Sbc 327 build options and opinions

[ChadW]

SBC Motor help/opinions needed...

We just tore down a 327 that came with my project...crank needs turned so I’m just going to go ahead and do a complete rebuild since I have it all apart..I’m wanting a motor that sounds good with a little lope if possible, and still be able to make a good amount of torque and be quick off the line...I’m not into top speed, just a cruiser that’s fast light to light is what I’m after..casting numbers put it as a 1964 327. Currently has aluminum twisted wedge trick flow 180cc heads, edelbrock performer intake, and a comp cam 260h cam. I am going to run a 700r4 tranny and currently has a 2200 stall converter with it. I have 3.73 posi rearend. 20” rims so somewhere around 27” tall tires..I am wanting to be able to run power brakes as well..What changes should I make while I have this all apart...I think the 260 is a pretty mild cam and have thought of changing to a xe268h or a lunati cam.. please give me some opinions on this build and what I can do to make it a good sounding and performing engine. Thanks

Chad

[Rickysnickers]

You might want to look at going to a hydraulic roller cam.

[Captainfab]

I agree with going with a hydraulic roller if your budget allows. Whether you go with a roller cam or a good flat tappet hydraulic cam, you will need to choose your pistons and cam carefully so as to achieve a pump gas friendly dynamic compression ratio. Also keep in mind that most any given power range for a small block cam is based on use in a 350. Installing that same cam in a 327 will move the power band up a few hundred rpm. Back in the late 70's early '80's I had a '65 Impala with a 327 that was one of the best sounding engines I have ever had, plus it would run with a 396. It had an old Isky 280 HYL cam which had a lift of .465, 230* duration @.050 on a 108 LSA.

[mattfranklin]

Some pretty cool options. Another tack in this discussion would be to look at what Chevrolet did with the Corvette for the same model year as your truck.

http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...vy-l79-engine/

It might not be the most powerful given technology available today, but it would have that vintage Corvette vibe to it.

[Coley]

Remember as you move your choices forward, is that the 'lumpy' sound is not associated with low end torque...certainly not in a small block....and torque is what these heavy vehicles need.
A lot of guys with lumpy small blocks in these heavy vehicles are not happy with their off the line performance....unless the motor is really radically built...and the 327 will produce less torque than the 350.
If it was a camaro or Chevy II or a chevelle....all lighter vehicles, then it would be a different story with respect to performance.
So if that lumpy sound is the target, don't count on having too much power off the line ...maybe once you get things rolling and the revs up above 30-40mph.
if you want more 'low end' performance, focusing on valve lift (vs. duration) will probably help you out more.

My two bits.
Coley

[Captainfab]

The OP already has a bit of a stall converter which will help with some of the loss of low end with a lopey cam.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by mattfranklin

Some pretty cool options. Another tack in this discussion would be to look at what Chevrolet did with the Corvette for the same model year as your truck.

http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...vy-l79-engine/

It might not be the most powerful given technology available today, but it would have that vintage Corvette vibe to it.

Yup... the cam that was in the Corvette 350HP 327's is a great cam. I matched that profile for a 350 build I did a number of years ago and it was a really cool cam.

Gary

[Mike C]

The L79 cam is good, but consensus on the Corvette forums is the L46 350/350 is a better cam all around.

Check out Elgin for MuscleCar grinds. They have some nice cam for not much $. Competition Products is where I've been getting parts FWIW.

[Tom]

No reason to use old tech when you can get loopy with new tech as well.
Your 327 sounds like its already setup exactly like your asking for minus the loopy idle part.