ram09

iTrader: (1)

I dont know about the procharger, if i use twin turbos it will help fill the "massive void" that is my engine bay. The 8-71 blower on the other hand would fit just under the stock hood, but would leave the before mentioned "massive void" I dont think will use a procharger for my 66 chevy, for my GTO that is a different story, but I think im in between a 8-71 or a twin turbo setup. Man i dont know what to do, WHAT ABOUT BOTH? I have seen this on a couple of show car setups,would this work on the street? I will most likely use one or the other but I wonder if it is feasible for the street?

andereck

The "Power Pak" was exactly that. It was an over the Chevy dealer counter package containing cylinder heads and an intake manifold. It was not factory installed. They are some of the smallest runner volume cylinder heads chevrolet produced. Your truck no doubt came with a 283, but the heads were a later installed option.

The 283 is a small journal 2 bolt block 11/32" rod bolt engine. It has its limitations but could be closely compared to a 289/302 ford. Its basic contruction is not something that most would consider appropriate for forced induction. Forged pistons would be tough to come by. ARP does have the bolts for your rods.

A 302 conversion is the logical alternative. You may bore your 283 safely the .125" needed to make the 4" bore. Federal-Mogul has the standard bore 302 pistons that you would use. The crank and rods will work. This was a common mod in the 60's / early 70's. You would then use aftermarket heads for a 4"+ bore with a large enough chamber to utilize the blower, whatever you end up doing.

The 390 carburetor is a poor choice for a blower, the 450 tunnel ram carburetors would be better as they are set up for V-8 use. (not a v-6 or restricted oval track engine) The only big mod would be 50cc pumps on both as they don't use a secondary accellerator pump.

You can still tell everybody you have a 283, 301, 302 or 265 as far as that goes.

You will need to check your crank for a tapped snout as most 283's didn't come with a crank bolt installed.

ram09

iTrader: (1)

I can tell you that the people I got the truck from (original owners son) didnt install those heads, they would have been installed by the dealer. The owners father needed a truck at the time and the only one he found that would work is this half ton, he wanted a 3/4 ton but couldnt find one quick enough, so thats why he bought this one with the power pack.

ram09

iTrader: (1)

So if I go twin turbos does anybody have a suggestion on what type and how big of turbos to get? Dont really know much about the brands of turbos available, which 2 would best be suited to my application?

andereck

You're going to get in way over your head quickly putting twin turbos on the truck. The engine needs to be able to handle forced induction and abuse first. Look for a couple of SVO Mustang or Turbo Coupe Thunderbird turbos. Their engines are 140 cu in, about half of yours.

Camaro Bird 1987

why would you want to go twin turbo when you want the truck to appear "old school". If it were me I would stick with the blower idea. That would give it the power you want and avoid running any time and money intesive mods.

ram09

iTrader: (1)

Well the motor will be built to handle boost, and the occasional abuse that will inccur. I mean occasional as in NOT THAT OFTEN, I have 04 GTO that has 34600 miles on it and its been abused very very little, I plan on keeping this car forever and dont want to rag it out. The truck will be for occasional driving and a trip to the drag strip every now and again. I want some form of forced induction or dual quads, something to make this little 283 different from all the rest. Why not put turbos on this truck it wont be used for pulling, and it would help fill the engine bay, and make the motor more efficient. If I stick with the blower what kinda crank am I going to have to get to bolt it all together? I have heard of small block cranks with big block snouts on them to help the reliablity of the crank with a big blower pulling on the front of the crank. So what exactly do I need

ram09

iTrader: (1)

Nobody has anymore input on this?

hammrman31

i agree with you idea to stick to a small displacement engine. if you are really set on building a hp 283 ,if you look hard enough you will find a block.from what iv'e read custom pistons and cranks can be made at a reasonble price for sb's. when you figure out what you are going to build consult a competent engine builder and go from there. btw the first 2 cars i ever owned were 283's,i love em! yeah im old. still think you should go with a 302. in the late 60's bout the time of your truck, guys arround were grabing 327 blocks,sticking in 283 cranks ,and they ran real strong .good luck with your project! it would be awsome to build a chevy sb from the bottom up!

91Z28

A 327 block and 283 crank would be a 302. It was created for just the reason I mentioned above, it had a good 4" bore for good flowing heads with big valves and a rev happy 3" crank.

hammrman31

yup big time hp at high rpm. ask Roger Penske. great motor!

ram09

iTrader: (1)

302 sounds good, but isnt there 2 different cranks in some 327's. didnt the first ones have small crank journals and the later ones have larger crank journals?

andereck

Are you reading the prior posts? Your 283 may be safely bored .125" to make it a 4" bore. Your 283 and early 327's are small journal. You would have a 302 like they built in 67-early'68. All small journal blocks are 2 bolt.

ram09

iTrader: (1)

Boring Out A 283 Isnt An Option, I Have Been Told By Several Machine Shops That A 283 Wont Accept A 4.00 Inch Bore.

andereck

I doubt you have.

If you really have then go to real machine shop that has someone there over the age of 45 and has been a machinist for 20 years or so.


I'm done here. You should buy a book or two on the SBC to give you ideas.

ram09

iTrader: (1)

No actually I have, and the shops I have been to have been around for awhile, one is 50 years and the other is 30 years, so I trust them. Both men I talked to are in the late 50's and have been doing machine work for there entire careers, and both men have stated that the cylinder walls become to thin when bored out that far. I have found a 327 out of a 65 chevy truck, if it is not seized i will buy it. A 302 sounds like a good option, What type of heads should I run to see the most benefits of a blower? AFR, Edelbrock, World Products, Which one?


Not to **** you off dude, but I have several books on small blocks and all of them talk about building motors 350 ci or bigger. I want a small motor, I really would like to build a 283, but a 302 is the motor most of the guys here have told me to build. This is the reason I posted here to get everyones opinion on what to do and/or how to do it. You dont have to get defensive, I was just letting you know that I am not going to bore out a 283 to 4.00 inch, I just dont believe it would be a safe and reliable combo. Thats my opinion and you might be right it might be safe/reliable to do it, Im just saying I wont do it.

hammrman31

if you have found a 327 that is a good start

ram09

iTrader: (1)

yeah i just dont know what it is worth. All I want is the block but the guy wants to sell the whole thing. How much should I offer?

hammrman31

i may get flamed here, don,t wan't to tick anybody off. iam just quessing that a 283 block should be easy to find. i don't know what the spec's are in 2006, all i know is that in the years that your truck was young for a sb,these where your options. not from the factory,but common for the day. common engine changes.283+30= 302 327 327+30 = 331. and then bb's.

ram09

iTrader: (1)

I just had an idea, what if I could get a hold of a Rochester Fuel Injection intake. You know the ones that were used on early 60's corvettes. The fuelie 283 and 327 motors.