VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc 1966 - 283 Heads

On an original 1966 Chevy 2 barrel 283 engine, is there any problem in using the original cylinder heads if I change to a 4 barrel carb/intake? Do I need to buy cylinder heads that will match the 4 barrel carbs?

dtm

The 4 barrel intake will bolt on to a 283 no problems.
1966 had available for the first year a 4 barrel manifold to suit a quadrajet carb. It still had the front breather/ filler
pipe in the front of the manifold.
If you have the original 283 rocker covers , they have no breather/filler cap, so you need to change rocker covers or keep
a manifold with the front filler.

I have just bought 4 barrel carter manifold for my 1965 327 ,to replace the 4 barrel 4jet (4gc Rochester) set up.
Another alternate is the edelbrock performer manifold.

Try to stick to the dual plane manifold, as they are a better street driving manifold.

I would say that your 283 has power pak heads, so the manifolds bolt holes will line up no problem.

The 1965-66 283 came with a Rochester 2 barrel. The 4 barrel was an opion. It did not use a Quadrajet but rather a small WCFB Carter simular to what was used on the 283 back in 1961. The valve covers. etc. are the same as are the heads. Not like the earlier power pacs that used a higher compression head as the 2 Bbl engines from 1963 and up already had the HC heads.

Do not even think of using a quadra-jet on 283, to many CFM's and not enough engine to handle it. I had tried it in my younger days and needless to say the engine had to come apart again. Way to much fuel and you will wash the cylinder walls with gas. There are some differences with the chokes from 61 to 66
John

The 1961 still had the big choke housing/cover with thremostatic spring and hot air tube to the exhaust manifold. The 1965-66 has the little thermostatic spring deal in the right side of the intake and a rod running up to the choke plate. The 4 Bbl thermostatic spring and rod will be different from the one on your original 2 Bbl.

Edelbrock do make a small CFM carburetor to fit on the carter manifold,and performer manifold. Their carbs are based on the Carter AFB, and will avoid fuel flooding the cylinders as described .

Thanks for all of the information that has been provided so far. I have the original 283 valve covers and a 1966 dated small block 4 barrel intake manifold for the car. The newly acquired 4 barrel 283 intake manifold has the same oil breather on the front end of the engine as the original 2 barrel that I took off.
It sounds like I should be looking for a Carter WCFB carburetor for the 283 engine. I want the engine to look stock, so even though I know that Elderbrock carbs may work, I am enough of a VCCA preservation guy to say that I need to use a Carter or other original Chevy equipment for my '66 Chevelle.
Thanks for the info.

dtm

The carb. will be quite rare. It was used on the 1964-66 Chevelle and Chevy II which was the most common application and used on a few 1965-66 ful size cars with 283 and 4 Bbbl.

Dave, I bought a 1965 date coded carter AFB carb for my 65 of ebay recently.
You haven't said which manifold you have, but a AFB carter manifold is different to the wcfb manifolds, which i believe are the same as the 4gc rochester manifolds.

Venturi holes are smaller on the 4gc and wcfb manifolds than the carter.

I had motor stalling problems with the 4gc so changed to a q-jet,
then a spread bore holley, but am going now with the 300 HP carter manifold and original carter.

There also was a 365hp alloy manifold available for the 327 in 1965/6 as well.

With the carter manifold , if i am not happy with it, i have the option to go with a new edelbock , or have the original carter rebuilt and rejetted.

Dave,
There is guy in St Louis, Bob Kunz and all he does is Carter Carbs, he has a lot of cores. I know when I was looking for the AFB for my 348 he had it and traded some 327/300 AFB's as cores. To qoute him, "just because it is rare does not mean anyone wants it" I have his number around here somewhere I will get it to you. I remember he was a little on the slow side as far as turn arounds
John

i've had nothing but success dealing with bob kunz. honest, knowledgable and a true gentleman.his turnaround time isn't real quick now that he has semi-retired. his phone # is 314 843 7545.mike

Hello John:
Thanks for looking for the guys name for carburetor rebuilds in St. Louis. I am interested in making the 66 Chevelle look correct while at the same time run like it should.

Dave