I am looking for a picture of a correct original 1966 283 4 barrel engine. Specifically, I would like to see the passenger side with the choke thermostat. All of the Chevelle books that I have seen almost always feature the 396 engine.

dtm

The 1957 and up 8 Cyl. engines had a heat tube running through the right exhaust manifold. The exhaust heated the incoming air that was sucked through the tube. (tube was open on both ends) Another external tube plugged into the manifold heat tube carried the heat up to the choke thermostat. The slight vacuum created by the slight vacuum leakage around the choke piston drew the air up to the choke housing.
I didn't go back and check at this time as to the exact year (I never thought I would forget it) but in the mid '60's the choke heat system was changed on most of the engines. The choke remote thermostat sat in a pocket on the right side of the carb , a rod conected it to the choke valve and the exhaust crossover passage in the intake manifold heated the thermo. spring.
A few low production carburetors continued to have the exhaust manifold heated choke . The 1964-1966 Chevelle with a 283 and 4 barrel was one of them.
Your right exhaust maniflos was part
#3817806 and used on a limited number of Chevelle and ChevyII cars with that 4 Bbbl. If you have the correct right exhaust manifold there should be a small hole aon top at about the center. There will be a matching hole on the bottom and a stainless tube running thru the manifold.....if tube is missing its part #3814026 and is reproduced as it fits a ton of engines from 1958 and up. If the is no actual hole or holes there MY be a raised smooth area where the tuvbe hole would be located.
Now a new feature was added in about 1963. They called it the choke fresh air system. Another tube was connected at the bottom of the hole, ran to the air cleaner and drew filtered air fron inside the air cleaner. This prevented dirt from being sucked in - which really was never a problem from my experiance.
So far I have not done a detailed search but these are the basics.

Your explanation of the stainless tube lightly pressed into the passenger side exhaust manifold is exactly what I believe would work and was original. The problem is that this exhaust manifold is from an original 1966 283 2 barrel 195 horsepower engine. There are no embossments, no stainless tube, no indications that a heat tube could ever be drilled into this manifold from the factory. So, I guess that I will have to look for a 220 horsepower manifold or have the local machine shop drill this exhaust manifold.

dtm

Until you get the right exhaust manifold you could use a choke stove to get heat off the manifold I don't even know if they still make choke stoves

I haven't seen a choke stove for sale in years. If I must, the local machine shop will drill my exhaust manifold for a stainless steel heat tube. I would like to find a better exhaust manifold with less pits for them to work on.

dtm

I bought a new choke stove for my 68 Impala with a QJet 327 just a year ago. Check with Impala Bob. I don't remember where I got the one I have, but I got it off of an internet vendor. They are still being sold.

I saw this one on eBay:
Item number: 230428795512
Item location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Contact:

Phone: In the Atlanta Metro Area call 770-457-8570/770-235-0775

Toll Free: 1-866-961-CARB (2272)

Email: infocarbjunkys

www.carbjunkys.com

PS Carbjunkys also sells an electric choke conversion kit for the Qjet carb.

Note that the tube may be slightly larger on one end. The larger end goes up so the external tube can slip into it.

Back in the good old days we sold a ton of the choke stoves. There must have been at least 20 or more different ones for the various engine/carburetor combinations.