Tag Archives: Cars

Engine Mini Series – Chevy’s 283 Prt 2

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Oh yes, believe it or not, the 283 put the Corvette at the cutting edge of performance in 1957, fitted with the RamJet FI (fuel injection) system (“fuelie” was the gearhead term for that).  In 1958 the 283 was the base engine for the Corvette, but the 283 that use to put on 283 hp was tuned to create an even 290 hp. If that wasn’t enough for you (of course it wasn’t enough, two words that should never be heard together ‘enough’ and ‘horsepower’…unless…the word ‘not’ precedes them).  The RamJet FI was an available option RPO 579D.

Additional configurations were dual four barrel carbs that produced 270 hp, they were either Rochester or Carter AFB.  The cam was changed in 1958 to give 0.398 inches of lift, improvements made to get more oil to the lifters and the exhaust manifold was reworked, called the Ram Horn’s manifold.  There was a change in how the 283 was mounted.  Chevy used the 3 point system with a mount on each side and one at the rear of the engine at the transmission.

Intake manifold for the 283 Double Quad

Dual Quad set up on a 283

In 1961 the FI jumped the engines’ horsepower to 315.  (Hey, the base corvette in 2007 was 400 hp.) The FI wasn’t the only improvement for the 283 in 1961.  It was treated with a set of solid lifter, improved heads and hydraulic cam which helped the block rich 315 hp, easily.  This would be as far as the 283 would go in horsepower – in production.  1961 was also the last time the dual four barrel carbs were available as an optional configuration.

By 1962 the 283 was replaces by an entirely new engine the 327 (that’s another mini series) as the premier Chevy small block.  The 283 was dropped from the a power plant for the Corvette to a base engine for Chevy’s passenger and used from 1963 to 1964.  Its horsepower dropped to 170 and 195 for two configurations.  A small bright was a four barrel configuration for 1965-67 that produced 220 hp. (That was the configuration of my 1966 Impala convertible.)

Of note is the use of the 283 in Chevy’s light trucks with a two barrel configuration for most of the models in 1958 to 1962.  It produced only 160 horsepower.  For the 1963 to 1967 light truck models the hp was increased to 175.

1967 was the last year for the historic 283.

 

1966 Chevy Impala

 

Coming up next a recap of the uses of the 283.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Engine Mini Series – Chevy’s 283 Prt1

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So far my writings are about engines have been ones I owned and the 283 was the engine in my very first car.  It was a 1966 Chevy Impala.  It was a gift to me for my 1976 high school graduation.  The car was restored by my father, who was a master auto body man.  The car was a convertible with A/C and glass rear window. It sported an automatic Powerglide transmission.

The 283  was a simple engine and of course the engine bay of the ’66 Impala  could hold a family of four, with lots of room  to work in there.  Oh…those were the days…a piece of cardboard on the ground and 3 bolts later you’d have the starter out.  I wish I could find a picture, I know there were some taken, polaroids back then, but they’ve disappeared over the years, much like the car.

So what’s the history of the 283 and what was it used in.  Well those answers are coming up as well as two special uses of the 283, one in the past and one modified restro-mod use…(yeah…someone mod’ed a 283..very cool, but that is later).

As with most engines the 283 wasn’t drawn up on the design boards and produced.  It was a result of Chevrolet’s desire to increase performance of a power plant they already had on the shelf.  The 265 cubic inch small block underwent transformation that resulted in a new engine in 1957.

The modifications made to the 265 to create the 283 were increased bore from 3.75” to 3.875″, the main bearing was given 2.30” journals and 2.00” connecting rods.  The base configuration (with a two barrel carb) for the 265 produced 165 hp, the 283 made 185.  Twenty more horsepower doesn’t seem much but toss on a 4 barrel and the 283 takes off at 220 hp which tops the 265 similarly configuration producing 185-195 hp.

Chevy's 283

1957 was a good year for Chevy.  Bill “Grumpy Jenkings took a 283 fitted with a dual carb set up and achieved 270 hp. It was also the first year for Chevy’s Rochester Ram Jet and what better engine to use than the new 283.  This combination took the 283 in to the history books by producing horsepower that equaled the displacement – 283 c.i.d. and 283 hp.

And that is what led to the installation of the 283 in Chevy sports car platform, the Corvette.

More on that coming up in Part 2.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Happy New Year and Legal Notice

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Happy New Year.

