The cracking small - auction block Chevy V-8 get through its second authoritative evolution plateau in 1957 . While the 265 was retain as the " base " locomotive this model year , the heavy tidings was the raw 283 - cid enlargement , achieved by punch out eagre to 3.88 inches . In its mild melody it produced 185 bhp at 4600 rpm ; a four - barrel card brought this up to 220 bhp ; two quaternity leave in either 245 or 270 ; and Chevy ’s new " Ramjet"fuel injectionsystem supercharge output signal to no less than 250 or 283 . The last was the ultimate , achieving the sorcerous goal of onehorsepowerper cubic inch , and was offer with close - ratio three - speedmanual transmissiononly .
The " fuelie " was carefully develop for good reliability . mechanically skillful valve lifters substituted forhydraulicswhen FI was specified . Longer - reachspark plugswith the metal deflection shields were used to protect wiring and secure cap from multiplex warmth . The top block was a thicker casting to prevent piston chamber wall twisting though over - mingy grip - down bolts . Fuel passages were tapered , increase in fussy - sectioned area toward the inlet ports and in the " ram ’s horn " exhaust manifold paper to allow right scavenging and increased volumetric efficiency . There was new distributer , with the breaker points directly above the shaft suffer to avail reduce fluctuations in the gap rig . And the front and intermediate primary bearings were 0.063 - inch thickset .
Though made by GM ’s Rochestercarburetordivision , the Ramjet fuel injectant arrangement was designed almost all by the Engineering Staff , simplified for production by Harry Barr and Zora Arkus - Duntov . It consisted of three main components : fuel meter , multiplex assembly , and air beat , replacing intake manifold carburetor . The unit study in air first , then throw in fuel directly into each intake port for mix . The amount of fuel used was very precisely controlled , again for full volumetric effiency and gasoline mileage . Cold - atmospheric condition starting and warm - up were ameliorate , and the unit by itself boosted output by about 5 bhp compare to the twin four - barrelful carburetedengine . Chevroletclaimed that FI eliminated manifold icing , and reduced the inclination to drag one’s feet when corner heavily .
Chevy 283-cid V-8 Engine Overview
A extra two - slice atomic number 13 manifold casting was used on 283 V-8s fit out with fuel injectant . The upper casting contained air passages and air / fuel metering system bases , while the humble cast made up jampack pipe and covered the top mall of the locomotive engine .
A major engineering exploitation is never simple - or easy . And although the presentation of Ramjet shot was a milepost in Chevy history , bugs were inevitable . At the Daytona Speed Weeks , for example , the fuel trim back off during acceleration equipment characteristic was eliminated because this make a flat spot in reply . Fuel nozzles , too , required care . They were extended further into the air current to forestall them from absorbing too much heat and casing unsmooth loafing .
There were no formal published tests of the fuel - injected 283 in a received Chevrolet , but performance of the " fuelie " in Corvettes is deserving mentioning . The 0 - 60 miles per hour speedup times of the most potent translation systematically averaged just over 6 mo , and top speeds were in the realm of 140 mph . Driving a 250 - bhp FI Corvette ( 33 bhp below the 1957 upper limit ) , Walt Woron of Motor Trend powder magazine whir through the 0 - 60 dash in just 7.2 seconds . With a extra 283 sporting 10.5:1 compression , dual exhaust , specialcam , and solid booster , the car did 134 mph , and win over Woron that even at that it was n’t really extended . Extrapolating from these results , a two - door sedan weighing 400 pounds more than the ' Vette might have done 0 - 60 in about 8 moment and arrive at a top of 120 mph with the right gearing .
