Advice building a 327

[69Rob]

Ok im not master at anything just a tinker so can do my basic plugs wires pretty much just a tune up i have a 327 witha 2speed powerglide out of a 69 caprice cop car. i want to build this thing up to push enough horse to lift my nova off the ground( i know it aint a truck but i trust yalls advice then a shops just wanting my money) i want to use what i have already without buying to much. i have a 327 block, 2speed powerglide a pair of camel/dbl humped heads(which ever they are called) a dbl pump holly carb with a permormance edelbrock manifold. I know im going to have to machine the block and the heads so what is a reasonable price for the work?and also going to have to rebuild the tranny is there a shift kit or any thing i speacial i should do to it? and what should i get for the bore what kind of pistons all that stuff im getting confused just typing it. well thanx in advance

[Marv D]

Pulling the front wheels with a 2spd is pretty tough. That 1.72 first gear ratio is almost like 2nd gear in a TH350 or 400. If your wanting wheelies,, 4.56 or deeper gears, a 3spd auto, LOOSE convertor and a transbrake will do the trick. Here's what it did to my Nova with 650HP and a TH400



it now has an eyelash less than 800HP, a 1.80 gear powerglide and wheelie bars and wheelstands are a thing of the past. Also be aware,, the stock front end is FRAGILE. Every time you yank the front wheels off the ground, be prepared to make a trip to the alignment shop when it comes back down.

[larry may]

Do I see a 9" in the rear of that little red ride??

[primered_junk]

I agree with marv, the glide just wont hack it, unless it's an all out drag car. The 327 has potential, but a small inch motor is hard to make a thumper out of. Depending on the casting numbers the double humps can be made to flow, but require big time machine work to get a good valve spring to work. You would be better off flipping the double humps to a dirt tracker and investing in a nice set of heads. Heck even a set of patriots will run circles around a set of double humps. A good crank a nice set of domed pistons, good rods etc. Will be necessary. You will be in the area of about 3500 to make it happen, and that's just the engine. 327 stuff is getting hard to come by and it is going to be a high dollar deal.

[Super73]

I'm helping a buddy put together a 327 for his 64 pick up. Dispite it having a 4 speed, a similar build would net you some where around 450hp and 400ftlbs tq. It would be a little "peaky" do to the lack of cubes and the bigger cam required, but with the right converter in the car it would move pretty darn well. Will it lift the front tires with out a 3 speed auto and steep gears, probably not. Put a forged bottom in it and spray a healthy shot of N20 through it and you might be able to get one tire off the ground a couple inches, but nothing huge.

Details of his set up:
327 .060 over
Patriot heads
Comp 918 springs installed at 1.80"
1.5 roller rockers
236/242 .585/.540 110 intake center/110 exhaust center "roller cam"
Super Victor intake
750 vacum carb

[wesmigletz]

When I rebuilt the original 327 from our 62 Vette, I wanted a little more out of it. I had a 3.85" stroke crank with 350 sized mains turned down to fit the SJ block. The machine shop installed Pro-gram engineering splayed 4 bolt main caps. I used a 6.0" Manley SJ rod, and dished forged Ross pistons. If I were to do it over, I would have gone with a 3.75 inch stroke.

I sent the 1962 461X heads to Mike Stark at www.cfmperformance.com for a stage 5 competition port job. I had an old solid F/T cam reground locally. Using a low-rise Weiand dual plane, the combo was good for 12.79 @ Famoso, and idled with 18" vacuum. When I switched to a team G intake (fit under the stock 62 Vette hood), it went 12.77, and idled with 16.5" vacuum at 800 RPM. The car had 1 3/4" headers, a 2 1/2" dual exhaust, a 3.36 posi, and a 700R4, with an 1800-2200 stall converter. The car was left in D and shifted at 5000 RPM. Wife and I drove it across the US, and she regularly takes it for coffee, etc.

