hey guys,

I was told by my brother that a good way to get some performance out of my stock 283 was to add a set of newer model 305 heads. Is this a good solution to keep the motor around 300 hp?
Right now it is a 283/ 2bbl. Have a Weiand 8004 and Holley Street avenger 570cfm to go on, and looking at some block hugger style headers. This is all going on a 64 SS. :confused:

The world products 305 torquers would be a good choice...I have always wanted to try a set of 305 vortecs...They should work good..but I haven't heard of anyone doing it. You want to make sure the chambers stay at or below 60cc

Yeah, the 305 torquers would be great heads if you want to spend money. I had a set of 305 HO heads and they were 56ccs decked. I hear they would be good. I got my set for $50 totaly rebuilt.

i think the intake and carb you have will work pretty well along with the headers. is it a 4-speed or an auto? what gears? i think that a head swap on a mild 283 wouldn't be worth the time and money. i'd spend the money on rear gears and a stall convertor, unless it's a 4 speed then just get some 3.73 gears or something.

Originally posted by Sean C:
hey guys,

I was told by my brother that a good way to get some performance out of my stock 283 was to add a set of newer model 305 heads. Is this a good solution to keep the motor around 300 hp?
Right now it is a 283/ 2bbl. Have a Weiand 8004 and Holley Street avenger 570cfm to go on, and looking at some block hugger style headers. This is all going on a 64 SS. :confused: I don't think you're going to see the upside of 240 hp, let alone 300. The parts on the market today are made for the larger 350 engine, and on a 283 it just doesn't work well.

thanks guys. Racn were those heads out of a 80's monte carlo or camaro? I have a friend with a good set of 305 heads out of a 85 Monte Carlo SS he is willing to give me. Are these the same heads that you have?

Just remember that ALL the horsepower numbers that are thrown around are PEAK horsepower. What you should be concerned with is torque at your normal operating range, probably less than 4000 rpm. For a 283 on the street, you should probably go with a RV cam that gives you a torque curve that's broad. Sure it will give up some torque/hp above 5000, so what, you almost never will be there on the street. Think about your AVERAGE rpm and select parts that will help you there. My .02

M71.....it is a PG car.....probably 3.31 rear gear I'm guessing since it doesnt launch from the line very well.

Nearly always the 283 Powerglide used 3.08 gears unless it has a/c in which case 3.36 was default. That kind of gearing is not helping you at all.

I honestly think your 8004 is fine as is the carb. Go with a set of 1.5" four tube, long cheap headers AND either a Performer hy- cam that is one step up from the GREAT, imho, -929 stock cam OR the stock Little Duntov solid -097 cam or a modern version thereof!!

AND yes a set of 3.36 gears should be about right, (even with a P/G), if you don't want to go as low as the 3.73's with a stick!!

My Mom's 283, 2/b, '65 El cheapo four door three on the tree Chevelle ran like a bat for no more then it was!! WITH just a cheap set of 8.00-14 recap slicks!!!!!

pdq67

My heads were : 14022601...80-86...267/305......1.84"/1.5" valves, 58cc chambers

decked to 56cc chambers. They actually came off of a service truck for a power place here. A friend of mine ended up buying both of the trucks they were selling and I bought both sets of heads. I gave one set to my cousin for his birthday, and sold the other set to the guy that bought my 88 camaro (glad to be rid of that).

I ported a set of 1975 262ci castings awhile back and put larger intake valves in, the chambers started at 53ccs and ended up at 64ccs when I was done unshrouding the valves. The exhaust seats are factory hardened. The chamber shape ended up with the heart shape look after the valves were unshrouded. I put them on a 355 in a fullsize 4wheel drive and they work great. The engine spins to 7000 without a problem. Even with the short extreme energy cam it pulls good to 6000. These particular heads are a 1 year wonder and are very thick castings, I'm sure with the right approach they would work good on a 283.

http://www.chevelles.com/forum/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=017755

After reading through my thread, i just decided to add headers, intake and carb. Beyond that its really not worth it. I'd rather save up for a beefier block then go all out on the 283.