[64chevy]

Just recently purchased a 64 malibu with a 283... I am new to the chevy game, having owned a number of fords, so please be gentle.

How would you visually distinguish a 283 from a 327? Is the block basically the same with a different bore and stroke, or are these completely different engines?

If someone had told me the car had a 327, I wouldn't know what to look for to say otherwise... Please help!!

thanks in advance

 

[Bomber '67]

It just so happens that I have '64 327 sitting in my garage. Other than some of the numbers, you would be hard pressed to see any obvious differences vs. a 283. Depending on the year, there could be some parts differences on specific 327's vs. 283's. Otherwise a smallblock is a smallblock. Most of the parts will interchange readily between the 327 and 283. My 327 happens to have cylinder heads that were also found on 283's.

Thomas

 

[DZAUTO]

Troy,
There are numerous LITTLE things that allow a person to distinguish one small block Chev V8 from another. BUT, the fundamental design and configuration of the Chev small block V8 is identical. The SB was introduced in 55 as a 265 and through the years, eventually grew to a 400. For the most part, almost everything is interchangeable. And, those things that are not interchangeable, are adaptable. So, literally, you can take a 1980 SB400 and simply drop it into a 55 Chevy, or 57 Vette, button everything together and drive it away. You can bolt a SB400 head onto a 55 265 block or vice versa (not necessarily a compatable combination, but they interchange). The bell housing bolt pattern remained the same, intake and exhaust manifolds, distributors, oil pans, water pumps, etc, etc, will swap from one engine to another. The small block Chevy V8 family is without question the MOST universal engine EVER in the history of the automobile industry---------------------even more so than the fabled Flathead Ford V8! Yes, I LOVE Flathead powered hotrods, but fact is fact!
I have a SB400 in my 56 Vette and it looks VERY much like a fuel injected 57 283. Externally, the SB engines have a nearly identical appearance throughout the family.

 

[Schurkey]

Assuming that it hasn't been changed in the last 40 years, I'd be looking at the damper/hub on the front of the crank.

I'm thinking that forged-crank 283s used a solid hub, while cast crank and 327 engines used an actual damper. Cast crank 283s didn't show up til '65 or 66. The damper could be used on a forged crank 283, but the solid hub could NOT be used on the cast crank units--they needed the damper.

You're gonna LOVE Chevrolets. Up until GM Powertrain took over from Chevrolet and screwed everything up, everything interchanged, sometimes between engine families. And only one bellhousing bolt pattern for V-8s!

 

[von]

Why not just look at the casting number? Near as I can tell no 283's share a casting with a 327. If you don't have a book, look it up on www.mortec.com or someone on this site will look it up for you.

 

[Schurkey]

Oh, sure, Von. Take all the challenge out of it...

 

[d1_bradley]

There is a "wing" looking thingy above the front cover that sticks out of the block. On a 283 you can't lay your finger in the indentation, on a 327 you can. Hard to explain but easy to see if you know the difference. Easy tell back in the day.

 

[Guest]

I had forgot about the "wing" thing deal!

But not about the lack of side mount bosses on the '57 and earlier blocks so you can't easily install them in a '58 and newer vehicle.

But they all have the early 4-point front mount holes in them if not mistaken..

pdq67

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[SS4speed]

Schurkey,

Wasn't the Harmonic Balancer a little thinner on the 283 vs the 327. My 327's Balancer in the garage is 1 1/8th of an inch thick. For some reason, I remember the 283 being a little thinner?

Fred.

 

[Guest]

Some 265's and 283's only have a hub, then the bolt-on pulley.

pdq67

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[Schurkey]

What I remember of the 283 damper is that it was both thin and oddly constructed. Maybe its my memory playing tricks with me.

I'm thinking the 283 damper was not built with an inner hub, a ring of rubber, and an outer iron ring. Wasn't the rubber sandwiched vertically? Like two plates and a paper towel in between, only "on edge" instead of lying flat on a table?

All I know is one of 'em blew up on me on my "college hot rod".

 

[Guest]

I thought it was just a hub with no rubber or outer metal ring..

pdq67

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[Schurkey]

It's been about 25 years since that damper blew up. I'm pretty sure this was a cast-crank ('66) 283, and I'm pretty sure the damper was assembled fore-and-aft, not as a concentric ring.

The cast cranks HAD to have a damper of some sort, they wouldn't survive without one. The forged cranks could live without a damper, though.

 

[Unclepennybags]

Assuming that it hasn't been changed in the last 40 years, I'd be looking at the damper/hub on the front of the crank.

I'm thinking that forged-crank 283s used a solid hub, while cast crank and 327 engines used an actual damper. Cast crank 283s didn't show up til '65 or 66. The damper could be used on a forged crank 283, but the solid hub could NOT be used on the cast crank units--they needed the damper.

You're gonna LOVE Chevrolets. Up until GM Powertrain took over from Chevrolet and screwed everything up, everything interchanged, sometimes between engine families. And only one bellhousing bolt pattern for V-8s!

My 64 327 (250 h.p.) used the same damper as my '67 283. Best bet is the wing thing, or check the casting number. Other than that, they are hard to tell apart, even if you own both!

Mike

 

[SS4speed]

Just some misc data.

- Both forged and cast 283 cranks exist, the latter first appearing in late 1964. The 283s originally equipped with a cast crank have a full harmonic balancer; 283s produced with a forged crank only have a harmonic-balancer hub.

Fred.

 

[64chevy]

Just recently purchased a 64 malibu with a 283... I am new to the chevy game having owned a number of fords, so please be gentle. How would you visually distinguish a 283 from a 327? Is the block basically the same with a different bore and stroke, or are these completely different engines? If someone had told me the car had a 327 I wouldnt know what to look for to say otherwise... Please help!! thanks in advance

Could someone explain the "wing thing" in more detail?

 

[Guest]

Sure, the "wing" is a block re-enforcement that sticks out in that place is all!!

And the place is just to the pass side, on the block below the oil filler tube on the intake manifolds of the older motor's is all

Kinda like a weld-on "gusset" in steel framing is all.

Look at several 283 and other 305, 307, 327 and 350 blocks and you will see what we are talking about..

If not mistaken, it is right where the newer motors have an oil gauge attachment hole that is never used????????

pdq67

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[ChevysRus]

So you are saving on a 283 the wing thing is an "outy" and on a 327 it's an "iny" to use the belly button analogy. LOL

 

[Guest]

No, the 283 has it and the 327 doesn't..

If I remember right my 350 had a front oil line square head pipe plug where the "wing" is. My 283 block is turned upside down so I couldn't see it..

And my 400 block has a flat there that is undrilled for the oil line plug..

And the "wing" on the 283 is just to the right between the VIN deck pad and the intake manifolds oil filler tube... Like I said, it is a "triangle-shaped" cast gusset deal is all.

pdq67

PS., I can see the "wing" on the 265 engine in the pic. on page 25 of the book, "Ultimate American V-8 Engine Data Book - 1949-1974", by Peter C. Sessler

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[Guest]

No, the 283 has it and the 327 doesn't..

If I remember right my 350 had a front oil line square head pipe plug where the "wing" is. My 283 block is turned upside down so I couldn't see it..

And my 400 block has a flat there that is undrilled for the oil line plug..

And the "wing" on the 283 is just to the right between the VIN deck pad and the intake manifolds oil filler tube... Like I said, it is a "triangle-shaped" cast gusset deal is all that sticks straight out.

pdq67

PS., I can see the "wing" on the 265 engine in the pic. on page 25 of the book, "Ultimate American V-8 Engine Data Book - 1949-1974", by Peter C. Sessler

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