[QUOTE]Originally posted by 67 caprice
[B]hello I'm going to rebuild the motor and want to give it some more power.Its a 195 hp 283 casting #389648 ,the heads are 3884520.I don't want to change out the original motor and trans.I'm trying to keep it close to original.

I think You went on to say in your 2nd. post that You intended to use the original 283 and heads.That You are going to leave the lower end as it is for now.You did say that You wanted headers, cam,intake and carburator.

Now lets see what You have.
1- 67 caprice, it will weigh close to 4000lbs
2- powerglide transmission
3- 3896948 block- 65 to 67 283 I think you left 1#out of serial
4- 3884520 heads-62 to 67 283-327 small heads 1.72/1.50
valves, I think I had the same head on a 250hp-327 on a 64
SS 4sp.Think this was the biggest motor that head came on.
5- Im guessing here. I would say you have a 3.08 or 3.36 rear.
6- With that much weight, motor ,transmission and rear you
do not want to use a big camshaft. If you do your lead sled
will turn into a lead toad.
This is what I think You could do with what you have,make it run a lot better,still get reasonable gas mileage and I feel with these additions you would enjoy your ride.
1- headers -- use small tube, no bigger than 1&5/8
2- intake-- You could use the 68 manifold you have, a Edelbrock
performer would be better. Its easy to find them used and you
can find them for $75 or less.
3- Camshaft--You almost need an R.V. type cam. You are not
going to be making any hp or torque at the higher RPMs so
you need to make all you can down low. Something like a
performer or You might try a 252 comp. high energy cam.
Rpm range is from 800-4800. No used lifters on a new cam.
4- Carb.--A stock small quadrajet in good shape would work fine
or any good carb between 450 and 600Max. CFM
If that 283 is in good shape and it has good consistant compression on each cylinder, If it doesnt smoke, I would not even pull it down right now. You can spend a few hundred and go have fun. Put the cam ,lifters,timing chain and gear set in it. Put new valve seals in it while you at it. Intake ,carb. and headers,Use good cap,rotor and wires and a good breather. You might consider later going to HEI distributor.

Until such time that you decide to do a full motor job you can go to Advance ,Autozone,Etc. and buy a lead additive to put in you gas to use the heads as they are.

You can buy these matched cam kits or cam, intake and carb kits
from Summit, Jegs,PAW,Competition products,etc for reasonable prices. I am looking at a kit in Competition Product for 129.95 includes cam, lifters,Z28 valve springs,locks umbrella seals,lube.
1-800-233-0199

Its up to You ,how far you want to go, right now.

Have fun! Good luck!