Everyone praises the 350 swap but my tired 283 outran it on the back roads near Athens
I picked up a 1966 C10 about two years ago with a worn out 283 and a three on the tree, and everyone at the local shows kept telling me to drop in a crate 350 like it was the only answer. I finally ran a buddy's truck with a fresh 350 down Highway 78 outside Athens last month, and my little 283 with a two barrel carb and 130,000 miles stayed right with him through the curves. The 350 made more noise and drank way more gas, but on those narrow roads it never pulled away from me. Light motor, stock heads, and a rear gear that actually matches the power band beats cubic inches every time. Curious if anyone here has kept a small inch motor instead of doing the swap everyone pushes?