Chevy 283 swap

Shran · Nov 20, 2008

I am currently considering picking up a '76 Scottsdale 2wd pickup from a buddy of mine. It's got a blown 350 that he killed when he ran it out of oil and an automatic tranny (TH350?? I don't know)

I have a lead on a really cheap 283 out of a '57 Chevy pickup and am wondering if it would bolt up to the tranny in the '76. I seriously know next to nothing about GM stuff other than the 283 and 350 are both small block motors.

It would be really cool if I knew this would work because I can probably pick up the truck and motor for like $150

pillen140 · Nov 20, 2008

a 350 is just a bored out 283. i think it should work... not too sure on the old old stuff like 57>

skippy · Nov 20, 2008

I would vote yes.Ecklers clasic chevy lists the th 350 trans for engines dating back to 1955.

Had a 283 in 1978 that I built and put in a 66 impala,had a 4 speed behind it.It was a strong little motor.

Check the motor mounts,they may on the front as opposed to later middle of block location.

Mutant Pony · Nov 20, 2008

The motor mounts and bell housing are a dirrect bolt. That is about it though. The 350 HEI dizzy will drop in and work fine. The exhaust will bolt up. If the 283 had the original heads none of the accesories will bolt on. You need to look and see if it has 3 starter bolt holes or only the 2 that are straight across. If it has only the 2 that are straight across you will need a different starter, It requires the small diameter flywheel. It will cost you a lot of time and money tracking down the right pieces to make it work.
On the other hand, if the heads have been replaced and they have bolt holes in the ends,it will be a direct swap. You can even buy an adapter to use the 350's screw on oil filter (if it doesn't already have one).

canyoncritter · Nov 20, 2008

Yes it will bolt up. all the pre LS type of chevy bolts up to one anouther.bell housing patterns are all the same.even between the small and big blocks.

hog the cylinders out to 4.00 and you have a "clone" 302.

truck most likly has a th350 or possibly a th400.

only thing that I can think of that will need to be changed is motor mounts, and put the HEI in the 283.

there is along and short water pump also. So the acceserious(Sp?) may take a little swapping around.

283 dampner might be diffrent too than the 350, so swapping the long water pump on to the 283 may be a hassle.....

Shran · Nov 20, 2008

Cool, I will have to check on the starter and the other stuff. The motor I'm looking at comes with a TH350 that the guy says is in good shape, but from past experience I hate throwing in used auto trannys and I know the one in the truck is good.

I really want to do this project. My dad has been using my F150 for a couple years because I was afraid someone would steal stuff out of it if I parked it at my house... but now my questionable neighbors are gone so I want it back. He hasn't taken care of it at all. I am just gonna trade him so he has a truck to haul water with.

chvlfrk · Nov 20, 2008

Fyi:

canyoncritter said:
Yes it will bolt up. all the pre LS type of chevy bolts up to one anouther.bell housing patterns are all the same.even between the small and big blocks

Correct!

canyoncritter said:
Hog the cylinders out to 4.00 and you have a "clone" 302

Not quite: a 283 can be bored out 125 thousands & with a small journal 327 crank will displace 301.somethin cubic inches, which is what the original SBC 302 introduced in the 1967 Z28 Camaro, and 1969 was it's last year.

canyoncritter said:
Truck most likly has a th350 or possibly a th400

Could also be a Powerglide for that matter.......

canyoncritter said:
Only thing that I can think of that will need to be changed is motor mounts, and put the HEI in the 283.

Correct!

canyoncritter said:
There is along and short water pump also. So the accessories may take a little swapping around.

If the heads have the accessory holes, that would make them mid 60's or later heads.

canyoncritter said:
283 dampner might be diffrent too than the 350, so swapping the long water pump on to the 283 may be a hassle.....

Yes, 283 harmonic balancer is smaller than a 350, but all you will have to do is use a 350 pulley.

GOOD LUCK!

