budget build questions for the advanced tuners 6825 ecm $0d bin

**dave w** · 03-21-2017

Back in the late 80's I helped build a budget / non-fuel injected 283. For heads, we used early 80's 305 heads with 1.84" intake and 1.50" exhaust valves. The 283 had 1.72" intake valves and 1.50" exhaust valves. The 305 heads were ready for unleaded fuel, which saved money not having to install harden exhaust valve seats into the 283 heads. The early 80's 305 heads with 1.84" intake valves had a similar combustion chamber cc size similar to the original 283 heads (about 58cc's if I'm remembering correctly). We used the factory 4 barrel intake and quadrajet carburetor from the early 80's 305. The camshaft was a re-ground "Clone" of the Competition Cam 252 torque cam of the late 80's. We also upgraded the ignition system to the early 80's 305 4 Pin HEI distributor. The overall outcome was surprisingly good, the 305 modernized 283 able to hold it's own up against an Impala 327 of the mid 1960's.

dave w

**jim_in_dorris** · 03-22-2017

That's nice to know, I am only building this to last until I can get back in the black. Starting next month, I will have more work and that should ease the budget somewhat. Fixing my wife's Blazer last summer and fall kind of wiped out my budget for fixing my truck, so this is just stop gap. I bought a set of small bore gauges tonight, so I can check the guides. I hope that I don't have to spring for too much work on the heads, it will delay getting it back together. Oh well, so goes life in the country.

**jim_in_dorris** · 03-28-2017

Well, I just can't seem to win. Took the better of the 2 193 heads in to get milled. Turns out it is cracked, no wonder the truck ran crappy. Now I just went over budget again. Do I just put the good set of low compression 882 heads on that I already own, and find an intake manifold? How hard is it to slot the center bolt holes on the stock tbi manifold to use the 882 heads? I will disassemble the 882 heads, and put new valve seals on, hand lap the valves and call it good. Will the 882 heads allow the .474 exhaust lift?

**dave w** · 03-28-2017

I'm thinking a 283 with 882 heads (about 76cc if I'm remembering correctly) will have a compression ratio that will be to low.

dave w

**1project2many** · 03-28-2017

I agree with Dave. The 882 heads will make it tough to get the compression ratio you want. It's not too hard to slot the center bolts in the manifold but it doesn't look pretty afterward. What about buying a used set of heads? www.car-part.com?

**jim_in_dorris** · 03-28-2017

I might pick up a head from the machine shop, or try to find a set of 58cc center bolt 305 heads, but the 882 heads are already paid for. Yes the compression ratio is low. I used my dcr calculator to get 7.9:1. I wish I could just afford new heads, but that money thing is a problem. I will probably bite the bullet and get another 193 head, then pay to complete the head I have.