Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

My buddy was going to scrap this old 327 that has been sitting on a shelf in his shop for 10 years or more. It was in a 64 or 65 El Camino that was driven here from Montana.
He gave it to me...:metal:
The casting number is 3782870 and the only stamping on the front pad is SA
The picture of the casting number also shows the end marking of the cylinder head(s).
I'm thinking of using this engine in my Grandson's 68 rather than the healthy 350 that it has now.
I think this is the 250 HP version but not sure ?
I'm wondering about adding a power steering pump and looking for info about the brackets and pulleys that I will need for the short water pump set up.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Well the first question is which one do I get to buy ?

Decoding the 327 Code
First letters of "F," "S," "K" or "T" denotes Flint, St. Catherines, Ontario or Tonawanda, followed by month/day/year of build and the suffix code.

327 Suffix Code
Suffix codes are R, RA, S, SA, RB, K, SB and SG, with each suffix denoting the type of carburetor, transmission and whether the Chevy is equipped with air conditioning.

327 Casting Numbers
Casting numbers for 1962 to 1965 models generating 250 to 375 horsepower is 3782870; 3789817 for 1962 to 1967 models providing 210 to 275 hp; 3791362 for 1964 to 1967 models with 250 to 300 hp; 3814660 for 1968 to 1969 models with 250-hp engines; and 3830944 for 1963 models with 300 hp.


https://itstillruns.com/small-block-...n-5552475.html

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

What I get from my books is a 62 or 63 (although look at the casting date on the back of the block to confirm) 250hp motor based on the SA stamp. Also the "power pak" heads (thats what the marking is) and the little harmonic balancer show it as a low hp motor. That carb is worth a good amount of money to restorers.

As far as power steering brackets, look at 64-68 Chevelle's, 67/68 Camaros for brackets they used the short pump. That is what I used on my truck.

The only thing different that will need to be modified on the truck side is you temp gauge wiring might be the wrong length. 68 was the first year they put the temp sender in the side of head between the exhaust ports. On that motor, the sender goes in the intake near the thermostat housing.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

If 'SA' is the only stamping on the front pad, SA suffix decodes to:
1962/1963 Impala, 327ci, 250hp, powerglide trans, 1-4bbl carb, with A/C

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

You don't want either of those old engines ! Your grandson would probably be happier with an LS swap ! :lol:

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

I'm sure he would....
however the insurance company might not be as enthused....:lol:

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

That motor could well have been swapped in at some point in history.
You can see that someone put the temp sender in the top of the water pump.
Being from Montana it has some kind of block heater as well. Maybe an aftermarket?
This project will be down the road a ways so I'll start trying to source the correct brackets and pulleys as time allows.
Thanks for the helpful info...

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Ahh ! No need to go thru all that I have an empty engine stand waiting right here ! :lol:

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

But...do you have enough space???

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Very nice find, assuming internals are OK and it's not bored to the max.

Many years ago I built a 327 using a 350 block and 307 crank. That thing was lots of fun in a 55 Chevy sedan with a Muncie.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Ill just say he doesnt and it needs to come to my place, lol. I can always use another 327.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

It's about to go on the stand...I want to bore-scope it and put some Mystery oil in the cylinders if they look OK
It tried turning it SLIGHTLY just to make sure it wasn't locked up...it moved but I won't turn it until I let the cylinders soak for a while...
Attachment 2251089

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

I agree it is a 327 250HP.
Your motor has 283 valve covers on it.
Likely from a Chevelle or El as it has the rear exit exhaust.
The Impala's had the center dump style.
Nice to have a complete motor. Everything from the air cleaner to the heat shields for the plugs.
Hasn't been ran since it was painted. The paint would be blackened on the exhaust crossover. Nice find.
Cheers.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Thanks...
It was in a 64 El Camino, and was driven from Montana to Tennessee many years ago. Coming from Montana is probably why it has a block heater installed in the freeze plug near the oil filter...
I have it on the stand now and I'm anxious to bore scope it...hoping it looks good inside and won't need an overhaul...

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Inspiration for me to take my 67 327 (210hp) I pulled from my Camaro when I did a crate motor for that car into my 72. It has a 250 I6 so a "V8" swap is in its future.

I would get different heads and a cam for it as it is the 210 hp baby head 327. Had about 140k mi on it when I pulled it. It has never been rebuilt so depending on cyl condition I suspect would bore it .030 over

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

When I was young I had a .090 over bored 283 with the 302ci solid lifter cam.
The motor was way faster than it sound have been as it had the small valve heads on it.
If it would have gone to the full .125 it would have been a 301!
Those days are gone.
Max overbore of my early LS1 is .005. LOL
Cheers.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

I'm a big fan of the 283s and 327s. I have a '68 large journal built for the '67. I hope yours is good to go and your son can be telling people, "It's a 327"

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

I had time to bore-scope the passenger side last night....all 4 cylinders look good in as much as I can see. I turned it up so that side is horizontal and put some MMO in the cylinders....I'll let that soak for a day or so, then do the driver side.
After that, I'll try to rotate it....if it turns, I'm gonna see if it will start up...