Mutant Pony · Nov 20, 2008

Hey chvlfrk, I thought you were THE chevy guy. A 302 was a 327 with a 283 crank, in '67 it was exactly that. In '68 and '69 they had their own blocks and cranks. A 283 with a 327 crank is a 307.
Chevy didn't make powerglides in '76 and it is a very unlikely swap. Most likley a th350.
th350 pan is square with a dog earred corner. th400 is shaped like the state of texas, streached a little from top to bottom.
I'll give you any help you need as long as it not concerning defiling a Ford.

Shran · Nov 20, 2008

It's gotta be a TH350 or 400 in the truck. I'm sure it's a 3 speed.

Sooo...another question, if the 283 has the old style heads, do the ones from a 350 swap to the new motor? I have heard that they do and that you gain a few horses if you get the right ones. That way I could just use the 350 heads and the accessory brackets would bolt on...right? This is assuming the 350 ones are still good. Even if not, 350 heads are a dime a dozen.

chvlfrk · Nov 21, 2008

Yes!

Mutant Pony said:
Hey chvlfrk, I thought you were THE chevy guy. A 302 was a 327 with a 283 crank, in '67 it was exactly that. In '68 and '69 they had their own blocks and cranks. A 283 with a 327 crank is a 307.

SORRY! Yes you are right, but if you bore the 283 125 thousands & use the stock 283 crank, you will have a 301.

The 327 w/283 crank is the 301.somethin cubes.

THANKS for correctin me, BRAINFART on my part!

Shran said:
It's gotta be a TH350 or 400 in the truck. I'm sure it's a 3 speed.
Sooo...another question, if the 283 has the old style heads, do the ones from a 350 swap to the new motor? I have heard that they do and that you gain a few horses if you get the right ones. That way I could just use the 350 heads and the accessory brackets would bolt on...right? This is assuming the 350 ones are still good. Even if not, 350 heads are a dime a dozen.

YES, 350 heads will work on the 283, ALL SBC's are the same with the exception of the SB 400.

I've got a set of heads that would be EXCELLENT for the lil' motor, 85 up Corvette aluminum heads w/all Comp Cams valve train, SS valves, screw-in studs, guide plates, 58cc cambers, D-shaped exhaust ports, mildly ported..

MORTEC.com info:
10088113...85-up...350..........Aluminum, 58cc, angle plug, raised
"D" port exhaust, 1.94"/1.5" valves

Mutant Pony · Nov 21, 2008

305 (LG4) heads would work best. They have tiny (55cc I think) chambers and smaller valves than the 350 heads. They are very common and usually don't have enough miles on them to be wore out. The big port and valve 350 heads would put the torque rpm to high to be good in a truck. Your stock 350 heads are probably 76cc which would drop the compression way down.
The aluminum 'vette heads would work good if you were putting it in a Vega or maybe an S10. Not for a work truck though.

chvlfrk · Nov 21, 2008

Fyi:

Mutant Pony said:
305 (LG4) heads would work best. They have tiny (55cc I think) chambers and smaller valves than the 350 heads. They are very common and usually don't have enough miles on them to be wore out. The big port and valve 350 heads would put the torque rpm to high to be good in a truck. Your stock 350 heads are probably 76cc which would drop the compression way down.
The aluminum 'vette heads would work good if you were putting it in a Vega or maybe an S10. Not for a work truck though.

============================================
MORTEC.com info:

SBC head casting numbers
376450.....75-81...262/267/305..6 or 7 exhaust bolt holes, 60cc chamber
462614.....77-79...305..........60cc chamber
10065205...87-95...305
10065207...87-95...305
10159551...87-95...305
10159553...87-95...305
12509859...87-94...305
12552520...97-up...305..........Vortec, truck
12558059...97......305..........Vortec, truck, 1.84"/1.5" valves
14010201...82-85...305
14014415...80-85...267/305
14014416...80-86...305..........1.84"/1.5" valves, 58cc chambers
14014440...80......305..........1.84"/1.5" valves
14020555...81......305
14022301...80-86...305
14022601...80-86...267/305......1.72"/1.5" or 1.84"/1.5" valves, 53cc chambers
14022801...80-86...305
14034807...78-86...305
14039121...81-86...305..........Truck
14039122...81-86...305..........Truck
14101081...87-95...305
14102187...87-91...305..........1.84"/1.5" valves
14102193...87-up...305/350......1.94"/1.5" valves