Unfortunately I have to start the year out with a legal notice.  It seems that my writings are so inspiring(…ok…stop laughing!!!) that a few sites have decided that they would use them on their sites in total, placing ads in the middle for their profit and not requesting permission.

I enjoy writing my blog and I do it to share experiences and social interaction.

If you like it, great!!

If you’d like to share links, I’m all for it

If you want to post entire articles ask permission and I’ll send you my list of requirements for accomplishing this.

If you want to use my articles and place and in the articles, we need to talk first.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

 

Happy Anniversary, New Year and Thank You.

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As we close out the year that was 2010, I celebrate the first year anniversary of Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing.

Over the past year, I’ve enjoyed jotting down my thoughts and experiences.  Mostly, I’ve enjoyed hearing back from readers here on my Word Press main site and in other social media.

This past year I’ve seen the page views on this “one man” blog go from just a couple per week, to nearly 1500 a month.  Not bad for a non-commercial blog, with no paid advertising.  So THANK YOU.   I hope to hear from and read your comments and views in 2011.

What’s coming up in 2011?  Mods on the ’70 Mustang, tweaking of the LS2 on the 07 Corvette and I’ll continue with the Auto Factoids in their new format.  You will see more mini engine series,  kicking off the New Year one of my favorites Chevy’s 283  and there will be more racing events, test ‘n’ tunes and Mom and Pop racing teams highlighted.  There will be more contests and DVDs to give away and  project updates from readers. Oh…I’m coming out with the Average Guy’s 2011 Calendar look for that on-line.

It’s going to be a fun new year.

To you and yours – may 2011 bringing nothing but happiness and joy.

Happy New Year.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Mustang Carpeting – Who knew!!??!

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As part of the mods and upgrades for my 70 Mustang,  I plan on replacing all the carpet.  Before I do that however, I’m going to lay down some heat and sound proofing (but that is another post).

As I start project planning, I’m  looking around for parts and materials, as well as any helpful hints. (If you have any at any time, drop me a comment.)  Although certain portions of the restro-mod will have to be done together, like carb and intake or heads and cam (yes I’m all four will be done at the same time), many can be accomplished separately, like adding the  heat/sound proofing and the carpeting, before upholstery of the seats.  In the Mustang getting the seats out are easy enough (keep in mind my goal is to not have the car tied up too long between stages) so replacing the seats after the carpet installation, isn’t a problem.

As a reminder, the mods will be done in adherence to budget, time and events. So there maybe a need to move between different phases to accommodate either 3 of those factors.

O.K., so where was I, oh yeah..carpet shopping.

As I looking on-line for the best place for ordering carpeting, began to notice a lot of choices.  I start thinking “I’m going to have call up on deck my personal award-winning interior designer (that would be my wife – by profession…no not wife by profession although I’m sure thinks it’s her 3rd career, but Interior Designer by profession).   Here is a little bit of what I found:

Plush Cut Pile

Ultra-Plush Cut Pile

Neon Cut Pile

100% Nylon Loop

I’m thinking, “holy cow!!!…What the heck is this?!!  Ultra-Plush Cut Pile?  I’m not building a ’60 Love Van!!!  Oh it gets better..yeah.. you guessed it samples!!!!!

 

Misty Gray

BuckSkin

My favorite - Cinnabar

 

Oh..come on!!!  Cinnabar!!!!  Really!!??  Um..yup.  Oh and there were many more, like Medium Gray and Silver Mist and Nutmeg and Fire Thorn!!!! I’m not kidding.

So I’m looking round to make sure know one’s looking over my shoulder (as I’m doing this over my lunch at work..on my personal smart phone…just in case “they” are reading!!!)  All the time I thinking…”It’s black..all I know is that it’s black!”

Who knew that there was that much to look at?  Not this Average Guy.

Luckily I found this snippet on one site and it all became clear:

Plush Cut Pile

Our nylon cut pile is constructed from 100% first quality yarn and is similar to what is found in most cars since 1974. It is tufted on a 1/8 gauge machine with 14 ounces of yarn per square yard. It is dyed using the finest dyes available and tested for ozone humidity fading & light fastness.

Ultra-Plush Cut Pile

This carpet is a super plush upgrade to our standard Cut Pile. A 100% nylon cut pile manufactured with over 40% more nylon fiber than our standard cut pile. It is dyed using the finest dyes available and tested for ozone humidity fading & light fastness.

