camarogirl18

iTrader: (2)

I have a 70's 283 i want to drop in place of the wore out 3.1L . I was wondering if it will bolt to my 700r4 tranny. Also will a different flexplate be needed to swap.

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

v6 and v8 trans and flexplates are completely different. The 283 is a very weak motor for a v8, why not dump in a 350, they're all over around here for cheap.

camarogirl18

iTrader: (2)

cuz its already sitting in my way in the garage. An way not be alittle different any way.

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

tons of info on here for v6 to v8 swaps, but seems like waste to go through all that work to put in the smallest v8 option basically.

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

That 283 probably makes less power than your worn out 3.1. By the time you pay for a transmission and all of the little parts needed for the swap, a few hundred more for a used 350 really won't seem all that bad.

RSCAMAROGUY91

283's can be built into pretty hot little engines, but at the same time you can spend the same money on a 350, and getting better performance for the same money. Don't get me wrong the 283's were good engines, but the 350 would be a better choice, but that's just my .

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

The 2 ABSOLUTE WORST POSSIBLE reasons for swapping in an inferior motor, right there bundled up in a single post.

Yeah the 283 was an OK motor; up until the 327 came out in 1963. After that, only LOSERS (or people with CID limits like TransAm racers) ran them, because dollar for dollar or part for part, an otherwise identical 327 would SMOKE a 283, EVERY TIME, no questions asked, no other outcome possible, take it to the bank. It's done nothing except get worse since the 350 came out over 40 years ago.

By the time you have spent all the money and done all the work that it will take to swap that other thing in there, and overcome all the lack of fit things you're likely to run into like no bolt holes in the heads, you will have about 75% of the cost of going and buying some other junk motor, RUNNING, from the junkyard such as for a 96-2000 truck, and swapping that in instead; but then, instead of having a nice modern Vortec 350, you'll have some aging obsolete wimpy small-inch motor that hasn't been competitive for almost 50 years now. BUT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WILL BE EMPTY as you watch people who made wiser choices than you drive off and leave you in their dust so it'll be too late to fix your mistake.

Reconsider.

camarogirl18

iTrader: (2)

K I will do my research on swaping motors. I didnt post this ? to start a pi$$ing match about what was a better motor. If i wanted to waste money for another motor i sure wouldn't fool around with a 350. Im sure i could find a 427 laying around taking up space in someone else's garage. The car is currently be used as a daily driver to work of 50 miles one way, so theres no reason for me to get crazy and mount 50lbs of nos in the trunk. Just was wanting to make the car last alittle longer with a motor that is in my way till i can afford to go all out with the car. Thanks for the advice.

RSCAMAROGUY91

Why not try selling the 283 to help finance a 350 for instance, or any other size engine for that matter. I'm sure you could find a home for the engine. Older engines like that seem to be finding homes in some of the rat rods that are being built today. For instance, the guy I bought my Demon carb from put a 283 in his '59 Studabaker rat rod, and it was a pretty neither period piece. The way I look at engine swaps is that you should think long term because what may make you happy today, may not make you happy a year or two down the road. I've always found it better to do things the way you want it the first time, then try to redo it later.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

You'll likely waste EVEN MORE trying to make the one you have now work. That's the whole point... you'll end up spending MORE putting that one in, than what you will spend buying A WHOLE OTHER ONE that's a better fit; and the one you have will give you LESS end results than doing it the other way. This is one of those cases where "free" may well COST MORE than "pay" besides you ending up with LESS at the end. And in my book, pay MORE and get LESS isn't a good deal, no matter how much of it was "free" anywhere along the line.

Start by checking the heads for the bolt holes. If they don't have those, all the rest is moot... it won't work. Sell it if you can, and move on.

RSCAMAROGUY91

no bolt wholes in the heads will ultimately equal useless as a daily driver because you will have a difficult time getting all of your desired accessories to work.

b1k1w1

They are right about time and money. But that's not what was asked. The best thing to do is look at trans and see what the bolt pattern is. You can see from under the car. Reuse the fly wheel you have with 283 and if you don't have pulleys use the ones from early engines that have the things you need. That's what I did with my double hump heads and had ac. They are cheap since every one is going to serp belt. Good luck and next time just say you have a 350 you would have gotten tons of answers lol

cozwurth

First off, you should check casting numbers on the back of the block and the code stamped in the front of the pass side of the block at the cyl head. The 283 was not availabled in the 70's. I think the last year for the 283 was '66 or '67. If the engine you have is from the 70's it may be a 262, 267, 305, 307, etc. Check that first. The tranny from your 3.1 will not bolt up to the 283, or any other SBC/BBC for that matter. The flex plate will not, either. Others have posted about accessory holes in the heads. Good advice there. No accy bolt holes really limits your choice of bracketry. Take a good look and see what you actually have first, then go from there.

I had a 283 in a '74 Vega for a while. It made for a good running little car, and was fun to drive with the 4 speed. It would have been better it the engine wasn't worn slam out...

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Last year for the 283 was 1967.

If it is a 283, it may be of some value to someone doing a 60's car or truck restoration.

If it is a 307 (pretty likely if it is from a 70's vehicle), it's actually better than a 283 or 305 with better heads than the factory put on them. 3rd gen 416 305 heads would be a good choice on top of a 307.

But, if this is intended for a daily driver, seriously consider a 3.4 V6 swap. There is information about that on the V6 forum. Selling the 283 (or whatever it is) probably won't pay for it, but it would be less expensive than putting in the 283 (or whatever it is).