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Old 08-30-2020, 06:34 PM   #1
Bargy1
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283 Engine Temperature

What engine temperature is normal for a 283? I have a recently rebuilt 283 and when I check the temp with a infrared thermometer it is around 210 degrees at the thermostat housing.
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Old 08-30-2020, 09:11 PM   #2
geezer#99
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Re: 283 Engine Temperature

Normal!
When?
Idling, cruising, down the highway, parked, in traffic—-
Normal to run a little hotter after a rebuild.
Jetting and timing also effect temps.
What carb, distributor?
What’s timing like?

I see your ambient temps are near 100. Everything runs hotter.
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Old 08-31-2020, 08:33 AM   #3
Dead Parrot
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Re: 283 Engine Temperature

Assuming a 195* thermostat, you are at the expected temp. The temp rating on a tstat is when it starts to open. Normal operating temp is 10~20 hotter.
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Old 08-31-2020, 10:55 AM   #4
vince1
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Re: 283 Engine Temperature

Eons ago some of us toured Mexico in a 64 Impala with a 283 and it had a heating problem. If we had any sense we would have taken it to a rad shop and the the problem would have been taken care of. If the needle doesn't stay rock solid even under load you could have a rad problem.
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Old 08-31-2020, 07:08 PM   #5
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Re: 283 Engine Temperature

Mine run a 180 therm and they cruise in that range. Naturally they will creep up a bit sitting at an idle in triple digit ambient temps.(especially after a long run.) Why not check it as you drive with a reliable temp guage? If even just temporarily so as to get a feel for how it is during real world driving. I use this one. It's got an electric sender.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/a...yABEgKMFfD_BwE
Maybe everything is just fine and the higher reading comes from using the infa red gun.

Last edited by AcampoDave; 08-31-2020 at 07:14 PM.
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Old 08-31-2020, 10:57 PM   #6
Bargy1
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Re: 283 Engine Temperature

Quote:
Originally Posted by geezer#99 View Post
Normal!
When?
Idling, cruising, down the highway, parked, in traffic—-
Normal to run a little hotter after a rebuild.
Jetting and timing also effect temps.
What carb, distributor?
What’s timing like?

I see your ambient temps are near 100. Everything runs hotter.
Cruising, Rochester 2 barrel carb, timing 4 BTDC and yes our summers are around 100 for few months
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Old 08-31-2020, 11:34 PM   #7
geezer#99
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Re: 283 Engine Temperature

Retarded timing makes more heat.
Bump your initial up to 12.
That’ll help.
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Old 09-01-2020, 09:08 PM   #8
Bargy1
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Re: 283 Engine Temperature

Quote:
Originally Posted by geezer#99 View Post
Retarded timing makes more heat.
Bump your initial up to 12.
That’ll help.
The 4 BTDC is what was listed in my shop manual. I am definitely not an ace mechanic. I know just enough to be dangerous. I assume there is a range for the timing that will allow the engine to operate from what you are saying. Is this correct?
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Old 09-01-2020, 10:43 PM   #9
geezer#99
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Re: 283 Engine Temperature

With today’s swill they call gasoline you can run much more initial timing than stock specs.
Usually 10-12 is good.
I’ve never had a problem running 14 in all my various motors.
Try it at 10 and see how it likes it.
Be sure to plug off the vac advance when setting timing.
More initial will increase your idle slightly. Just turn the idle back down and adjust your mixture screws.
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Old 09-01-2020, 10:52 PM   #10
geezer#99
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Re: 283 Engine Temperature

Here’s a link on timing.
A lot you might not totally understand but still a bunch of good info.

https://www.badasscars.com/index.cfm...&product_id=76
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Old 09-01-2020, 11:04 PM   #11
Bargy1
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Re: 283 Engine Temperature

Quote:
Originally Posted by geezer#99 View Post
With today’s swill they call gasoline you can run much more initial timing than stock specs.
Usually 10-12 is good.
I’ve never had a problem running 14 in all my various motors.
Try it at 10 and see how it likes it.
Be sure to plug off the vac advance when setting timing.
More initial will increase your idle slightly. Just turn the idle back down and adjust your mixture screws.
Thank you for your assistance. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I will make some adjustments and see if it helps with the temperature.
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Old 09-02-2020, 01:03 AM   #12
BigRandy
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Re: 283 Engine Temperature

IIRC, in the days when 283's roamed the earth they had 180* stats in them from the factory. I could be wrong but I don't think I've ever known anyone run anything hotter than that in a pre 80's engine. Parts stores carried 180 and 165 stats as a replacement option. I live in the south where summer temps are always 100-110 and I use a 180 in my 74 Cheyenne 454.
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Old 09-02-2020, 04:38 PM   #13
Dead Parrot
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Re: 283 Engine Temperature

My 68 Impala with a 327 ran a 195 tstat as does my 75 C10 with a 350. The 195 may have become standard when the mfgs started dealing with some of the 1968+ emissions regs. A hotter engine burns the gas a bit better.

My 75 is set at an initial of 12 but I never verified the indicator 0 is matched with true TDC. Any more and it is hard to start hot. Doesn't really matter what the real number is, I can't add anymore.
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