With a little more cam, converter, and compression, it would be a decent performer. A lot can be done with the old engines... No reason you couldn't build a screamer for your Nova. The cars weigh about the same, and you have room for a taller intake, and bigger exhaust...

[Rodms]

I'm not sure I would spend any money on the heads,Do you know what #s they are?If all original they will have to be cut and alot of work done to them to handle a cam with alot of lift.You can get a pretty good build for 2500,but spend it on the right parts!

[joeys66pickup]

(sidenote) Marv's Nova is *****in!! holy crap that is so awesome

[69Rob]

i will get the numbers off the heads today and thanx super73 thats the kinda info i was looking for. i appreciate the info every one i also have a 700r laying around and another 350 but i wanted to save the other 350 to rebuild it for the 69 and i got another th400 i just wanted to put that 327 to use and thought it might do better in the nova since it is lighter

[Marv D]

The floorpan is going to be a problem with the 700r4, but.. that DeeeP 1st gear of the 700 is DEFINATELY going to toss the nose skyward if you can get it to hook. Still going to need a loose convertor, and some deep rear gears.

[wesmigletz]

Depending on the year, a 700R4 might not be a problem. I used to run a 700R4 in my old 63 Nova SS Convertible. I even used the stock floor shift. You can either modify your stock crossmember, or order one from www.700R4.com for the 700R4. In the case of our 63, modified the stock crossmember, to drop and move rearward the mount pad. Aside from that, I had to use the tail housing that had tabs for the stock shifter to bolt to. If it is a later car, or column shifted, that would be a non issue.

Wes

[69Rob]

its a 73 nova with less then 3k miles!!!! i think any ways no way to really confirm it only have word of mouth to go off of

[VDOG]

These pics are from my 283ci, as I was changing to a Weiland manifold.
My engine is all roller from the timing chain, rocker arms and cam.
Its been in my truck for over 11 years, I only had to add a water pump.
Now its getting tired so im going with a 350ci because guys tell me 283's have no tork. My engine has top end nothing on the bottom, but the cam thats in there is for a car with a manual trans.
My point, build your 327, that will be a great motor for your nova.
Im looking for the same car, 62-65 nova car or wagon.
I was going to add Vortec heads and a RV cam to my 283ci, figured that would wake it up.

[redhead69]

lol Marv is that a stock front end?? Just did a cpp mini kit in mine made a big difference

[wesmigletz]

If the 283 is original to your truck, and you want to hang onto it, you can stroke it. Our 59 had a 283/270 HP engine. I had the block bored to 4.00" and the block clearanced for a 3.75 inch stroke. It took a fair amount of grinding on the block for crank and rod clearance, but the use of stroker rods helped, and the counterweights were turned down. Balancing wasn't cheap however. I also had Pro-gram engineering main caps installed to beef up the bottom end. Of course, if there's no particular attachment to your engine, disregard the above.

I see that you're in L.A. JMS Racing handled all the machine work for the 59's stroked 283 and the 62's stroked 327. JMS has a solid reputation and are worth checking out when you're ready for machine work.

stroked 327



Wes

Originally Posted by VDOG

These pics are from my 283ci, as I was changing to a Weiland manifold.
My engine is all roller from the timing chain, rocker arms and cam.
Its been in my truck for over 11 years, I only had to add a water pump.
Now its getting tired so im going with a 350ci because guys tell me 283's have no tork. My engine has top end nothing on the bottom, but the cam thats in there is for a car with a manual trans.
My point, build your 327, that will be a great motor for your nova.
Im looking for the same car, 62-65 nova car or wagon.
I was going to add Vortec heads and a RV cam to my 283ci, figured that would wake it up.

[VDOG]

The 283 was thrown in when my tired 307 died. But I love this engine, no torque, but it has a nice top end, and is durable. It was built with the right parts. I will keep your advice in mind if I go that way with the 283.
Also will check out the shop, I need some work done on my 350.
Thanks.