327 vs 350 for a daily driver

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

MikeB

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2014
Posts
1,764
Reaction score
983
Location
North Texas
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1969
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
355
327s have the ideal rod length-to-stroke ratio, so they like to rev and are a lot of fun in a lighter car with a manual trans. I knew a guy with one in a 67 or 68 C10 and it worked just fine. But I don't see a reason not to go with a 350 or 383 in a square body.

IMO, the GM HT383 is one of the best pickup replacement engines of all time. https://www.chevrolet.com/performance-parts/crate-engines/small-block-engine/ht-383

And here's one of the vendors who sells it: https://paceperformance.com/Chevrolet-Performance-Crate-Engine-HT-383-CID-323-HP-444-ft-lbs-19433036.html

"Only" 323 HP, but massive low-mid RPM torque starting right off idle! Perfect for a truck.

You can also check out Blueprint, Summit, Jeg's etc. Tell them what you have now and what you are looking for.

Unless you want an engine that's pretty much stock, don't use a local shop. For whatever reason, those guys tend to go overboard on cam size and compression ratio. It's very common on forums to hear "But the guy at the machine shop who built my engine said..." or "The shop that built my engine builds lots of race engines." And both are very often wrong!
 
Last edited:

MikeB

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2014
Posts
1,764
Reaction score
983
Location
North Texas
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1969
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
355
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 Chevy II 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.
That's a great collection. I'd have to say the 300hp 327 is one of my all-time favorites. I never owned one, but a friend did in a 64 Impala SS that I occasionally drove. It had #461 double hump heads, an AFB 4-bbl, and 2.5" rams horns. What a sweetheart!

I did have a 275hp 327 in my family truckster 68 station wagon, of all things, along with a Powerglide. That was a very nice combo that had plenty of power and got 14mpg on the highway.

As for 283s, I had 55 and 57 cars that both started out with 265s, but ended up with 283s that were +.060" over. Also had one in a 66 Nova Sport Coupe--the 220hp version with 3-on-the-tree. With that engine and sub-3000 pound weight, that car would really scoot! A 327 would have been awesome in it.

Edit: Almost forgot. I built a 327 for another 55 sedan back around 2005. Used an "010" 350 block and a 307 crank. The car also got an M20 Muncie. It was all the things my cars didn't have in my youth. I won't get into details on the build, because it would be TMI. (Like I haven't already gone there!)
 
Last edited:

Fat 454

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2012
Posts
98
Reaction score
164
Location
Australia
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C20 Suburban
Engine Size
454
427 - 435 Hp tri power - music to my ears ( unless of course you have a Super Duty Pontiac - 455 tri power ... ) :cool:
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
43,543
Posts
937,668
Members
35,440
Latest member
brantley
Top