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08-17-2024, 06:57 PM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Yakima Valley, Washington
Posts: 579
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Re: 307 Stroker Anyone???
A few years ago I built a ‘39 Ford pickup hotrod type rig. My uncle had a 307 under the bench that had been pulled from whatever it came in when it was fairly new. No history but people liked to talk down about 307s so it just sat, orphaned. I pulled the cam and found the lousy factory timing gear was so worn that the cam timing was retarded because of it. I put a mild 262 duration / .480 lift cam in, aluminum intake, HEI, and headers, otherwise stock. Sucker ran good and moved that little p/u nicely. Saginaw 4 speed and an 8” with 3.50 gears.
The main issue with a 307 is only its reputation. It was never used in a performance application, just as the basic, bottom option V8. Physically it is a 283 block with a 327 crank. In my 39 I called it just that- way more impressive to have a 283 stroker with 327 crank than a “boring” 307.. A mid sized cam, some better heads probably 1.94 valves, no need for 2.02s and the usual tricks and you’ll be having fun. If you do go with the full / long stroke crank and pistons, be sure to have a machinist confirm piston height and quench.
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1951 GMC 250 Open Express Pickup 1968 Suburban C10 1971 C20 Olive “People are shocked when they find out I’m not a good electrician” Dad told me “Son, never strike a man in anger- unless you’re certain you can get away with it” |
08-18-2024, 11:50 AM | #2 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: North Texas
Posts: 3,545
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Re: 307 Stroker Anyone???
Quote:
Ah, but the lowly 307 was available only in one flavor--200hp with a 2bbl carb. Never mind it was a stroked 283, which was considered to be cool prior to the 327 introduction. When I bought my 69 C10 back in 89, it had the original 307 complete with noisy lifters and sluggish performance. Frist thing I did was replace the cam, lifters, and the worn-tooth timing set. I used stock parts purchased from an engine rebuilding company in Ft. Worth. The cam was probably the old 195/202 piece that was used in 283, 327, and even 350 engines over the years. Those parts and 2-inch dual exhaust with generic turbo mufflers made a big difference. Later I bought a used Q-jet manifold (interestingly from a 69 327), along with a Holley Economaster 450cfm Q-jet replacement carb. Man, that little 4-bbl made even a bigger difference, and completely transformed the truck. It was probably faster than the lighter 220hp/283-4bbl cars I had owned over the years. I can only imagine what it would have done with a small performance cam and bigger valves, even with otherwise stock heads. I eventually went to a 350 and even a 383 for awhile, but sometimes wish I would have just rebuilt the 307 short block and did something about the heads.
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Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then! |
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