283ci horsepower potential???

my cousin got an engine he said I could have, thought it was a 350 before he got it but when we got it and tore it apart, I ran the numbers and its a 283 :( just wondering what I can expect for horsepower out of this engine and if there are ANY advantages to this engine over the 350? for the 350, I had the parts all picked out of summit and it was gonna cost around 1400 and would be putting out about 375-400 horse at least. just wondering what I should expect for horse out of this size engine... ALSO what the heck should I put it in for a good QM time? I was gonna use an 83-87 monte, but now I think they might be too heavy to run 11s-12s.... please send me your advice!!!!!!!

The 283 is the same block as a 350. Talk to an engine builder, he may be able to bore it for you or trade the block for a 350. I am a bit rusty on this stuff but you could stroke it to make it a 305. I had a 283 as a kid, I put a 300hp 350 cam in it and a holly 780 double pumper. A bit too much carb, put it did make power.... Talk to a reputable engine builder. He should be able to answer any question on this motor.

Bottom line is there is no substitution for raw cubic inches. I have a 283 now in my Bel Air, I like it it runs fine with no problems. Most if not all the parts you have picked for a 350 will work on a 283. If you want to get an accurate estimate of the hp/torque (which is what really makes your car go) you could buy a program called desktop dyno, i think you can buy it at any local auto parts store. The only real advantage to a 283 over a 350 is savings in gas mileage, also they are less prone to overheat. As for the 350, the rotating assembly (pistons, crankshaft, rods, etc) will be a heck of a lot chaeper than that of the 283, and you'll find more variety among the choices... I have yet to see a hypereutectic piston set for a 283. So in short 283 nice engine for a classic, or for gas mileage. But for asphault eating torque and h/p go for the 350.

forget the 283. good sound block but youll never get what you can with a 350 or 400. There is never any substitute for cubes.