327 vs 350 for a daily driver

I have a 85 C 10 with a 305. Looking to do a engine swap with either a 327 or 350. Just looking for mild power and a nice rumble. I'm looking for advice for a crate 327 or 350.

You can still buy a crate 327?

This is almost too generic of a question for us to answer. Everybody is different in what their goals are, usage of the truck and what they like. Me, I like too rowdy of a camshaft, a stick and make it fast and loud as possible. Sounds like you're looking for a mild cruiser but I can't know that for sure.

More than anything, you need to focus on compression ratio, head, intake and most importantly, cam specs when choosing an engine. The 23cu in don't really count for much. What decides how the engine behaves/how the truck will drive is how radical or tame the camshaft is, how much CFM the heads flow, the chamber size/compression ratio and the intake design.

My best advise is to contact Blueprint engines via email or phone and talk to them. They'll ask you all the questions they need (what the intended usage of the truck is mainly) to determine what'll work best for you.

350. A 350 is a stroked 327 just like a 383 is a stroked 350. More stroke equals more torque. Torque is what turns the tires.

GM discontinued small block pre Vortec crate engines.

I want a 327...put the L46 cam innit and go pick a fight. /Shrug
That's me though.

Just a mild cruiser with a decent rumble. Not looking to build a hot rod

Either will do about the same, but good luck finding a 327. Go with the good old 350, SBC. No substitute for cubic inches.

Yeah yeah.. run ya a 750,some headers and getcha the #803 heads and a Weiand intake,the single plane #7546?..smoke vortex ash all over the street
It'll be fun to do with 50 year old tech!

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IM SAYING?

The best starting point for a simple swap is a crate 350 with Vortec heads (or similar aftermarket aluminum). and a roller cam. It will have better compression, better flowing heads, and the roller cam setup will be much more reliable overall. Very easy 325-350 horsepower with a mid range duration cam. You can push it to much more horsepower by using a long duration cam, if you are will to give up some low end torque.

The 327 still carries a mystic about it because it was the hot engine to have in the early/mid 60’s, but it’s really nothing special overall. 350 has more displacement, and Vortec design heads flow better than anything produced in the 60’s.

I have my old 327 sitting in in a crate. Came out of a 64 c10 I drove for a while before I wrecked it Double hump heads, kinda cool. Hopefully one of these years I can pick up something to put it in.

I have 3 rigs with 327 engines. 1st is a stock 300 horse 327 in our 63 Corvette coupe, 2nd is a .030 over 327 in our 66 ChevyII SS clone, 3rd is also a .030 over in G-son Kooper's 91 S10. There are a couple more 327 blocks in my storage plus 3 "4 bolt main" 350 blocks and a 454 4bolt HP short block...........gonna have to get busy!!! Oh, and also an original 66 283 complete engine.........different block from the rest of the 1966 283s.

Mistake, I said "I" have 3......the 91 S10 is Kooper's ride.... although I built it, and that 327 came out of his Uncle Tony's 68 ChevyII, that I provided for Uncle Tony, back in the day. Also the S10 is parked in my 5 bay,....... so possession is 9/10ths.....right .....lol

327 because those numbers sound cooler than the 1,000,000,000 others with a “crate 350!”
Same with 396/400/402 BB and 400 SB. More unique than a 454 or 350.

Grit dog said:

327 because those numbers sound cooler than the 1,000,000,000 others with a “crate 350!”
Same with 396/400/402 BB and 400 SB. More unique than a 454 or 350.

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I dunno, when I was growing up, seeing those magical "454" fender badges was a super cool thing. Still my favorite.


But 327 is indeed a nice change of pace in a world of 350's.

idahovette said:

... Oh, and also an original 66 283 complete engine.........different block from the rest of the 1966 283s.

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Recessed oil filter?