My 59 4 barrel with the triangle heads was rated at 230 HP, it had 2 inch manifolds. The 59 heads may have had the same valve size as the 327, depending on year? I'd say yes, you could get 250 out of the 283, especially with say a new cam and 2 1/2 inch manifolds. With the 327 worked a bit, you could probably get 300HP or more from the 327. If you have a solid 283, nothing wrong with tuning it a bit and see what you think. You can get aftermarket 2 1/5 inch manifolds cheap from Rockauto, use them on the 283, then use them on the 327 if you went that route later.
Those BB guys, Carl, have little faith in small blocks. ).
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Those BB guys, Carl, have little faith in small blocks. ).
When I was 16 I yanked the 194 out of my first 65 Canso SD I ever owned. I put in a 283, put on a quadrajet, dual exhaust and an L79 cam. (Yeah, I know.........overcammed)
It wouldn't turn the tires from a dead stop, would wind to 6500 or more no problem but the best it ever ran at the track with a TH350 and 3.73 gears was 16.10.
My next SD I put in a nice stock 350 with a bit more gear and it ran 14 flat with the carb bowls running dry because the fuel pump couldn't keep up. Night and day difference. The 283 was fun to drive, sounded really really cool but it wasn't even close to fast.
I may love big blocks, (ok, I do love big blocks) but I love a 327 4 speed combo too.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
If you bring your wallet, you can make many things go fast. For unusual power, a 283 or a 327 are rare, but not comparable cost wise to the 350 or the BB on a cost per HP basis. On a cost per HP basis, buy a crate 350 or BB, for an "open the hood and show off your motor" basis, a 283, 327, 348, 409, 396, or 427 will get way more reaction. Or a stock 6 cylinder?
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
LOL, yes that looks great but not likely very streetable!
A local guy here held an NHRA national record for many years with his Super Stock 66 Nova 283 powerglide. I think it ran around 10.70 but for an everyday street car it just doesn't make sense to build a 283 if you want to go fast. But if you want a fun reliable daily driver, they're great. Just don't be mad when the guys with the stock appearing cars hiding a stroker are a lot faster!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I am too old for a manual trans had that in my last car a Vette but darn city driving it drove me crazy..a guy dont relize how many traffic lights there are..not to mention the under passes I avoided cuz I was scared to stall it out lol nice to just put it in one gear and go..maybe two gears at a stop light if I am feeling young lol
Thanks guys looking at the heads on that 327 from what I can tell they are 250 hp power pack ? not the motor I was hoping for but yes I can bump it up if I think I need too Thanks again for all the help !
Those BB guys, Carl, have little faith in small blocks. ).
When I was 16 I yanked the 194 out of my first 65 Canso SD I ever owned. I put in a 283, put on a quadrajet, dual exhaust and an L79 cam. (Yeah, I know.........overcammed)
It wouldn't turn the tires from a dead stop, would wind to 6500 or more no problem but the best it ever ran at the track with a TH350 and 3.73 gears was 16.10.
My next SD I put in a nice stock 350 with a bit more gear and it ran 14 flat with the carb bowls running dry because the fuel pump couldn't keep up. Night and day difference. The 283 was fun to drive, sounded really really cool but it wasn't even close to fast.
I may love big blocks, (ok, I do love big blocks) but I love a 327 4 speed combo too.
Was that a stock converter ? I think you would need at least a 2500 high stall converter . That cam would have performed a lot better with a four speed manual. Did GM ever offer the l79 with an automatic.
Hi guys yes yet another question sounds like a L79 cam is pretty rank I have picked up 2.5 exhaust and newer edelbrock carb for the 327 whats a cam with some thump but not as much as a L79 I am going to take it a part and see if its std bore ect thinking I may go 30 over and redo it than I know what I got once again thanks so much
My 327 Acadian I put together with a Speed Pro L79 cam. I've used it in a few engines and I know others who've used it and been happy as well. Old school but nice all around cam that sounds great!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
nice car and wow cant beat that sound...do you think I will have any piston to valve clearance probs running with my 250 hp heads ? dam going to be a long winter lol
I would stick with a Speed Pro though, rather than Engine Pro if it was me, just because I've always had good luck with their stuff. Engine Pro may be fine but I'm not familiar with them and I get nervous about wearing out lobes.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Hi guys.. I'm just reading through stuff waiting on weather so I can go trailer my car home....Bill I noticed in one pic above of your block #'s that it looks like it's stamped FI as in eff eye....not F1 as previously mentioned. I have no idea what difference this might make. I'll leave that to the pros! Cheers
As far as I've ever seen, and for whatever reason, GM used the "I" for a one on those stampings. All the stampings I have ever looked at use the "I" there in place of 1. That particular one should be October 9th, 10/09 from what I see.
You'd think GM could afford a stamp kit with a "1" in it...
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars