Mike,
Years ago, 283's were commonly bored .125" over to make what we called a 301. They were commonly used in sprint cars, dirt track modifieds, and all kinds of drag racing classes (as well as on the street). The 283 had enough meat in the block to withstand the 1/8" overbore with no adverse effects and little if any increased cooling problems. The short 3" stroke made them real screamers; with a good balance job, they were consistenly wound up to 7,000 rpm with a stock bottom end! I've been told a large number of 265's and 283's had forged crankshafts.

If you do the math, it actually figures out to 301.66 cubic inches. When Chevrolet finally did what hotrodders had been doing for years, they called it a 302... (1968 - 69 Z-28 Camaro) Look at it this way - .125" over pistons cost about the same as .060" over pistons... On the other hand, parts for a 350 are the least expensive of all... If I lived closer, I'd take that 283 off your hands; I love those things...