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Chevrolet Trademaster 283 specs: 283 ci (4.6L) 8-cylinder, 3.875 x 3.00 in (98.4 x 76.2 mm) bore and stroke. Rated 160 hp, 1958–1959.
The Chevrolet Trademaster 283 is oversquare — the 3.875" bore exceeds the 3" stroke by 29.2% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 8,000 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. A rod ratio of 1.9 is long by production standards — less side-load on the cylinder wall and gentler piston acceleration around TDC, the geometry that tolerates high RPM. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 35.4 ci (580 cc).
It is one of 25 engines in the Chevrolet 283ci family, all of them 283 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement. 2 factory variants share these dimensions, rated at 160 hp across 1958–1959.
| Displacement | 283 ci / 4.6 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.875" |
| Stroke | 3" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Rod length | 5.7" |
| Rod ratio | 1.9 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.292 |
| Fuel type | gas |
|---|---|
| Advertised HP | 160 hp |
| Years | 1958–1959 |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.292 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,000 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Rod ratio | 1.9 — long — less side loading on the cylinder wall, favours high RPM |
| Displacement per cylinder | 35.4 ci |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 160 hp | Trademaster 283 |
| 1959 | 160 hp | Trademaster 283 |