Ambulance engine

[72gord]

67-C30, me and a couple of friends ran into one of those ''smart guys" too once awhile back. We were discussing Chevy engines and talking about the LT-1, this guy says I have an LT-1 big block in my Firebird, we tell him that that is a 350...small block only; he responds....I know but I rebuilt it now its a big block....we laughed a little and told him that must have took alot of welding and machine work.....he was clueless!!!

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by 72gord

67-C30, me and a couple of friends ran into one of those ''smart guys" too once awhile back. We were discussing Chevy engines and talking about the LT-1, this guy says I have an LT-1 big block in my Firebird, we tell him that that is a 350...small block only; he responds....I know but I rebuilt it now its a big block....we laughed a little and told him that must have took alot of welding and machine work.....he was clueless!!!

LOL! I guess he must have put in the oven for awhile and made it grow up!!

[jgrh64]

OK I learned something about 400's too that they came in 4 bolt mains also, but what about carbs? I always heard these were strictly 2 bbl carbs as they were meant to be low RPM torque engines.

[prg machine]

Originally Posted by jgrh64

OK I learned something about 400's too that they came in 4 bolt mains also, but what about carbs? I always heard these were strictly 2 bbl carbs as they were meant to be low RPM torque engines.

The one I had an "experience" with came out of a 76 4x4 with a stock 4 barrel manifold and carb (Quadrajet)

[prg machine]

Is the 307 realy that "bad" of an engine design? Seems like with the stroke of the 327 and same crank that it has potential..................what exactly is it about this particular engine that turns people away?
I happen to have one is the reason I ask.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by prg machine

Is the 307 realy that "bad" of an engine design? Seems like with the stroke of the 327 and same crank that it has potential..................what exactly is it about this particular engine that turns people away?
I happen to have one is the reason I ask.

The early 307's got a bad batch of camshafts that had problems with the case hardening, and they would eat cams quickly, and they got a bad rep. All of the ones I have had (70-74 models) have been good engines. They have decent power and get decent fuel mileage. They are basically a 283, with a 327 crank. They are large journal engines as opposed to the 283's being small journal. I would run a 307 over a 305 any day of the week.

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by prg machine

Is the 307 realy that "bad" of an engine design? Seems like with the stroke of the 327 and same crank that it has potential..................what exactly is it about this particular engine that turns people away?
I happen to have one is the reason I ask.

Nah, I guess the 307 wouldn't be that bad of engine. Like you with the 400, I just don't like the 307.
My very first car, (69 chevelle) had a 307 and it was a complete and utter dog. It would top out at 90mph downhill! That's the gods honest truth...

I hated that motor and still hate 'em today.
I had one other 307. It was in another chevelle a friend and I bought for parts. I blew up the motor that was in my car at the time and was forced to use the 307 out of the parts chevelle. I needed transportation.

I had alot of fun with that 307, ( for a couple weeks), it very seldom seen anything but wide open. It's turn a little over 6000rpm if ya held it in low long enough.....LOL

[prg machine]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

The early 307's got a bad batch of camshafts that had problems with the case hardening, and they would eat cams quickly, and they got a bad rep. All of the ones I have had (70-74 models) have been good engines. They have decent power and get decent fuel mileage. They are basically a 283, with a 327 crank. They are large journal engines as opposed to the 283's being small journal. I would run a 307 over a 305 any day of the week.

It sounds like the "design" of the307 was okay.............just some lousy parts used from the factory............I would imagine the heads used on them probably contributed to the engines lack of ability to create any real power so to speak of in certain cases. It also seems that they have the same RPM potential as the 327s and probably could make a pretty good "foundation" for a small block build.....by simply changing components.
The 400.................well...........................that's a whole different design of block..............realy not much can change that. Not much hope there!!

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by special-K

You have to say 400 big block or 400 small block so people know which engine you`re talking about.I don`t understand how that could bother anyone.We don`t say 327 small block because there were only small block 327s.No need to clarify.But with trucks equipped with 402s having emblems that read "400",which we all know are big blocks,then also making 400 small blocks it seems simple to see why we need to say which one we`re talking about.When we punch out a 400 to 427 we need to say 427 small block since anyone would automatically assume you mean a 427 big block.

Yea, you're sorta right, but that is actually part of the problem. When somebody says 400 big block I imediately relate that as somebody who doesn't know what they're talking about. If they knew what they were talking about they'd say 402!
It's kinda like kids lookin at the speedometer to see how fast it is...! LOL
That number on the fender means nothing.

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

I would run a 307 over a 305 any day of the week.

I'd take the 305, (IMHO).
With todays fuel the 305's longer stroke makes alot better torque. One of the best engines I ever built was a stroker 305! (328 CID I think, 400 crank/stock 305 bore).

The 307 probably would've been better back in it's day when RPM was the way to build power.

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by prg machine

It sounds like the "design" of the307 was okay.............just some lousy parts used from the factory............I would imagine the heads used on them probably contributed to the engines lack of ability to create any real power so to speak of in certain cases. It also seems that they have the same RPM potential as the 327s and probably could make a pretty good "foundation" for a small block build.....by simply changing components.
The 400.................well...........................that's a whole different design of block..............realy not much can change that. Not much hope there!!

See, it's just a matter of opinion! My opinion of the 307 is comparable to your opinion of the 400!

Change components of a 307 or make sure you have a good cooling system on a 400.
LOL

[prg machine]

Originally Posted by 454_72_4X4

See, it's just a matter of opinion! My opinion of the 307 is comparable to your opinion of the 400!

Change components of a 307 or make sure you have a good cooling system on a 400.
LOL

I'd rather replace a soft cam then replace a cracked block anyday of the week!~!!