I have a 66 Chevy 283 engine in a 64 Vette. Last owner added Edelbrock Performance Plus Cam with Duration 278/ 288, Lift .420/ .442. EdelBrock Performer RPM Cylinder heads - Aluminum, 70cc Chamber, 170cc Intake, roller rockers, MSD 6200 ignition control, Edelbrock Performer dual plane intake manifold, and Edelbrock Performer Carb @ 600cfm. I have adjusted the timing several times between 6-10 degrees advance. The thing runs fine but has no punch on the low end. I am pretty sure the static compression is below 8:1 which is obviously a problem.

 I am trying to go cheap (i.e. no motor replacement)  and determine the best new/used heads for the 283....

I also probably need a cam change.

It also has posi and the original M20 4 speed. Any comments on how I get more out of the low end?

This is too well built for only 283 inches and no compression. The compression with this cam needs to be around 10 to 1. The heads are way to big both in port and chamber size for this engine. Frankly you can do a messing around with trying to groom these parts to the little 283 and probably never end up being happy with neither the result nor the cost for the lack of result. Probably the least expensive most effective solution would be to put in a 350 short block. A new or GM garranteed rebuild can be had for a well less than a grand, that plus a gasket set will make you pretty damn happy.

Bogie

just slam some 4.88:1's in that rear and you wont care if you have bottom end grunt or not! just messin with you,if bogies ideas doesnt get you headed in the right direction i'll jump back in with a few of my own. i also have a low compression mouse in an early vette. good luck.  

IM a big fan of the smaller cube engines...but one thing you gotta to make em preform is to work em hard.

Please stick with the ole' girl(283).

They have a small bore and even smaller stroke but theyll perform well in the upper rpm ranges.

Those heads have 2.02/1.50" valves and 170cc intake runners....not bad for a 350 but pretty big for the 283.

My best plan would be to mill the heads to a 64cc or even to a 60cc chamber, slap on a thin copper head gasket and then spin the motor hard...aiding this would be a set of steeper rear gears like 4.10's or even 4.56's

With the heads milled this much you might need to mill the intake too to keep the ports even.

Cruise that dude to 6500rpm like it was its job...might help a little more than some will say.

Way back in the day they used to campaign the 283 as a pretty bad-@$$ little motor in the gassers and such.

They had high compression, radical cams, open headers,four speeds, and steep gears(ie. 5.13)....but they where in stuff like belairs and 210 post cars.

The vette weighs less so not a whole lot more low end grunt should be needed.

It'll just be harder to build good port velocity ...your 170cc ports eclipse the doulbe hump heads in stock form by about 20cc.

May not have the most punch...but what they lack in power they make up for in heart and effort.
Run what ya brung.
If you got it...use it.

Good luck and God bless
-Shred

Then again a self respecting 283 will take an overbore to 4 inches. Stick in a 350 crank and he's got a numbers matching 350 powered 'vette. Awe-shucks!

Bogie