92GTA

After speaking with my cars 3rd owner who had her for 42 years, he said that the person he bought the car from rebuilt the engine and went .030" over so it's a 283ci now. Problem is by my math a 265ci @ .030 over is a 269.3ci. His memory isn't that great but he is sure it's a .030 over and is 283ci.

With a .030 over on a 265ci, what stroke crank might it have that would make it a 283ci? It was rebuilt about 1963-1965. I'm still trying to contact the 2nd owner that rebuilt it. He used to drag race it and he also has some wicked camshaft, a modified 2x4 setup, exhaust cutouts, an ANSEN NHRA bellhousing/scatter shield, and he swapped the PG for a 3-spd. That's just what I know of so far. I also think the rear is upgraded to a posi in the original 3.55 rear end.

So back in 1965, what would have been the best way to get from 265ci to 283ci with a .030 overbore?

Thanks! Alex

MikeM

The best way was to bore the 265 .125 overbore. There were lot's of them done this way and it was cheap 'cause you could use OEM pistons, even the domed FI pistons.

Some hit water at this overbore, most didn't.

92GTA

Thanks. So just a larger overbore then huh. I'm sure glad they didn't hit water with the original block

Eventually I'll rebuild it and find out for sure I guess but that's years away, the engine only has about ~5K miles since rebuild in 1965.

Sky65

How hard is it to get the pan off? You could pull the pan and measure the bore from the bottom.

MikeM

Well, the other easy way was to just install a 283 which many people did but I believe you say you have the original engine?

92GTA

Very true

92GTA

Yup, original engine, along with original almost everything else too thankfully.

NOM61

Since he's so certain on both counts (which is extremely unlikely to be true) and he wasn't the one who bored it, I wouldn't place any weight on either being correct.
If you really need to know, drop the pan and find out for sure.
Don't forget to get the casting number off the crank.

DT

x0000rgw

Am I missing something? I thought all 1957 Vette's
were 283 from the factory.

Ray

NOM61

You are absolutely right!
So its just a 283 that has been bored .30 over and it is now a 287!

DT

92GTA

Guys, look at my sig, I own a '56. Things change allot in the 8 years I've had this name on the forum lol.

Dan Hampton

That's what I would do. Any taper on the bored engine is going to require sleeving on the next go around.

jmschmit

Yes 57 was 283. Nothing else. Bill 58.

62Jeff

If you wish, you can contact a forum moderator and get your screen name changed to 56Vette to match the car you bought (and not the car you lusted after). May help avoid confusion such as we see here.

knockbill

if its the original engine, and is already overbored, you could take it out, and save it, in running condition,,, it would be nice to have teh original running engine, if you ever sell teh car........then you build a 283!!!!!!!!!
tahts what i did!!

92GTA

So I FINALLY got to speak with the 2nd owner who is the one who made all of the changes to the car.

Turns out that at about 19K miles the original engine was pulled and built strictly for racing by James Faime who has a machine shop in Ventura CA, and still does I'm told. At this time though in 1965, Faime built the engine in his garage for this 2nd owner.

This 2nd owner simply paid Faime the $$$ and took delivery. He does know the engine was bored .030" over and knows that new pistons were used but he can't remember what the story is on the crank. He remembers too the engine was built loose just for racing. Also he knows it has a huge nasty cam but can't remember the specs (the dude is 82 now). Also this is when the original 1x4 was removed and the 2x4 setup installed. Faime is also the one who coverted the car from Powerglide to stick and installed the ANSEN NHRA scatter shield which was a racing requirement back then the guy told me.

He said he only ever race it once when it was finished and it ran a 15.5 at the mojave drag strip in early 1967. He then sold the car to the 3rd owner who only drove the car 4K miles over the next 2 years before parking it for the next 39.

The guy thinks "Faime" is spelled that way and told me to look up a Faimes machine in Ventura CA. Anyone ever heard of a James Faime?

All in all though, I'm sure glad to hear the original block is only a .030" over!

Thanks! Alex

my58

I believe the shop is Fains.


Fains Auto Parts Speed Eqpt 1200 Callens Rd Ventura Zip 93003. Phone (805)656-6320

my58

Alex,


This link has some info on Jimmy Fain and his shop. It has some good and bad to say, but might be interesting for you to read.

http://66.154.44.164/forum/showthread.php?t=225607

92GTA

Wow, thank you!!!!!

Alex

Al T

What a coincidence. This just showed up on another forum I frequent.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...5607&showall=1

Allan