Thoughts, facts or opinions on a 327 into 58

[nail pounder]

I've been day dreaming again. I would like to make my truck more driver friendly, now it's 1/2ton with a 235/3 spd/3.90 rear. I found a rebuilt 1968 327/350 trans for what seems like a good deal($1900). I have spoken to the owner on the phone & now I need a reality check. Ideally I like the idea of a new 350/700r set up, but financially that is a couple years away The 327/350 is doable in the near future, but then I'd be looking at new rear end gears for freeway driving. Or I try to just buy the motor and find an affordable 700r, or get a v8 bell and keep the 3spd for now and look at rear end gears or...? I have in my 66 C20 a 350/5 speed and I'm very happy with its drivability, that is what I'm looking for in the 58. So, here's the deal, I want a daily driver out of it, maybe burn a little rubber here and there but that's it. I like the way "327" sounds when I say it, reminds me of being a kid working on my dad's 62 vet. The 327 that is for sale was the 250hp one, but he's done a few upgrades and thinks it's closer to 300. He is swapping in a 327/4 spd with 340hp, he's an older(than me) gentleman, says the 68 motor and trans are newly rebuilt, but then he found a 62 327 (he has a 62 impala) so it's being rebuilt now. He seemed like a nice older guy, said I could test drive it in his impala etc. Is a mild 327 going to be a disappointment compared to a standard 350 crate motor?

[nail pounder]

Well, I posted in the wrong place, but it still applies. I meant to post in the 47-59 thread...what a lame

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by nail pounder

I've been day dreaming again. I would like to make my truck more driver friendly, now it's 1/2ton with a 235/3 spd/3.90 rear. I found a rebuilt 1968 327/350 trans for what seems like a good deal($1900). I have spoken to the owner on the phone & now I need a reality check. Ideally I like the idea of a new 350/700r set up, but financially that is a couple years away The 327/350 is doable in the near future, but then I'd be looking at new rear end gears for freeway driving. Or I try to just buy the motor and find an affordable 700r, or get a v8 bell and keep the 3spd for now and look at rear end gears or...? I have in my 66 C20 a 350/5 speed and I'm very happy with its drivability, that is what I'm looking for in the 58. So, here's the deal, I want a daily driver out of it, maybe burn a little rubber here and there but that's it. I like the way "327" sounds when I say it, reminds me of being a kid working on my dad's 62 vet. The 327 that is for sale was the 250hp one, but he's done a few upgrades and thinks it's closer to 300. He is swapping in a 327/4 spd with 340hp, he's an older(than me) gentleman, says the 68 motor and trans are newly rebuilt, but then he found a 62 327 (he has a 62 impala) so it's being rebuilt now. He seemed like a nice older guy, said I could test drive it in his impala etc. Is a mild 327 going to be a disappointment compared to a standard 350 crate motor?

I like the idea of using a vintage 327, I've had a few of them and they run great. A crate 350 has 290 hp and they're "OK", (everybody has one), but a 327 is very cool. My vote is 327 all day long.

[nail pounder]

Originally Posted by my56chevytruck

I like the idea of using a vintage 327, I've had a few of them and they run great. A crate 350 has 290 hp and they're "OK", (everybody has one), but a 327 is very cool. My vote is 327 all day long.

What are you running in your 56? Trans & rear end ? The top speed bites on this thing stock.

[my56chevytruck]

I'm running a 454 (GEN VI) and turbo 400 trans.

[Palf70Step]

Moved the thread for you.

[_Ogre]

as long as you stay with a manual trans you can use the front and bellhousing mounts
you do need the v8 bell housing, the bell housing rubber should be the same
the front rods and brackets won't work, find some on a junk yard v8 or
lmc has these, look at #4 on the bottom right corner http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/CA/full.aspx?page=99

[Zoomin]

327's are more than happy to run up to the rev limit, but won't have the left end torque of the 350. The 700r would sure help to make up the torque difference though.