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Good looking motor, yeah I a big fan of 327's as well. I have 2 spare 68 blocks, but one is slated for the C10. The original 327 in my Camaro is one heck of a runner with factory 2.02 heads, Z/28 intake and carb and a 30/30 cam.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Nice...My buddy's sister had a '68 Camaro with a 327, 4 speed.....ran like a champ!
would you happen to have any pictures of the power steering brackets and which pulleys are required to add power steering?

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Unlike the 283, the 327 flat top motors really wake up wit a set of high compression big valve heads and a low end tourque cam. It's argued that the bigger valves kill you at bottom end, but I have never found that to be true. I have a 327 large journal with low miles in wait for the 55 if things work out.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Looking inside with the bore-scope this motor has the flat top pistons with 4 valve reliefs...
It's probably going into the '68 step side for my Grandson.....it has a healthy 350(I think) now with a stall speed converter...
I don't want to wake it up too much for a 16 year old kid that hasn't had much driving experience....:lol:

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Rig it so that the throttle only opens 3/4 or so until he's used to it. If it has a four barrel, you can rig it so that the secondaries don't open, as well. Easier than a governor. ;)

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

I believe that your grandson will be more than happy for the 327, plus it is period correct.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

As I found out the hard way, 327's use short water pump pulleys and brackets, because the harmonic balancer is smaller than the long water pump SBC's.

I have mine for sale on OfferUp:
https://offerup.co/poBXO4FOKwb

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Well i just finished my 67 build and it has the 327 375 with hump heads

I added power steering and all the other bells and whistles

Ive added some pics of how i did mine maybe it will help

I mocked everything up then sent it out to powder coating

Then reinstalled everything

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

My truck was not a factory PS truck. I went with all factory 68 Camaro brackets on my motor and a banjo style pump. Then factory hoses from pump to box. Its a little tight but it all works fine. Dont have any good pics when I had the truck all apart installing the motor.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Thanks. Yours is a nice looking mill as well. I have a vintage intake with the oil fill, but my machinist talked me into an air gap. I'm not sure that will stay. It's a '68 truck engine also using 2.02 heads, flat tops, and cam. We were shooting for 325hp. I had a '71 truck 350 for that truck but found out about the 327 for sale and had to have it. The 350 I plan to build a 383 with for the '72, and set the original motor on a stand.

I knew a guy in the early '80s that had a sweet looking '77 K30 single rear wheel 4spd Silverado. Black, lifted with 38" tires. Great looking truck. He and another friend with '79 F250 when 4 wheeling and that thing was ripping it up. made that F250 look wimpy. It turns out it had a built a 283! Not what you'd expect to see. But that motor sang so sweet climbing hills and churning through deep mud. I was very impressed. The F250 had a choked out 400

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

another fan of 327s this one out of a 67 truck

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

Woo, 375!
Great to see all the 327 love. All great looking motors. and we know how great they run :cool:

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

That helps a bunch...I only have that top alternator adjusting bracket now

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

The 327 you have was and is a great motor. Dependable old school foundation for easy upgrades like cam swap, intake, headers. Those motors can scream.
I have one in my 68 Camaro. I actually have another complete 65 250HP original engine from oil,pan to distributor sitting in my shop wrapped up. Corvette guys love ‘em.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

A car built around the 327. Game changer!!

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

All double heads are not Fuel injection heads.
The same double hump castings were used on everything from 327’s 275HP and up. All double hump heads came with either 1.94 or 2.02 valves. Only the lowly 250hp and some others like the 310hp had the small valve heads (1.74). The double hump heads are not rare at all.
The 300hp also had the same casting number and double hump identifications as their 2.02 big brothers. The 300hp has the 1.94 intake valves. Only the 350hp and 365 and 375hp motors came with 2.02 valves.
2.02 heads also had the side of the chamber, nearest to the intake, machined/relived from the combustion chamber from the factory. If you retrofit 2.02 valves to these heads and do not relieve the chambers you actually cut the port flow not increase it. It's mostly old inaccurate lore from long ago lives on never be replaced.
That said I would like to see a 327 with a modern set of Vortec heads installed on it. Would be interesting to see how it would run with some better flowing heads. They would drop the compression slightly as they have 67cc Chambers not the 64cc chambers like the original heads.
If you raced an all-stock 365hp 327 and a stock truck 5.3L in the exact same vehicles the modern truck motor would be faster. The 5.3L makes way more torque. And if you installed an equivalent cam in the truck motor, as the 365/375hp 327 it would be even worse for the 327.
For the record I have a 340hp 327. It is a great motor. But GM has leaned a bit since then.
Cheers.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

327 engines are cute and worth about 50 Bubba points at small car shows but those heads won't have hardened valves seats in them and aren't going to work well with the gas we have now.

Personally I'd have to think it is rather lame to pull a good strong running engine out a car to stick one in that's only plus is nostalgia rather than practical. Build it for an older rig out of the 50's and spend the money to bring it up to snuff with camel hump heads that have had hard seats put in and a good cam = Bonus.

Re: Early 327 engine information gurus?
 

lame or not.....it's not prudent to put a 16 year old kid in 400 HP truck....:lol:
If I wanted to wake it up, I'd cam it, stick a set of Vortec heads and matching aluminum intake...again...not for a 16 year old with little driving experience...