I built a 66 GMC/Chevy HD 1/2 ton back in 1980, put a 300hp/350 out of a 70 Camaro I stripped due to rust, put a granny-low 4spd in it, and it was one heck of a freakin work truck...........
NEVER came across anythin it couldn't pull, corse it did have 4.56 gears in it w/10X15 Super Thing DEEP v-tread tires on it. :icon_surprised:

......

Here's on of the few pics I have of it:

Not the best photo, but it gives ya the idea........

Shran · Nov 21, 2008

You guys are awesome, thanks for all the info so far. I'm going to go have a look at the truck tomorrow and make sure it's still in one piece. It's been a couple years and my buddy's little brothers have a bad habit of breaking windows out of the cars back in the trees. I'll keep you updated on my progress.

Mutant Pony · Nov 22, 2008

chvlfrk said:
============================================
MORTEC.com info:

SBC head casting numbers
376450.....75-81...262/267/305..6 or 7 exhaust bolt holes, 60cc chamber
462614.....77-79...305..........60cc chamber
10065205...87-95...305
10065207...87-95...305
10159551...87-95...305
10159553...87-95...305
12509859...87-94...305
12552520...97-up...305..........Vortec, truck
12558059...97......305..........Vortec, truck, 1.84"/1.5" valves
14010201...82-85...305
14014415...80-85...267/305
14014416...80-86...305..........1.84"/1.5" valves, 58cc chambers
14014440...80......305..........1.84"/1.5" valves
14020555...81......305
14022301...80-86...305
14022601...80-86...267/305......1.72"/1.5" or 1.84"/1.5" valves, 53cc chambers
14022801...80-86...305
14034807...78-86...305
14039121...81-86...305..........Truck
14039122...81-86...305..........Truck
14101081...87-95...305
14102187...87-91...305..........1.84"/1.5" valves
14102193...87-up...305/350......1.94"/1.5" valves

I built a 66 GMC/Chevy HD 1/2 ton back in 1980, put a 300hp/350 out of a 70 Camaro I stripped due to rust, put a granny-low 4spd in it, and it was one heck of a freakin work truck...........
NEVER came across anythin it couldn't pull, corse it did have 4.56 gears in it w/10X15 Super Thing DEEP v-tread tires on it.......

Here's on of the few pics I have of it:

Not the best photo, but it gives ya the idea........

The 4.56 gears put that motor up where it needed to be. At 300hp it was probably 320tQ (rough guess) which would pull like MAD with the gear ratio pulling at the right RPMs.
His engine is a 283 though. The 350 heads would put the rpms MUCH higher. the truck he is putting the engine in probably has 3.08 or 3.5something gears. He needs very low end torque to make the truck useable.
The heads you want are casting #14022601 They are the LG4 heads (305 4 bbl) mostly used in F-bodies.

RustedRanger · Sep 23, 2009

I not sure if I am remembering correctly but the 283 block needs to be sonic checked when the cylinder walls are bored out very far and I believe only the later 283 blocks can be bored to 4.00. Also I believe with a stock bore the bigger valve heads for sbc will hit the cylinder walls on a 283,just like they will on a 305. I think also like mentioned before in this thread that the motor mounts are on the front on the older sbc's and also the balancer is press fit only,no bolt,until 68 I think. My cousin's husband had a killer "301" he built for a 74 Nova he had,it had 4:11 gears. It cracked a cylinder wall and the motor was junk after that. I'd recomend if you did use it to put on a decent set of 305 heads,the junkyards are full of them. For heavy duty use I'd also have the crank snout drilled and tapped for a bolt or the balancer can come off

......not good.

Chevy 283 swap

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