Parts for a 283 long block; Part 2, oil canister,

[Rickchevy56]

Hello All
(This continues from a 6/18 post, Parts from a '76 350 to a '64 283 long block.)
Well after a year of searching and with more pressure on me to get it done, I got a replacement long block engine for my '64 Impala..
1.It's not perfect, it did'nt have the rocker arms on the rebuilt heads.
what's the reccomendation for that new, used; I don't know if the it would be worthwhile/possible to use the 350's.
2.The block does not use the spin on oil filter but a flow thru oil filter canister which the seller does'nt have. Where can I get one new or used?
3. Harmonic balancer new or used?, from the 350 with 200k miles?
4. I can't tell if the block(It's still at the seller's) was hooked up to a manual or automatic tranny. I plan on connecting to the original Powrglide in the Impala.
Any other advice
Rick

[silicon212]

Transmission does not matter if you're going to run the PG. Most 2-piece rear main seal SB castings have provisions for a clutch linkage, your 283 should be no exception. If the block was used with a manual transmission, there will be a pilot bearing inside the crank flywheel flange - you can ignore it as it won't interfere with the torque converter on a Powerglide (or any other automatic for the small block).

The bolt-on canister you can get through Ebay I'm sure, or you can convert it to the later spin-on filter assembly - it only takes one piece that mounts inside the filter location.

Do not use the balancer from the 350, it's too big. You might be able to squeak by with one from a 305 if you had to, but I'd search for the original 283 piece.

Rocker arms are interchangeable between the 283 and 350, but new ones are cheap and will guard against possible failure. They're one of those things that wear in with their surrounding valve train components - you can't use the fulcrum balls from one rocker on another, unless that ball is new and then only if you put it on the intake.

[broughy84]

I've got 2 283's in my garage, I am building one to put in my 88 truck. You can use the 350 HB. There's no difference that's what's on mine. In fact the 283 was so well balanced they did not have a harmonic damper on them. They had a hub for the pulley, that was it. I still have alot of parts... pm me with what you need and we can see what we can do. I don't have the oil canister though, I pitched that I have a spin on kit on it. You can use any rocker arm you want for a SBC as long as you make sure they are 1.5:1 arms. 265,283,327,302,307,305,350,400 all have the same rockers. Or you could buy some roller rockers to put on it!

[Rickchevy56]

Hi, a couple of you guys disagree on whether the 283 came with or needs a harmonic balancer. I don't know if it made a differece if the engine would be connected to a automatic or manual tranny.How can I find out?
Thanks much for the help
Rick

Originally Posted by silicon212

Transmission does not matter if you're going to run the PG. Most 2-piece rear main seal SB castings have provisions for a clutch linkage, your 283 should be no exception. If the block was used with a manual transmission, there will be a pilot bearing inside the crank flywheel flange - you can ignore it as it won't interfere with the torque converter on a Powerglide (or any other automatic for the small block).

The bolt-on canister you can get through Ebay I'm sure, or you can convert it to the later spin-on filter assembly - it only takes one piece that mounts inside the filter location.

Do not use the balancer from the 350, it's too big. You might be able to squeak by with one from a 305 if you had to, but I'd search for the original 283 piece.

Rocker arms are interchangeable between the 283 and 350, but new ones are cheap and will guard against possible failure. They're one of those things that wear in with their surrounding valve train components - you can't use the fulcrum balls from one rocker on another, unless that ball is new and then only if you put it on the intake.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by RickChevy56

Hi, a couple of you guys disagree on whether the 283 came with or needs a harmonic balancer. I don't know if it made a differece if the engine would be connected to a automatic or manual tranny.How can I find out?

Don't run the 350 balancer on it. Internal engine balance has nothing to do with it, moment of inertia does. All Chevrolet Gen-1 (plain ol') small blocks are internally balanced, with the lone exception of the 400, which is externally balanced. In theory, you can run any balancer you want (except the aforementioned 400 one) on any small block (ditto the 400).

The problem is, the harmonic balancer (vibration damper) is there not to balance the crank, but to absorb any harmonic vibration generated by the engine, so it doesn't result in the destruction of the front main bearing, and also so the vibration isn't transmitted into the valvetrain with potentially catastrophic results. Each balancer is weighted for a specific displacement - it won't do its job properly if it's not right for the engine. Another thing is the way the balancer is attached - large journal crank motors use a bolt to attach the balancer to the center of the snout, small journal engines do not - at least from the factory. All 283s are small journal, all 350s are large journal. The snouts are the same size, the balancers are different.

It's also similar to the 267/305/350 engines - they all have the same 3.48 stroke and even the crank is the same casting for all 3. HOWEVER, they are not interchangeable. The balance is the reason in this case. So, Matt, you've just learned something.

Getting back to the other question, the engine doesn't care what transmission is bolted to it. GM didn't make separate castings for auto or manual.

Edit: Substituted "snout" for "engine" pertaining to balancer attach method.

[broughy84]

I suppose I did just learn something.

[Rickchevy56]

[Your opinions on parts/engine accesssories
Hi broghy and all
thanks for your help. what parts do you have, how soon could I get them if things work out and where are you.
I have leads on some stuff already.
harmonic balancer- one parts place said there are 3 different types for the '61-64 long block I have depennding on size,
distributer-the parts guy asked me for the # of my distributer as I don't have one in the long block Huh?
power steering unit- the parts people said the 283 of that year did not have power steering?,
maybe a 2bbl carb in good shape with 2 bbl manifold,
rams head manifold for pwr steering equipped cars (I might want to sell the 350 so I may not want to remove 'em.
Thanks, Rick

quote=broughy84]I've got 2 283's in my garage, I am building one to put in my 88 truck. You can use the 350 HB. There's no difference that's what's on mine. In fact the 283 was so well balanced they did not have a harmonic damper on them. They had a hub for the pulley, that was it. I still have alot of parts... pm me with what you need and we can see what we can do. I don't have the oil canister though, I pitched that I have a spin on kit on it. You can use any rocker arm you want for a SBC as long as you make sure they are 1.5:1 arms. 265,283,327,302,307,305,350,400 all have the same rockers. Or you could buy some roller rockers to put on it![/quote]

[troubles789]

I have one 283 in a 65 chevelle convt and I also have a short block 283 and a long block 283 just setting for years now. I have a 2bbl intake and carb setting on a long block and I think I have a extra oil canister for the original look. If you need pics of the 283 H.B. let me know. They are small like the early 327's were, I would bet 4-6 inches around and about 1/2" wide.

tons of 60's parts put back.