I'm building a 283 as a budget motor for my truck until my monster big block is done. The 283 is a very versitile engine, and while I'm no expert on them, I know quite a few people who have worked these mouse motors from one extreme to the other. Right now I will be putting on a Edlebrock Performer RPM AIRGAP Dual Plane Intake, 500CFM Edlebrock carb, comp cams Magnum Hydraulic flat-tappet cam with 224 duration at .050 and .470 lift for both intake and exhaust. A friend of mine built the exact same setup, and was making 360hp and about 350 ft/lbs of torque one the stock crank rods and pistons, and he also has done nothing to the heads and hasnt noticed any problems with running unleaded gas, and he pulled the motor apart at 35000 miles. This is just my 2 cents on this situation.

- Cory