Help!

[72shorty]

I just spoke to an old man on the phone who use to race. He's got a couple of SBC's for sale in the KC paper. Anyway, he's got a '66 truck 327 complete from top to bottom. Said it was running when it was pulled but he recommended having it rebuilt but not bored. Asking $200 for it. Is that a fair deal or not? I don't know anything about these things, I just called to kick the tires a little and now I am on the verge. HELP!

[68 Suburban]

He will take $150..... Buy it!

[72shorty]

Would a 327 be better than a 350 for a daily driver? I really am ignorant about these things.

Thanks!

[72shorty]

One more thing, if I were to buy it, would it hurt it at all to let it set a while? I probably won't have the money to rebuild it till spring or summer '04.

[jacquesdean]

my experiance with 327 is that the harmonic balancers were pressed on and not secured with a bolt. Sometimes the splines were scrap.

[72shorty]

Alright, I have no idea what that means, but it sounds bad. Would a 350 be better for what I want to do then? I am not wanting a street rod, just a problem free powerplant that will allow me to occassional smoke the tires.

[6772king]

that is a very good deal around hear!!!! as for the harmonic balancer there isnt any splines on them but they are pressed on with no bolt that hold them on the crank. I just did one for my dad and when I had it at the machine shop I had them drill the crank so that a bolt could be used to hold it on, think they charged me 25 bucks for that I would deffinatly buy that!!

[72shorty]

Ok, thanks guys. It seems I am getting the same answer everywhere I turn. I really don't have the money and my wife's going to kill me, but if he'll take $150 I'm gonna get it, store it and work on it as I can afford.

Thanks again!

[CHEVYE]

i`ve had great luck and performance from 283`s and 327`s alike. they are very reliable and have a good fast rev too.

[Tx Firefighter]

If it's indeed that old, the heads won't have accessory bolt holes in them. It won't be possible to use the right 72 truck brackets on the heads. You'll either have to change to another style/ vintage bracket setup or change heads.

Also, those old heads don't have hardened valve seats, so plan on extra $ when you rebuild them.

Tap the crank for a bolt and don't look back.

Just some things to keep in mind.

[72shorty]

Hey guys,

I'm going to pass on that 327 I found in the KC star for $200 because I spoke to my Dad last night and he has found me a 1990 Caprice with a 350 TBI and 700R4 for cheeeeep. Used to be a Patrol car and he now drives it in his job, he works for the Ray County Missouri Assessors Office. He says it has a ton of miles on it but still lays a black mark 3 city blocks long. Guess the county is going to replace it and he has first dibs on it. I'm sure motor and tranny will need rebuilt but at the price he is talking, it sounds good.

Also, that 327 sounds good if any of you are interested. 816-452-1943 is the number.

Thanks for all your help!

[CPNE]

I don't know much about "newer" engines but is your prospective engine carburated or fuel injected? If injected, I'd assume it would be controlled by a computer of some kind. Have you considered the ramifications of this swap? Can it be reverted back to caburation if you need to do so or do you have the expertise to pull off this swap with the required electronics?

This was not posted to "insult your intelligence" or to discourage your choice. It is meant to be a "devils advocate" comment only.

[72shorty]

CPNE,

You'd have to make it much more elementary to insult my intelligence.

I was actually just typing up another post asking these same questions when my email hollared at me with this post from you.

I don't if it's fuel injected or not. And I have NO knowledge of motors of any kind beyond basic stuff. So, if anyone does know about this, please chime in!

Thanks CPNE for the Q's.

[Old Chevy Lover]

Personally, I think 327's are about the top of the line for Chevy Small Blocks. They came factory with a steel crank, and they have the best of 2 worlds, the short stroke from the smalled cubic inch engines, but the bigger bore size of the 350. I would jump on a 327 for $200 in a minute, even if it needed rebuilt. They are getting hard to come by, around here anyway.

[67sss]

327"s are awesome, as far as being older with no holes on the head that sonds like maybe 202's, that's whats in my 67. Now all I need to find is some 2'' exhaust manifolds. Also, alot of those older engines that haven't been touched yet had 10:1 or even 13:1 compression. Hummmmmm.....steel crank, poss. 202's and running. $150? go for it, shipping would kill me.....$.02 worth.

[teeitup]

I'd go with the 327, I had one in high school in a 70 chevy with a 3 speed, it was fast.

[Old Chevy Lover]

They scoot along pretty good. Take one, have it balanced and blueprinted, stock crank, GM 2.02 heads, aftermarket intake, carb, headers... dollar for dollar a 350 won't come close to it...

[pickup6772]

72SHORTY,
YES , THAT CAPRICE IS FUEL INJECTED. IT WAS THE EARLIER SYSTEM THAT RESEMBLED A CARBURETOR. YOU CAN GET AN AFTERMARKET INTAKE, AND CARB TO FIT IT, AND WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE PUTER. I USED TO DRIVE THE OLD POLICE CRUISERS WHEN I DROVE CABS. I LOVED THEM, AND CAN'T STAND DRIVING THE CIVILIAN MODELS. IF YOU SHOULD DECIDE TO KEEP THE CAR AS A DRIVER, YOU'LL BE SURPRISED HOW WELL IT HANDLES. IF YOU CAN KEEP OUT OF THE THROTTLE (AS IF!! LOL) YOU'LL FIND IT'LL RETURN 25 MILES TO THE GALLON. ON A FEW TRIPS OFF LONG ISLAND, GOING UPSTATE, I'VE GOTTEN AS HIGH AS 29 MPG! WHO NEED AN UNDERPOWERED RICER?!?!?!?

[bigjimzlll]

Originally posted by Old Chevy Lover
They scoot along pretty good. Take one, have it balanced and blueprinted, stock crank, GM 2.02 heads, aftermarket intake, carb, headers... dollar for dollar a 350 won't come close to it...

????????? The 327 was a nice little engine...but ..really..dollar for dollar the 350 is going to out perform the 327..just my opinion