Hello, I'm looking to find some advice and wisdom on how easy or not it would be to put a 283 in a 1986 or so Cutlass. I've read that all Chevy small blocks bolt up the same. But the problem with 283 is that they are old. So could a guy out a 1968 283 in a 1986 Cutlass with relative ease

 

Welcome to the group... You mention that all Chevy small blocks bolt up the same... Are you referencing that you presently have a small block Chevy in your 86 Cutlass??? If you are, then the swap is not that difficult...
However, if you presently have a 307 Olds Engine, which is most common (other then a 231 V6), then there is some work involved...

 

I have neither the car or the block. I'm just looking into how hard it would be. If I got an Oldsmobile with a 305 could I put in a 283 easily? The problem with 283 is that I can only find old ones, like 1968 old. What would it take?

 

Why a 283? BTW, they quit making the 283 in 67. The 307 was introduced in 68. There is no real following in the after market for 283's and very little for the 327. If your going to go Chevy small block, go with a 350. The 283 is not any harder to install than any other Chevy small block.

 

well, this has taken a strange turn...

 

Really it was just for better mileage
But if it's going to turn out to be a pain to get parts and maintain. Then I may as well just go with a 350. The reason I would be getting rid of the 305 is because it was made in the 80s and it's a V8 that makes 145hp. Pretty lame from the era of bad emissions controls

 

The only people that want 283's are the people restoring Chevy's that came with 283's. The 327 was a great engine but not near as common as a 350. GM made millions of 350's. There are some pretty good deals on 350's from places like Speedway and Summit. If you have a 305, a 350 should drop right in.

 

I just read as well that it needs to be, or is way easier of its an olds 350 and not a Chevy 350. I assumed these were the same with just different badging. But apparently they have different motor mounts and wiring ? Is this true? Is there any significant difference in power numbers or anything?

 

Only the Canadian cars, with exception of the Hurst/Olds, 442 and 88 Cutlass came with a sbc from the factory. The Olds 350 put out similar numbers to the Chevy 350. I think it has a better torque curve due to design. Where are you from.

 

An Olds 350 has almost nothing in common with a Chevy 350, and yes it will be an easier engine to install in that car.

 

I'm still not clear on whether the car has a Chevy or Olds engine in it.
The Olds 307 is good for fuel economy if it is set up correctly.

If it has a Chevy engine then almost any sbc will go straight in.

Now for some heresy, it far easier to build a Chevy engine for economy or power than just about any other American V8, simply because so many have been built, and it has a vast aftermarket infrastucture in place.

Roger.

 

the 283 cylinder heads don't have bosses or mounting holes for any of the accessories.

 

If you really want a good combination of economy and power, get a Cutlass with a V6 Buick motor and swap in a 3800SC from a FWD Park Ave or Olds Ninety Eight. The Series I 3800 SC motors have the same BOP bellhousing as the earlier motors. The Series II/III motors have the 60 degree metric pattern. You can use the latter if you get the RWD 700R4 from a third gen F-body or S10 with the 2.8 V6 motor. This swap has been done before in a G-body and it works great. 260 HP stock, more with a little work. Probably 20+ MPG.

 

If gas mileage is your primary driver but you still want performance look to have an overdrive transmission behind a V8.

 

There is no car, nor is there an engine. The original post is entirely theoretical.

 

original post is entirely theoretical but strangely very specific