Guest 283ForMyZ Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 Hay to all! I am just getting in to the Z way of living. I do not own yet, but have lined up an early 240Z with a Bob Sharp body kit on it. I intend to put a SBC 283 in it. I have a lot to learn about this car and the swap but that is what I’m here for. So let the games begin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 Sounds like a fun project. Start by reading the stickies in the Chevy V8 area and the FAQs if they apply to you. Then get the JTR manual and read it. After you've done those things you should have a pretty good idea of what you're up against. We have a bunch of guys who really love that IMSA body style and there are many threads devoted to it. There is even a company working on reproducing a similar flare kit, and another member zlalomz who has a website dedicated to the IMSA Z's that originally ran those wild flares on the racetrack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnjdragracing Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 Why a 283 sbc? Why not a 350 sbc? Just wondering....... John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 The 283 can fairly easily be built to rev to 8K RPM or so but the torque from a 350 is much more satisfying and usable in a street-driven car, IMHO. In fact, my 350 is on its way out and is being replace by a 400 or 434 stroker soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280zwitha383 Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 I have to completely disagree. 400 blocks are almost impossible to find. If you know where to fine some let us (nevermind us, let me) know. On that note.For Chevy's, LSx engines are the future. For the rest of the world, forced induction is taking over and amazing things are being done. IMO Forced induction V8's are where it's at and where it has been for a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280zwitha383 Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Smaller CI "high revving" engines are not worth the money IMO. You will have to spend extra money on your valvetrain to compensate for the extra stress, when you should be spending money on a bigger CI engine that does not have to rev so much and still make the same and ofter more power AND last longer. RPM's kill engines. 283formyZ, if you already have the 283 ready by all means put it in there. However, if you need to buy it or even spend the money to rebuild it, I would strongly encourage you to start with a 350. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 I have to completely disagree. 400 blocks are almost impossible to find. Read Mikes post again. He's talking about his own motor, not the availablility of 400 cubic inch blocks. The two have nothing to do with each other. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Careless Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 can't wait until someone puts the as-of-yet, unreleased LS9 into a Zee can someone say hot zee sex? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbk240z Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 There is nothing wrong with a nice 283. Sure, the 350's, 400's, etc., are better suited for more h.p., but maybe 283formyz isn't looking to run 9's either. Maybe he has a nice 283 already. An old buddy of mine had a 283 with mildly ported 462 camel hump heads, 1.94/1.60 valves, roller rockers, comp cams 292H magnum camshaft, eddy torker II intake, 1 5/8" headers, 650 Holley d.p. It was no prostock engine, but sounded wicked, and had a very nice top-end. To each his own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ BUT yeah... that'll be a cool swap!! can't wait until someone puts the as-of-yet, unreleased LS9 into a Zee can someone say hot zee sex? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 I agree and these are all good points. I remember my brothers 1960 Corvette with a 283. Once that thing got moving, nothing could catch it. But it was... um... torque-challenged All the power is up top. That said, it was a freaking blast to drive none-the-less. 283ForMyZ... All I meant to so is that, if you have the option, I would suggest selling or trading the 283 to someone who needs it for a classic, then buy a 350, 383, 396, 400, or 434 SBC. It all depends on what YOU want and how much YOU want to spend. After all it's YOUR car:wink: There is nothing wrong with a nice 283. Sure, the 350's, 400's, etc., are better suited for more h.p., but maybe 283formyz isn't looking to run 9's either. Maybe he has a nice 283 already. An old buddy of mine had a 283 with mildly ported 462 camel hump heads, 1.94/1.60 valves, roller rockers, comp cams 292H magnum camshaft, eddy torker II intake, 1 5/8" headers, 650 Holley d.p. It was no prostock engine, but sounded wicked, and had a very nice top-end. To each his own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsommer Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 If you want a "high winding" engine just build a roller engine. I cannot describe (for those who have never driven a or ridden in a car so equiped) how zippy my 350 is with a mechanical roller cam add to that a 3.7 geared rear end and T-5 tranny you better have a rev limiter and be a quick shifter!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 That's true but, when it comes to winding high, the short stroke engines still win. It just depends on what you want. I still say more stroke/more cubes. Again though, I like torque. If you want a "high winding" engine just build a roller engine. I cannot describe (for those who have never driven a or ridden in a car so equiped) how zippy my 350 is with a mechanical roller cam add to that a 3.7 geared rear end and T-5 tranny you better have a rev limiter and be a quick shifter!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 283ForMyZ... Here's a quote from another thread from blueovalz, who has one of the coolest z-cars around. Here's the thread... http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=115722 What you (Ernie) needs is folks that have been on both sides of this fence and can say which was best for them. In my case, I am about to find out. For the last 15 years, I've had the 289/302/289 (yeah, I liked the 289 better). Even though it was down on HP as compared to those larger, blown, heavier cars I've run against, the lightweight Z chassis let me take the lead. Now in the works: I have a 383 (shortest of the 351W stroker kits) being machined for installation this winter. It will add about 75 pounds to the car, about 100 cubic inches, additional stressing to the drivetrain, a little more HP, and GOBBS more torque as compared to the high reving 289 (The 383 still should rev fine with the set-up I'm using though). Hopefully, by next spring I'll find out whether I made a mistake or an improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsommer Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 That's true but, when it comes to winding high, the short stroke engines still win. Perhaps but as stated before RPM's kill engines. Better get a main girdle, rocker stud girdle and assorted other high RPM life savers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONGO510 Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 I must be missing something. We I was a kid, we ran 283's and 327's to 7k every day in our daily drivers and had no problems! We did not have stud girdles, main girdles, roller cams, and rockers! and we certainly didn't the money for them. They were driven daily and we never had any failures. So whats up? A 283 crank in a 327 block (302)would be a very sweet motor in my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 283ForMyZ... What do YOU want for your Z-car? Personally, I LOVE TORQUE for street-driven cars!! In fact, the more I talk about it, I'm more inclined to go with a 434 SBC... maybe even a 572 BBC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280zwitha383 Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 I think it's funny that we've been going through all of this and the guy that started the thread hasn't even posted another comment If you want a "high winding" engine just build a roller engine. I cannot describe (for those who have never driven a or ridden in a car so equiped) how zippy my 350 is with a mechanical roller cam add to that a 3.7 geared rear end and T-5 tranny you better have a rev limiter and be a quick shifter!!! Tell me about it, you should try a roller 383 with a 3.90 rearend. You want to talk about a quick-revving engine. I don't have a light on my tach so when I'm racing it's just a play-it-by-ear guess because there's no time to look. Read Mikes post again. He's talking about his own motor, not the availablility of 400 cubic inch blocks. The two have nothing to do with each other. Davy Haha, oops, you are completely right and I had to reread it because I KNEW that's what he said. It seems I have helped start up an old argument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 283ForMyZ Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 Sorry I have not been on but I’m working a tun of over time to get this car done. First thanks for the worm welcome and advice. Now as for the on slot about the 283… I chose the engine for many reasons. I got a relay good deal on the 283 and a Muncie 4 speed. Also I like to be the odd ball that’s why I chose the 240Z in the first place (and the fact that I am getting a fantastic deal on it!!!!). For those of you wondering about Torque, I intend to put a small journal 327 crank in it. This will give me some more Torque. Plus I could (if I chose to) bore and stroke it to a 400. And before you ask I have seen it done. The early 60’s block can be bored as much as .125 or more. I have no intention of doing that but I could. After it is on the road I will put a supercharger on it. Iv done the math and when I’m done it should put out about 450 HP and 400 ft-lbs. of Torque. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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