The 327 will be a big step up from the six though...

[Softpatch]

you might not like it
I would wait for a 350 & 40L60E
If you been driving a 235 and a 350
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the 327 is a smaller torq curve
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here's a video me starting running of my 327 in my Viking
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSNT5iwROOk
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[tsmith8]

I have a 327 bored .040 over in my '58 Apache. I also have a Tremac TKO 500 5 speed.
I have an offenhauser intake and three two barrel rochesters mounted on top.

Yes, do it. It's all about the cool factor. I am the same as you just want to jump in it and tour around. I love my setup.

[nail pounder]

Thanks for moving the thread Palf70Step, and thanks for all the input, I'm still thinking. This guy isn't in a hurry to sell until his new one is built so I don't need to pull the trigger yet. I'm still looking around but you know how it can be buying used stuff, I saw a 350/350 combo for $1500, but I haven't called. I agree that an old 327 has a certain amount of cool factor but I'm also on the 350 bandwagon with my 66 and love it. I suggested to my daughter that I sell the 66 and just go crazy on the 58...that did not go over well. I wasn't serious anyhow...

[59chev]

327 all the way!! I searched for over 2 years for a 327 for my project. I want to build it up into the 365hp version complete with vintage camel hump heads and finned corvette valve covers. I am putting a 700r4 behind it.

[tmoble]

>>>365hp version complete with vintage camel hump heads

that an 11.5:1 engine. that was a premium gas engine when premium was 100 octane. you corner gas station have a race gas pump? It will puke on 92.

[meter swinger]

I have a 327/350 (62' power pack engine) in mine with a rear end from a 70's k10 with 3:08 gears and 29" tall tires. It won't spin the tires but the rpm's are nice and low.

[OrrieG]

I love the 283-327 engines, they like to rev. I had a 283 with RV Cam, edlebrock intake and holley 600. Truck has TH350 with 3.74 gears and it run all day at 75-80. Don't know the rpm, no tach then, but was not worried because I used to rev the beans out of them as a kid. Small journal cranks are even better for rpms, less rotational friction.

[59chev]

Originally Posted by tmoble

>>>365hp version complete with vintage camel hump heads

that an 11.5:1 engine. that was a premium gas engine when premium was 100 octane. you corner gas station have a race gas pump? It will puke on 92.

It's currently a small journal 327 with the stock 1.94/1.5 valve camel humps.The plan is for a performer intake, cam swap,upgrading to the 2.02/1.6 Valves, some porting work, but keep the compression down in the range to work with today's premium. If I can get close to the 365 numbers, I'll be happy.

[Russell Ashley]

You mentioned that you want a DD, not a hot rod, so I would say that a 327 with a 350 would do fine. It's probably a good running engine since he's offering a test drive. If the price includes the accessories like pulleys, carb, starter, etc. then it sounds like a good deal to me. You will need side mounts for the engine and a rear cross member for the trans but those are not expensive. I would use Orrie's example and leave the cross member at the rear of the engine to prevent the cab mounts from sagging.

[mr48chev]

Thousands of TF trucks have had 327s stuck in them over the years and if you find a good one I think you will be more than happy with it.

The main advantage a 350 has over a 327 is the cost of internal parts and especially pistons is a lot less for the same piston for a 350 than for a 327. If you were picking up a core engine to rebuild I'd say 350 over any other SBC for that reason. Dollars spent for the end result you get are a lot less for equal parts (meaning same brand same everything except the size of the engine to start with).

Cool factor 327 wins hands down every time. Pop the hood at cruise night and let the see it's got a 327 and they come out of the woodwork to pay homage while a 350 with the same trinkets is just another ho hum 350 in a TF truck.

With the automatic you will need to come up with side mounts for the engine and a rear crossember for the trans. I posted a link to a set of tube crossmembers that cost 119 and change the other day but can't remember. Lots of offerings on those setups though.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

The main advantage a 350 has over a 327 is the cost of internal parts and especially pistons is a lot less for the same piston for a 350 than for a 327.

