Anyone ever put a 427 in their 67-72? Pics!

[71ChevySS(straight6)]

Hi guys, haven't posted in a while.

I'm getting so fed up with this 250... I've dumped way too much money into it and had never-ending issues, only to have it now start dieseling and backfiring through the carb, as well as my headers not sealing properly against the head even with the $50 Remflex gasket sandwiched in between. Any advice there with any of that?

So, in a fit of frustration, I hopped on Craigslist to see if there was anything available for relatively cheap that I could throw in my truck... And I found a completely stock, looks like fairly recently gone through (it's painted lime green with black valve covers) 427 - for $400. Everything is there but the intake manifold and headers, he's even got a brand-new Edelbrock carb sitting there with it. Ran when pulled, no smoke, no knock. Casting # is 3999294, according to websites it's a tall deck, 4-bolt main. So... should I jump on it?

I want to know:
- would it take custom engine mounts?
- what headers would fit?
- can I just pick up a cheap 454 intake manifold and throw it on top?
- would the New Process NP435 that's in my truck right now bolt up to it and hold the power it's making?

Thanks in advance!

[custom10nut]

It's a large truck engine. With the tall deck you're going to have a hard time finding a performance intake manifold. That's probably why the carb is just sittin on top.
IMHO, not worth the hassle

[robs71]

my 2cents only......stay away from this deal..more headaches than its worth.that 400$ will turn into 1500$-2000$ if not more before it hits the road.He says it ran,400$,tall deck..all red flags.Your best bet if your looking for a reasonable replacement to your 6 to keep you on the road....check on craigslist close to you for a low mileage 350 that you can possibly hear and check out before pulled,,,easier swap...easier on the wallet...there is a reason its for sale for 400$,don't make it yours........trust me

[demian5]

Originally Posted by robs71

that 400$ will turn into 1500$-2000$ if not more before it hits the road.

Its the dual thermostats that will drive the price up. I had one in a 73 suburban and it was nice.

[Mike C]

Headers are outrageously expensive...

I've got a tall deck 496 that is in the shop that will some day reside in my Camaro and the exhaust is crazy high dollar. About $900.

Rebuilding a low deck 427 for my 69 short step now. Hopefully that a little less high dollar...

[palallin]

The tranny will live just fine back there. There is no need for a performance manifold: just get a stock one.

[franken]

SBCs are everywhere at the pick a part, but BBCs, aren't. So if you need accessory brackets and pulleys to get an alternator, PS pump, and water pump working, you can spend time and money making it happen. People are proud of big block parts too.
You may want to look at the rear gear ratio as well. Steep gears and a BBC will drink a lot of gas.

[robs71]

2 more cents...i would feel more comfortable if i had heard engine run.A swap is not a problem but a few things to consider..you will have to invest some coin to get it in and fired up.If big truck oil pan is still on it will have to be changed out to a regular lets say a 402 pan for clearance.Early tall deck distributors did not have vacuum advance so you will have to search out a later model..they are almost 1/2"taller than a regular small/big block distributor.Headers could be an issue due to the fact they will bolt higher and stick out further than the low deck..have to notch frame for clearance.Manifolds make swap easier.Low deck intake will work with aftermarket spacer kit.Hopefully all accessories are with,pulleys,brackets,etc.as they are specific to these motors.research starter and flywheel also as this needs to be considered.The swap i was involved with was bolted to an automatic..to me it is a lot to consider and spend on a motor like this..good luck with your project...Rob

[RichardJ]

Until you find something else....

>> issues, only to have it now start dieseling and backfiring through the carb, as well as my headers not sealing properly against the head even with the $50 Remflex gasket sandwiched in between. <<

Not wanting to search your other posts, be sure you remove the short pins on each end of the heads and replace with threaded studs. The holes are already threaded. You should already have two threaded manifold studs. Replace all bolts and pins for a total of eight threaded studs.

Eight studs, the CHEAPEST gasket you can find and DO NOT over tighten.

Expensive, layered gaskets are crap and will leak on your 250.

Look for a gasket like this MerCruiser gasket. http://www.marineengineparts.com/exh...ld-gasket.html

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2262&ppt=C1980

[HO455]

Here is another tip for your headers. Most headers are not ground flat and true on the sealing surface so the bolts will never pull them down to seal. I always take my headers and true them up on a large belt sander. This gets all the contact surfaces in the same plane. With your six cylinder headers you may need to find someone with a four foot sander. They are common in cabinet shops, but cabinet makers are NOT real fond of sparks. It can be done with a straight edge and a surface grinder, it just takes longer, but it is well worth it. I had a set of AMC headers that were so far out I ended up having to weld more material on the face to get a uniform sealing surface. Hope this helps.

[MARKDTN]

Stay away from a tall-deck. Probably has a bajillion miles anyway. You can probably find a late 454 complete for about the same money. BB stuff is not doing what it was 10-20 years ago. In the early 90s I sold all the BB stuff I had for top dollar to a guy who was spending his retirement money on BB parts. Now he has some desirable stuff, but I don't think he will keep up with inflation.

If it was me I would put a tried-and-true small block in it or an LS. Way too much hassle to put in a BB that wasn't there-especially a tall-deck.

[71ChevySS(straight6)]

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

...If it was me I would put a tried-and-true small block in it or an LS. Way too much hassle to put in a BB that wasn't there-especially a tall-deck.

I would, but everyone and their grandma has a small block. That's why we got a 500-cubic-inch Cadillac engine for our rat rod project.

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by 71ChevySS(straight6)

I would, but everyone and their grandma has a small block. That's why we got a 500-cubic-inch Cadillac engine for our rat rod project.

That's what I'm talking about!

[davepl]

Why don't people buy these tall deck motors and build massive strokers out of them?

Do you run into some other clearance, like rod-cam, before you run out of deck height? Because if nothing else you should be able to build the same strokers you can with a normal block but run a much better rod ratio.

It would seem like these should be the hot ticket for big-cube motors, but it never seemed to work out that way, and I always wondered why.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by davepl

Why don't people buy these tall deck motors and build massive strokers out of them?

Do you run into some other clearance, like rod-cam, before you run out of deck height? Because if nothing else you should be able to build the same strokers you can with a normal block but run a much better rod ratio.

It would seem like these should be the hot ticket for big-cube motors, but it never seemed to work out that way, and I always wondered why.

Same here, it seems to me if the Parts were available that it would make a heck of a torque monster.