Ok..still not sure here!!!

Neon Cut Pile

Our Neon Cut Pile colors are a great look if you want to make a statement! Although these are not stock colors, they would be appropriate for all applications. There is an additional 15% charge for all applications made with Neon Cut Pile.

What…not stock colors!!!??!!!   What?  Are you sure that is color

wasn’t stock?   It’s Pink!!!!

And the clouds parted and it all became clear.  The very last one was this:

 

100% Nylon Loop

A 100% nylon loop. This material is appropriate for pre-1975 applications only, and was the original type construction used in 1969-1973 Mustangs.

And it came in …………..Black!!!”

Thanks for reading

Tim

 

Car Shows – The Paint Jobs

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As with every car show there are some very good paint jobs. There are the cars that  have a traditionally paint with flawless surfaces and deep ” you could shave in them” in them shine.

Then there are unique paint schemes, ghost flames or custom air brushed images.

Here are a few from a recent car show I attended.

Check out this custom Ford pick up.

Two Tone Black and Yellow...that's not all

Check out the bed!!!!

That is some great air brushing!!!

Check out this VW Bus.

Front view

Side View

And for really interesting paint jobs. Stop by the  Bike section of the show.

Ghost Rider Bike

Even if you don’t like the paint you’ve got to appreciated the effort that goes into the work.  Nothing but pure art.

Got a kool paint job on your ride?  Drop me a pick.

Thanks for reading

Tim

Auto Factoids for Week of 11/14/2010

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A few big ones this week.
11/15/1977 – Ford sell its 100 millionth CAR.   What was the car?  A Mustang?  One of the legendary F150s?  Nope it was a 1978 Ford Fairmont Futura  (the triple F).

 

Ford Fairmont Futura (The Triple F) Although some owners had an additional F to add.

The guy that started Honda Soichiro Honda was born 11/17/1906 in Japan.

11/18/1940 Buick produced it 4 millionth car.
http://ucapusa.com/heritage_buick.htm

 

 

1940 Buick Super Coupe

 

 

One day and 19 years later (11/19/1959) Ford stopped the production of the ugliest cars you’d love to own the “Edsel”.

 

 

1958 Edsel Corsair - Really..I don't think they're ugly./

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Car Shows – Favorite things – Painted Dashes

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I love going to car shows. I recently attended one of Tucson, AZ largest car shows called “Cops and Rodders” (for my 3rd year).  It is huge by our standards, over 500 cars, trucks, military vehicles, emergency response vehicles and a lot more. Entering my cars is a lot of fun and getting to talk about them we complete strangers, often having nothing in common with you except that love of cars, is a great way to spend a day.

Besides having conversations with anyone that stops by, I enjoy wandering around the shows.  There aren’t too many cars that don’t interest me.  Oh I don’t really care for the tricked out PT Cruiser with the giant stereo or limo-Hummers (or any other SUV in that configuration), but there’s something about most cars I can find to like.

One of my favorite, all time favorite thing are the painted dash boards of the 60’s and earlier cars.  The lines are clean, the surface is smooth and rather than dull down the interior it makes bright and colorful and the contract between the paint, the chrome that normally accompanies them and the gauges just stand out that much more.

Take this 1960’s Impala.  It’s bright and clean.  Not the dull, padded dashes of today’s cars.  Yes..I get the safety aspects and that’s a good thing, but come on, look at this and say you don’t like it…I bet you can’t.

 

1960 Impala

It's a thing of beauty!!!!

 

Got a painted dash?  Send me a pic and I’ll post it up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

timsweet@cox.net

A Word about Windshields – Quality, Installation and Insurance Part 2

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I’m going to ruin the ending, but I did end up with a quality install on my wife’s Lexus with quality glass.

Thanks reading.

Tim…………………Ok…just kidding.

The ordeal continued when I told the shoddy installer that I didn’t want them to return and remove the fun house mirror from the font of the Lexus.  This prompted several calls back to my insurance company.  For about two hours I telephonically  (that might not be a word!!!) climbed the corporate ladder  until I got to the “Head of Corporate Glass” (that was  the exact title…).

The individual I spoke to, listened to my story, including the intentional installation of faulty mirror support, and assured me the concern would be taken seriously.  That part went well and the next part was even better, but first have to set it up a bit.

It seems that when the previous windshield was installed I was authorized the original glass because the car was under 3 years old.  That was their policy.  However, since the car was over 3 years old this time, they would not authorize the original glass, unless…I paid a difference of $800.00. (More on the price of glass  in a bit later.)

