Advice Needed: Rebuilding a 327

[Toshab]

I started a thread earlier to ask for help in my Chevy '67 C10 rebuild. To make a long story short, the man I bought it from told me I was buying a 283 in her, but thanks to some help from this forum, I found it is actually a 327 .

You can watch the story unfold here if you want to: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=500888

The motor knocks pretty hard, especially on start up and at high rpms.

I'm kind of wet behind the ears when it comes to motors. I have some experience, but probably not near as much as all of yall do. I want to mildly modify this 327. Not something that is going to cost me thousands and thousands, but I have a little bit put back that would allow me to have some fun with it.

What do yall recommend as far as:
Carburetor
Intake manifold
Camshaft
Heads
And anything else I don't know to ask about

The casting number is 3892657

The engine ID number is VIOIOMA

(I'm really not sure what you do with these, but somebody in the last thread said they help )

I know I have to make sure I don't have a cam that is too big for my heads and stuff like that, but I don't know exactly what to compare when looking at that. Any explanations would be very educational for me.

I plan on posting pictures as a progress through everything. Here's a picture of my beauty, and the before pictures of the engine.

[BigSwid79]

I'd be careful with an engine that is knocking... what type of noise are you getting from it? With a knock instead of going all top end parts, I'd look into what in the bottom end is causing the knock and fixing it, 327's are great engines, they spin all sorts of rpms thats why I like em' :P

[Captainfab]

Well according to what I've found, the MA code shows it to be a 210hp 327 from a '67 Camaro. That will have small valve (1.74 intake, 1.5 exhaust) heads. I would definitely consider a better set of heads, such as the Vortec heads. And yes, if it is knocking, the bottom end likely needs rebuilt as well.

A 600 cfm carb will be sufficient. For an intake manifold, a Edelbrock Performer EPS or a Performer RPM will be a good match. A camshaft of a 262-268 version would be good

[Toshab]

I took it to a mechanic who diagnosed the knock as a piston knock.

Originally Posted by Captainfab

if it is knocking, the bottom end likely needs rebuilt as well.

I plan on doing a complete rebuild.

Is there a size I need to be looking for on the Vortec heads. And about how much does those normally run?

[BigDan3131]

There goes your not wanting to spend $$$ on it huh?

[Captainfab]

You will want the L31 Vortec 350 heads used from 1996 thru 2002. You can buy brand new ones, or you can find a good used set and have them rebuilt. A lot of guys will say that having a used set rebuilt, is close to as much as buying a new set. But in my area, I have found that the cost of a quality rebuild on a set of heads is a good bit less. So I would recommend checking prices in your area.

[Toshab]

Since I'm going to have to do a complete rebuild, I've decided I can't afford the vortec heads. My dad has a set of TBI heads (76cc) that he will sell me for real cheap that have already been worked on to help defray some cost.

Now I'm having trouble knowing what kind of cam to get.

Carburetor: Holley 4160 600 cfm
Intake Manifold: Edelbrock 7501
Heads: TBI 76cc

I'm not looking for anything too much. I'll take captainfab's advice and go with the 262-268 range. I was looking on compcams website and on summit racing and before I knew it I was lost in an ocean of camshafts and I'm just not real sure how to swim in that kind of water.

Any advice guys?

[BigDan3131]

XE256H from Comp the peak HP is 273@4500 rpm and peak torque is 357@3500 rpm. These figures are based on the carb/manifold choice stock type heads with 1.94/1.5 valves, stock exhaust with mufflers and 9:1 compression. Anything bigger and the power fell off.

[Toshab]

I have headers and Flowmaster exhaust. Does that change anything?

[BigDan3131]

The XE 262H, HP is 302@5000 rpm torque is 375@3500 and it has more average hp and torque than the other one. Also its idle is more noticeable because the duration is about 10 degrees higher. So it will have a nice sound and run well.

[Toshab]

I love this forum.

[Toshab]

Anybody know of a high quality gasket to put on a set of headers to keep the leaks from happening?

[Toshab]

Well....the heads dad was going to sell me for cheap turned out to be junk. So I'm looking at the L31 Vortec heads mentioned earlier in the thread. The guy at the machine shop said I could go for a set of Procomp Aluminum heads for about the same price. Which one is better?

My hopefully-low-dollar rebuild has suceeded at turning me into professional beggar, and my wife is growing weary of being a cheerful giver.

[GASoline71]

The Pro-crap heads are... well... crap.

No engine rebuild is cheap. If you cut corners and use cheap parts... you'll be doing it all over again later on. Then it gets expensive.

You can get the Summit Vortec heads for a good deal. Also with Vortec heads you have to use self aligning rocker arms as well.

Gary

[Captainfab]

[Toshab]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

No engine rebuild is cheap. If you cut corners and use cheap parts... you'll be doing it all over again later on. Then it gets expensive.

I'm beginning to see the truth in this.

Looking on summit racing, I found the vortec heads. The application is for a 350, but since the 327 is the same block, they should also work on a 327, right?

[Captainfab]

Yes the Vortec heads will bolt onto a 327 just fine....they're both small blocks.

Originally Posted by Toshab

I'm beginning to see the truth in this.

Looking on summit racing, I found the vortec heads. The application is for a 350, but since the 327 is the same block, they should also work on a 327, right?

[Dustytrix]

But if you get vortec heads, I got some love them for the price you can't beat them. But make sure the intake will work with vortec heads. The vortec have 8 bolts to the intake, regular heads have 12 and they are on a different pitch.

[GASoline71]

Good point Dusty. To use Vortec heads you have to use a Vortec compatible intake manifold. Edelbrock makes 'em. Pretty slick...

Gary