My Chevelle was your basic plain Jane family car. Not an SS, but a 2 dr htp though. It had a 283 deuce and powerglide with only power brakes. Armstrong steering in it, I retrofitted it to power steering so my pregnant wife could drive the thing.
It had about 150,000 miles on it and really did run great. Took it on many highway trips too.
One memorable drive - over the mountains in the winter with our infant daughter - the heater was dismal at best. I could fart warmer air than it put out! Wife and I doffed our coats, wrapped out baby in them to keep her warm while we nearly froze through the mountain passes. We put her on the floor close to the engine.
Later I found the heater core was plugged. I back-flushed it and got the heater working again.
I loved that old Chevelle, I put a lot of trouble free miles on it before deciding to do a frame off restoration.
Unfortunately that went awry. Long story - the first pic I posted was when I sold it, resto incomplete. Still sad today and would love to have her back.
I got 3300 bucks for it in pieces.
I enjoyed your story about your 283 2bbl. My father had a '61 Nomad (Impala) wagon, '64 Impala wagon and '66 Caprice 2dr. HT...all with the PG and 283 2bbl engines. Our family had two travel trailers (15 ft + a 16 ft.) and we went on trips throughout western Canada and the mid west USA...trailer and with 5 people/luggage back in the 60's.
Surprisingly the 283's hauled all this weight without breakdown and managed to keep up with traffic flow back then.
I've always been a fan of the 283.
The last car he used for towing was a '69 Impala, 396 Rat motor...but only a 2 bbl...265 hp / 410 ft. lbs. of torque, THM 400 transmission, 12 bolt axle. He towed a 24 foot trailer I think. That was a car of his, I wished I could of had...along with a '41 Mercury Convertible he had after WW II.
