Just a bit more of an update:
I shot it with paint just so it was sealed up for the winter.
All told, it doesn't look too dang bad - all things considered.
And, finally, that little 283 runs!
The cam break-in went well, all things considered. Changed the oil after the 30 min period, and now she'll fire right off and sound nasty as hell.
It "idles" at around 1200 - my dad and I ran into an issue with timing because his Snap-On timing light wouldn't register it at idle, since it's so choppy.
Needless to say, I love it.
I'll try to get a video on it running before she gets put away for the winter - I plan on taking advantage of the 6 months of frigid weather to tie up loose ends and do everything "right" - I haphazardly put a few things together in my rush to get the motor in and running, and I'm just no happy with it.
So, that's where she sits for the time being!
-Sam.