So I was surprise when the  ‘Head of Corporate Glass’ (I hear this in a booming God-like voice, like when God spoke to Charlton Heston in the famous movie “Mose and the 10 Commandments”) say, “We’ll wave the $800.00 and authorize you original glass.”   I won…I won…I beat the evil insurance company!!!…Oh hold the proverbial horses…the round-up wasn’t exactly over.

She next told me I had to have the same installer put in this ‘quality glass’.   Oh…the horses have stopped.  I did not agree and she insisted, stating that because of the warranty they (the insurance company) had with Mr. Shoddy Glass Inc.  it was required to have them re-install the new piece.   I said that I should have the right to have anyone  put it in and that whatever agreement they (the insurance company) had with them (Mr. Shoddy Glass Inc.) wasn’t my problem.  I also mentioned again their total disregard for the safety and quality which should concern them (the insurance company….ok…do I have to keep lawyer-ing up here?….actually I just want to see how annoying I could be!!!…I sure someone will let me know.)  and they would have paid a lot more if the swinging mirror resulted in an accident.  She still insisted and I asked to be moved up a rung in the corporate ladder and she said there wasn’t a next rung.  I said no again and she said ok.  Ok…let the horses go because this was a complete victory!!!! Score a point for the down trodden masses!!!!

Almost…..it took nearly 3 weeks to get the new glass.  The  first company I selected said they couldn’t order the windshield.  I said, sure you can.  A few day later, they said we can’t find the glass to order.  I called the dealership and got  the part number and even how long it would take to get in (two days).  I gave the installer the information.  One week later still no windshield.  I called the installer back and found that they called the insurance company and someone a bit lower than ‘Head of Corporate Glass’ unauthorized original glass.

So another call to ‘Head of Corporate Glass’ .  I wasn’t able to talk to HER (get it..all caps???)  but the lady I did talk to found the note from  HER and said sure, no problem.  I said “Hold your horses, missy”.  And with that we telephonically (it’ll be a real word when I done with this article!!!) found the guy that “de-authorized” my original glass and while we are all   conference together, had him talk to a 3rd installer and tell them I was authorized… with everybody on the line as witnesses.   Ok…party hat time and no can’t you get back time it took you to read this!!!!

There was one more interesting revelation when I compared the prices of the glass provided by Mr. Shoddy installer, my insurance company preferred vendor,  paid for the glass and what Mr. Speedy (yup that’s what Mr. We Know What We Are Doing installer is officially known as) paid for original.  I know why Mr. Shoddy was preferred.  See below:

Mr. Speedy –  $1350  for original Glass

Mr. Shoddy – $252 for OME glass (There was no extra charge the fun house entertainment.)

Thanks for reading and drop me a note.

Tim

Auto Factoids for Week of Oct 3 2010

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A lot happened this week in auto history.

 

10/4/1962 Buick shows off the Riviera

 

 

1963 Buick

 

 

 

10/4/1983 A new land speed record is set by Thrust2 a British jet propelled car.  It was driving by Richard Noble and reached a top speed of 650.88 but the actual record was 633.468 base on the average of two runs within one hour.

Thrust 2 - but ya know..it's a rocket..not a car

 

10/6/1955 – Ford takes is Lincoln Continental to the Paris Car Show

 

1955 Continental

 

 

 

and on the same day ll years later (1966  — so you don’t have to do the math) Cadillac give the world a peak at the Eldorado.

 

1966 Eldorado - Here's a Pink one.

 

 

 

10/8/1959 – Ford introduces the Falcon and thus started a racing legacy. These cars were light and are still round as they make great drag racers.

 

 

1969 Ford Falcon - notice on much the tail lights look like a Maverick's

 

 

10/8 – Two birthdays on this date

1890 Edward Rickenbacker – World I U.S. Fighter ACE, created the Rickenbacker Motor Company which only lasted 7 year before bankrupting him – make the first cars with 4 wheels braking system. Owned the Indianapolis Speedway between the Wars.

 

1922 Rickenbacker Touring Car

 

 

 

1869 Frank Duryea – Created Duryea Motor Wagon Company – first gasoline powered car.

Duryea
Thanks for reading.  Coming up more wrenching tips and the first  installment of the next engine series featuring Chevy’s 283 power plant.
Tim