Thread: rebuilding a 283

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this is a very general question and i appologize for not having something specific to ask...i really want to start some serious work my 35 ford and i guess the first place to start is to get the engine running...

it's a 283 from a '58 impala that my dad put in when it had about 15k miles on it...the engine now only has about 20k on it but at this point it has been sitting for at least 30 years...so my question is where should i start to get this thing running? what would you guess will be ok to reuse and what will need to be replaced...what is a good source for 283 parts? anything you guys could share with me would be greatly appreciated!

What do you want out of the 35 ford?

Power / streetable daily diver?

weekend cruiser?

sorry...i guess thats an important thing to make clear...

basically it will be a weekend cruiser..it probably wont ever see the track...thats basically why i decided to keep the 283 because i know it's not a great performer, but its good enough to cruise around

of course i would like to get a decent amount of power out of it by adding a few goodies, but im not really looking to build it up with all of the best go fast goodies

you dont think that all the gaskets should be replaced after sitting for so long? and where can i get all these little things for a 283 like the pumps and filters?...thanks

.I recently drug a 69 Mustang Mach 1 with 80,000 orig miles from thirty years of inside storage..It was in Cailfornia which helped...Weather wise anyway...The 351's gaskets survived Ok..Depends on where and how it was stored .etc..etc..Just putting the final touches on a 64 Chev pickup with a 230 inline..A stock three on the tree run around goffer with 83,000 orig..It was stored outide for ten years and the engine has no leaks nor does it smoke.. Even after a severe shake down cruise..Did replace the rocker and side cover gskts though..The brakes didn't fare so well.....Next!!!....Woulda greased the monos but there ain't none...

The early early early 265s had a by pass oil filter like the 235L6...Got a couple kicking around somewhere...Or did.....283 parts are readily available just about everywhere...I just traded for one that has stove bolts on the timing cover...might be 57...can't remember when GM changed to capscrews....Oh what the hell......My 57 Belair Sport Coupe with 283's went 300,000 hard miles on two engines before I stored it...A Mustang had the nerve to pass us late one night...When we went around him on the next straight stretch the right bank was aknocking....Ain't gonna follow no FoMoCo......