67 283 small block

ive got a 283 small block in my back yard and i was wondering what is the potential for this motor? i traded for the motor because i wanted something to play with at the track when im home but i didnt knowif the motor could compete with the 350's that will be there any info is appreciated  

If you are talking about drag racing, it would be hard to keep up with the torque of a 350 with a little 283 unless you throw in a huge cam with great heads and revv it to 7000-8000 rpm's to take full advantage of upper end hp. Just like 302's in their heyday they can beat the torque of big blocks but revving an engine so high stresses out the bottom end to the extreme. And unless you have a bullet proof bottom end going in it, there is no guarantee the motor is going to last more than one season before it blows up. So, as the saying goes: hp sells cars and torque wins races....at least %80 of the time.  

How does this sound? How would you like a wheel-standing start and a lot of torque? try this! Use the '66 corvette 327 360hp cam (hydraulic), Quadrojet or Holly spread bore carb and here's the trick, a 90 pound flywheel! If you gear it right it will carry the inertial torque all the way down the quarter. Of course, you'll have to run a 4-speed! Any other questions?  

Try this also! You will need the make changes to the suspension as well. Add 2 leaves to the rear springs, get rid of the rubber back there. Replace the 3 inch rubber body mounts up front with steel discs, add front fender braces (like the chevelle or monte carlo), and a posi rear. Use 9 inch street slicks and Lakewood traction bars and enjoy.

The camshaft I told you about is no longer available from GM but several others make a good substitute. Cam duration is 305 degrees @.020 lift,.420 valve lift with standard rockers. This cam is the only one that Duntov made for hydraulics. Idle at 700 is a little lumpy, but at 850 nobody will ever know.

I ran an 11.9 quarter with my 67 Camero SS with the same set-up in 1973 which was half a sec off the national record in G stock. Of course to was a 350!

The flywheel can be had from Chris-craft Marine. You can have a machine shop mount your clutch on it.

Please let me know what you think and wind up doing.  

Get a 350 and do some homework, you will make alot more power for the same money.  

Sorry, I did make a mistake. That 90 lb flywheel should be a 60 lb wheel. Don't let Smokeshow talk you out of it. The best part of rodding is having fun and this car will give you that!  

Right, what part of building a 350 isn't fun?  Perhaps you can explain a bit further about your magic combo to make any car with a 283 and leaf springs wheel stand...  Maybe you will convince me not to install the 350 I just finished into my 64 bel air and use the 283 currently in it.  I've also got a 383 I'm considering using.  Maybe you have the secret to out perform 100 ci with the same budget.  Small engines and ancient cam technology might be where it's at...  

You should track down a 327 block pre-1967, good heads and a cam. You can take the Crank and Rods from that 283, and the Block of a 327 to build a 302ci, just like the Z/28 Camaros had, those engines really scream, putting up decent numbers. Just an idea, and it would be different, everyone has a 350.  

Hey, smokeshow! I'm just sayin' don't put a 283 down. There's lots that can be done with it on a budget. Maybe I should have said LIFT the front end instead of WHEELSTAND? I witnessed a 68 camero with a 283 lift the front 6" and after talking with him, he told me about the flywheel. Could be he was scammin' me but who knows?  

I didn't mean anything personal with my statement, but dollar for dollar a 350 is going to outperform the 283.  Also a heavy flywheel seems counter intuitive as it increases weight to the rotating assembly which would increase parasitic draw.  There may be something to it, I've just never heard of it.  Also the initial question was if the 283 would be able to compete with the 350's.  The answer is really subjective, It could compete with the 350's but given the same budget to build either a 283 or a 350, it is my opinion that he would be better selling the 283 and going with a 350.  It is just my opinion.