I concur. I have the original matching number block 283 for my 64 Chevelle. It need bored. New pistons are in the $50 each range because of the low demand. I ended up buying a short block for $100 that had already been bored with .030 pistions, machinist said he can match the pistions to my block. I suspect 327 is the same. 350 has more torque but lower RPM in stock or mild cam situation, I have one in the Chevelle and it craps out around 5500, but that is plenty. It has 3.08 rearend and easily gets to 100 mph.

[1project2many]

327 is a decent engine and with 300 hp you'll have a truck that runs and drives along the highway ok. The comment that stock top end sucks on a stock truck maybe fails to mention that stock steering gear makes high speed driving a bit spooky anyway. My 302 Chebby (327 block, 283 crank) is happy to do 80-90 on the highway although I tend toward slower speeds as I age. I run a 215/65-16 tire with a 4 speed although someday I'd like to finish the NVG4500 swap that I started years ago so I stop reaching for that final gear. I've also noted that it seems easier to get good economy out of a 327 than a 350, at least with the "old" heads.

Oh, and the cool factor goes the other way when you tell folks you've got a 302. They immediately assume you put a Ferd engine in your Chevy!

[nail pounder]

Thanks for the input everyone. I spoke to the guy tonight, we are trying to set up a time this Sat to test drive his impala. He's running a 3.08 rear end but he is changing it up to a 3.73. doesn't seem to care about freeways, and wants a little more git-ie-up. But he said it will spin the tires no problem if he wants it to. He did say he would sell the engine without the trans, although I like the idea of a pretty much bolt in set up. I'll still have the 3.90 out back but I'm sure the 327 would rev out better than a tired 235. I've read the 350 is a petty stout trans, so maybe I just save some pesos and change the gears eventually. Will I need to shorten the driveshaft w/the 350trans?

[nail pounder]

Heres some pics & other questions, am I going to need the high hump tunnel, or would I need more room than that? Does vintage air make a unit for this? (Probably a stupid question, I can look it up)He wants his ramhorns and alternator. But everything else goes, shift kit, intake, carb, HEI.

[Hampshire]

I have a 327 bored .040 over in my '58 Apache. I also have a Tremac TKO 500 5 speed.
I have an offenhauser intake and three two barrel rochesters mounted on top.

...that's the stuff I like (see threads below)....though on a more budget friendly note, the OP's original 327/350 would fit the bill for a nice, drivable rig. I'd be very happy with that.

[Coupeguy2001]

I recently took the 327 out of my 57 task force truck.

It was a 350 block with a 307 crank. 327 pistons and rods, and 70 1/2 camaro heads, (camel humps with accessory bolt holes. [I] replaced it with a 89 corvette 350 and I reused the 87 corvette 4+3 trans with overdrive. I used the 307 crank because I couldn't find a 327 crank anywhere for less than $500. It is the same stroke as the 327 was originally. It makes it a large journal 327.

The first thing I noticed was my gas mileage jumped up about 4-5 miles per gallon, because I wasn't always putting my foot in it to keep up.
The second thing i noticed was the rear tires burned rubber a lot easier.
The 350 is just as reliable as the 327, but also quieter. I used the same exhaust, so maybe it was the cam that had different overlap or something. It is a comp cams 268H in the 327 with 202 160 valves. Anyway, i am pleased with the 350, and it runs great, just like the 327.

I put a 600 cfm carb on the 327, and I could never feed it enough air to blow it up. It just jumped to the challenge all the time.
The heads have hardened seats, but so does the corvette engine. As for rockers, I used the comp cams roller tipped rockers. They never missed a step.
All in all, those were the only two differences between the engines, except I had to change rocker cover gaskets every couple years because they leaked. On the corvette covers, they are center bolt, and don't leak.

[Softpatch]

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Is that paint inside the head around the valve spring.?... RED FLAG.!
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