ran one in my coupe for years with 3-2's and a 30 30 duntov solid lifter cam. Wasnt the fastest rod on the block but it really sounded tuff, idling or getting it on. And you can wind the 283 up till your eyes bugg out! Ive seen 8 grand on a regular basis. OF course you have to have some good valve springs to keep em from bouncing at that RPM. I have three 283's and a couple of 327's im saving for future nostalsia projects myself. Even have a rebuilt set of 3 dueces sitting on the shelf. One of the 327's is destined for the v-8 corvair ive been building. I have a worn out '68 283 with a 350 hp 327 cam in it right now and it screams. Go with the 283-you'll love it.
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KEEP THE GREAZY SIDE DOWN! Lobucrod

Hey Rat, definetly go with the 283 and be different. My buddy Rooter built one with a 292 Comp cam Performer RPM manifold, 600 Edlebrock carb, and headers in a 1967 chevy pickup.We blew the doors off many 5.0's ,sorry ford boys.

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT
Bird

Lobucrod and Bird thanks for the response. When I was a kid right out of high school I bought a '66 Vette convertible that had a 327-350 in it and I always liked the way that engine ran. Reliable, plenty of power and it would sit and idle at a red light all day long without loading up and had a nice bump in the idle. Of course it had 11-1 pistons and good gas, but this is the way I would like to build this 283. Because of the gas I thought I would shoot for 9-1 pistons. I'm leaning towards the new vortec heads rather than the old double hump (camel back) heads. What do you guys think? Also, would you use GM's 327-350 horse hydraulic cam or go with an aftermarket? These questions may sound elementary to you guys, but you have to remember that when I sold that Vette back in '79 I got completely out of cars until last winter when I decided to build this hi boy. So now I'm trying to play catch up on all the things that have changed in the last 20 years. Any suggestions on cams, intakes,carbs. heads, etc. etc. would be greatly appreciated. If I could get 250 honest horses out of this 283 that would be plenty. Reliablity means more to me than quarter mile times. You get the picture. I think I've rambled on long enough, thanks.

You'll love the 283, especially in a light car like a highboy. Make sure your cam/manifold/carb/exhaust are compatible. Bigger is NOT better. I like Comp Cams 12-206-2 cam. Super smooth, but real torquey up to 4500 (that's where 99% of your driving is, up to 4500). Edelbrock Performer, 600 carb, and small tube headers or manifolds and away you go.

I've got the 283 crank in an old 327 block for a good solid 302. No, not for sale.

bjb

BJ, ive been looking everywhere for some reasonably priced 302 pistons to do the same. All i can find are the hi compression pistons that are the replacement fot the hi performance 302\'s (which all that GM produced were). Im wanting to build a pump gas version to put in my V-8 corvair. Do you know here i can find some flat top 302 pistons?
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KEEP THE GREAZY SIDE DOWN! Lobucrod