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How Did The 283 Small Block V8 Come To Be?
When Chevrolet began producing the Corvette, it wasn’t long before they knew that there were issues with it. While they had grand dreams of selling 10k units a year, most owners found the early model sports car shoddily built and frustratingly underpowered. A survey of owners 1954 demonstrated that while customers liked the idea of an American sports car, the Corvette wasn’t their pick to claim that crown. A primary concern was that the car leaked like a sieve, making driving in a rainstorm awful.
For the 1955 model, Chevy introduced a small block V8 with a displacement of 265 cubic inches. The engine produced 195 hp (which was a significant boost) and weighed about 40 lbs lighter than the standard inline six. The best part of the equation was that the car’s top speed went from 108 mph to in excess of 120 mph, and track time improved with the 265 engine able to clock an 8.5 second time 0-60. Almost immediately, to boost the performance, a new high-lift camshaft was installed, and depending on the carburetor setup, the horsepower and torque numbers improved even further. Chevy was so pleased with the performance of the 265 V8 that it offered it as an option in the second-generation Chevrolet Bel Air (which sold over 1.5 million units in 1955 and 1956).
The 4.3L (265 ci) engine got bored in 1957 to produce the 283 (4.6L) V8. The widened bores were matched with leftover 265 blocks, but the new diameter caused issues. (The increased width tended thin out the cylinder walls). Before long, GM had corrected the issue to prevent cylinder wall distortion by recasting the iron block to fit and began offering several versions of the new 4.6L V8.
The new-sized small block 4.6L V8 had several versions offering hp from 188 hp to 283 hp, and the new displacement was well received. The 283 earned the distinction of being one of the first engines to achieve a hp for every inch of cubic space (1957 Corvette) and would set the tone for countless other engines to come after it. By 1958, the original 265 V8 had been discontinued, and the 283 had taken over bragging rights.
During the following years, the small block V8 would become the base workhorse for every other passenger car model Chevy produced. A sales ad for the 1961 Covair Taxicab lists the 283 V8 as an option. Other models include the Impala, Malibu, Corvair, El Camino, and the Chevelle. GM labeled their early V8 engines “Turbo Fire V8” (the same moniker was given to the 327 when it came on board in 1962). Eventually, the 327 V8 would wrestle the crown away in the mid-sixties.
What Are The Features Of The 283 V8?
The 283 V8 followed the design lines of the 265 in that both had cast iron blocks and heads, only with an increased bore size of 3.875. The stroke was 3.0, the same as the 265, and valve spacing of 4.4 inches would become a GM standard on V8 for the next few decades.
The 283 had 16 valves with two valves per cylinder. While the compression for the 265 V8 was 8.0:1, the compression rates on the 283 varied significantly depending on the carburation type used. (You could order a Corvette or Bel Air with a single four-bbl carb, dual four-bbl, or a high-performance fuel injection system). A standard compression ratio for the 4.6L small block was 9.5:1, but owners with the Duntov camshaft and the Ram-Jet injection system could push 10.5:1. (The Ram-Jet system was developed for the 1957 Corvette Super Sport. The fuel-injected version was the one that reached the milestone of 1 hp per cubic inch of displacement).
By improving the quality of the crankshaft and pistons and increasing the oil supply to the internals, the 283 proved to be more stable and reliable than its predecessor. The crankshaft and camshaft were positioned near one another, which shortened the timing chain considerably, increasing its durability. With thicker bearings and longer-reach spark plugs, shielding protects vital components from failure due to excess heat. The 283 exceeds expectations. The fuel-injected version 283 put out tremendous performance numbers by posting top speeds above 140 mph and shaving off the 0-60 mph track time to just over 6 seconds. (These numbers put the car on the same plateau as Jaguar XK - 150).
What Are The Specs For the Chevy 283 V8?
What Were Some Issues With The 283 V8?
While the 283 was a reliable engine for the most part, it wasn’t without some headaches along the way.
Rocker Arms
One common issue is that the rocker's arms tend to slip out of alignment in the cylinder heads. The result is an immediate loss of power and a fairly loud ticking or rattling noise from the engine. Since bad rocker arms are the loudest when the car is idling, customers could tell a problem as soon as they start the engine.
Rocker Arm Ball Failure
Another issue with the 283 V8 was that the rocker balls tended to go dry with insufficient lubrication due to the clogged push rods. The result was often bent or broken push rods, terrible clacking noises, and ultimately engine failure.
Clogged Fuel Injectors
The Ramjet fuel injection system was a vacuum-based mechanical unit relying on tapered fuel nozzles that tended to clog or get stuck in the open position. Since gallons of gasoline were not as clean in the fifties, debris, and dirt would often get clogged into the system.
While only some of the 1957 Corvette owners opted for the $480 option to get the injection system (less than 4% of 1957 Corvette customers included it in their orders).
Valve Cover Gasket Leaks
One of the more common issues with small-block V8s is the failure of valve cover gaskets which tends to create oil consumption issues. The high strain customers often put their Corvettes and Bel Airs through tended to blow out the gasket’s integrity.
