Originally posted by gassersrule_196
283s can spin up to 12grand not all but some. and 750 is not to much if you have 12:5:1 compression. and what holley did u have that uhad to constantly tue it? we aint touched ours in months what one did you have?

I can only suppose that since you are talking about 12000 rpms and 12.5:1 compression, that you're limiting the engine to only making passes at the strip. You definitely aint runnin it on the street with pump gas anyway. But in any event I wouldn't expect the motor to make too many passes @12 grand. It would never hold for sustained periods with that kind of abuse. Especially when you consider the fact that the 283 is a small journal crank shaft. I know that the 283 I had wasn't built for the strip it was just a plain jane 283 and it let go at about 6100 rpms.

In any event, we are obviously talking about 2 different applications here (apples and oranges if you will). I am talking about comparatively mild street performance and reliability for sustained periods, and (@12 grand and 12.5:1) you seem to be talking about 1/4 mile passes. Again it all comes down to what the motor is going to be used for.

If we are talking passes down the strip, I say get the big block and build it instead, while small blocks can take big blocks, this is an exception and not the rule. It really comes down to how both of them are built. Small blocks have to work harder to do the same amount of work. After all, a ricer can make passes at 12 or 13 after lotso $$ and it wont take near as much $$ to get 12 or 13 out of a small block and even less out of a big block.

Like I said though it's all about preference, and thats mine.

Oh by the way it was a 600 CFM Holley w/a Manual choke. It ran for a while on my 283 and it also ran for a while on my 350. First problem I had was when I put the 350 in and was setting the timing. Had a backfire thru the carb and blew the power valve. Replaced the power valve. Then toward the end of it's life on my truck, I actually had to make adjustments 3 or 4 different times in about a 6 month period (from spring to fall) in order to get it to run right. The last time I adjusted it, it had died (got all choked up) on me when I was moving into the new house and was half way between my old place and the new one. Had to make the adjustment in the dark on the side of the road. Good thing I had done it a few times before.

Also in the limited amount of time I have had the engine in my firebird, I have had the float stick on me at least 3 times (another Holley 600) and flood me out. Sure it's as simple as tapping the side of the bowl w/a screwdriver handle to free it up; but, come on.

Anyway, I'll stick with the 'brocks.

Cheers,
Firechicken