JC88Camaro

Just not sure if it worth the trouble? I have a 88 camaro with a 83 305 fairly modded (cam, ported/polished heads, headers, intake, carb ...) backed by a 700r4(sucks!). A friend of mine has two fully assembled 327s in great condition that he inherited and will give to me for free if I plan to put one in. Another friend of mine has a th350 tranny with less then 35000 that I would mate with the 327. Is swapping the 305 with the trouble? If it is what upsides will I see? What downsides, if any, will I see? And last but not least will my mods from the 305 be able to go on the 327? Thanks Jason
How many of you guys are running 327s?

ede

hell yes i love the 327 engine. i wouldn't swap your 305 heads to the 327 due to the different bore sizes. all your other parts would swap. the 327 tends to be a higher rpm engine then what you're use to. it takes more rpm to allow it to move air in and out of it and make good power.

MILT

I'm no genius, but I did run a 327 in my Firebird until it was totalled. It was a mild engine, but I loved it--it revved nicely and quickly. I would definitely put the engine in the car. Compare the cam specs in your 305 w/ that of the 327, you may want to swap that cam into the 327 if it is a *better* cam. Otherwise, you can still use the intake, carb, headers, etc. You won't have to change a thing. Leave the 700R4 in the car. I had my 327 backed by a B&M 700R4 and it was awesome. Throw a shift kit in the tranny (if it's still in good shape) and use that. With a more powerful engine, you will appreciate the overdrive = better gas mileage and better driveability.
Get a nice torque converter too, and you will be far more happy than you would be with your 327. Plus, you can sell your nice ported 305 heads to someone and make some money.

Tas

there is a lot of 327 tech on www.camaroz28.com in the board for 1st and 2nd gens. from what I've gathered, to make big power with the 327 you need to spin it. to make power at high revs you need a wild cam. and a wild cam wont pass smog.

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AOL IM: superGRtaz
ICQ: 82881207

MAMASAIDKOUOUT

if you have to ask a question like that maybe you shouldnt put it in

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"to hell with gas mileage and looks! this is for horsepower"

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Nice, informative response, Mama...

Anyway, 327's came in several different configurations. The heads on your friend's "fully assembled" engines may not be that good (or even 327 heads, for that matter). 2bbl 327's weren't very good, with mild cams, small valves and low compression. Truck 327's were even less performance oriented (I had a truck shortblock, but it was a lot more powerful than the factory 283 that came in the '57). On the other hand, 275 hp q-jet 327's were good passenger car engines that responded well to standard hop-ups.

As mentioned before, all your bolt-ons and cam would work on the 327. You'd really have to know what heads are on the engines before knowing if your 305 heads would be better - they just may be, but compression would be raised due to the 58 cc 305 chambers (I believe all 327's were 64 cc).

A 327 will make more power at lower RPMs than a 305, so you should see a nice difference depending upon what all you do to it.

I'd also recommend the TH700 over the TH350. Lower 1st gear for off-the-line grunt, and that overdrive is nice on the road.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car. Rescued w/86 LG4/TH700R with all harnesses, sensors, ECM, etc. 3.08 open, cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LB9 w/ZZ3 cam, World 305 heads, exhaust, paint, etc.).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. Currently 396 .030 over, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

Tas

not all 327s had 64cc heads. I did a lot of research for my firends '68 camaro at www.camaroz28.com We stared hoping it up. it was it moms and uncles and was all original. There were 2 version that year. the good one had the 270hp camel double hump heads and the other was the 327 for the base stripper model camaro v8. my friend has the latter. 210hp ****ty 72 or 76cc heads.

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AOL IM: superGRtaz
ICQ: 82881207

Fat Elvis Z-28

Go to the FAQ in this site, there is some good info in there.

Box of Rocks

JC,
I'm running a 327 and I am a happy camper. Can you say "oh,pleeeeese rev me to 7,000"?

327 with double hump heads (use the one's with 194/1.50 valves), an Edelbrock performer RPM manifold, Holley 650 or 750 double pumper, 1-5/8 headers, and Comp Cams Extreme Energy 12 series hydraulic with 268/280 duration, .477 and .480 lift will do the honky.

Honest 350 HP with gobs of bottom-end torque. And, uh, 6,300 - 6,500 RPM any time you like. I spin mine to 7,000 all the time (stock crank and rods), but it's a tad wilder than the build I've described above.

And, oh yeah - it's hard to find an "old fart" that does NOT like the 327. There's more than a few good reasons for that.

Reason # 1 - goodbye to valve shrouding, hello RPM.

By all means, rebuild the 700R4 and use it. Your car will think it has an extra 50 HP and you'll have good mileage and cruisability (low RPM at speed). Trust me.

Good luck !

BOR



[This message has been edited by Box of Rocks (edited September 19, 2000).]

JC88Camaro

Thanks guys. I'll be swapping the engine as soon as possible. How much do does it cost to rebuild my 700R4. The reason I was going to swap it for the th350 was because ever sense I started modding my 305 (camshaft) it began slipping. Now it slips badly in 1st and into second when I really get on it. I agree 100% with the overdrive issue. I commute to school about 70 miles each way. It would benefit me to keep it. Again thanks.
Mama... the only reason I posted this is because I just turned 20, working two jobs and going to school. I'm also the sports editor on the campus newspaper. Time is limited and don't feel like putting time into another engine swap unless it's really worth it. I bought my 88 with a v6. I swapped the 305 by myself and it was my first time. I've heard many good things about the 327 but I still wanted to hear some comments from guys who really know what they're doing. I believe this time around it won't take nearly as long for the obvious reasons.

MILT

From what I've heard (take it for what it's worth), rebuilding can be from $700-1600, depending on the shop, what type of parts are used (good stuff or junk), etc. I would recommend a new tranny from B&M or TCI (I liked B&M better) or another vendor. It is all performance, but still has some passivity left in it. They are also warrantied. If you have the $$$ I would definitely do it. There seem to be lots of guys that have paid too much for crappy rebuilds that go out too soon.

Or (yeah, here's a plug) I actually have a used (hmm imagine that) B&M 700R4 (only 500miles, and a TC too) that was in my firebird behind my 327, that I may be willing to part with--if you're interested...

Metallica383

Which is a higher rpm engine the 327 or 383 and how well and how long does the 327 and 383 hold up to the high RPMS i have heard alot of good things about the 327.

avro206

Well, this is just a guess but the 327 has a shorter stoke (less stress) then a 383.
So all things being equal the 327 should live longer at high rpms.

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88 IROC the best RS ever made!
well except for the BC4s

TomP

Did anybody notice he's from California? That 327 better get dressed up to look like a factory engine, or they'll kill you for the visual emissions inspection...

-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

If you want a set of original 327 camel hump heads with the 1.94/1.5 valves, let me know. I've got a set with 4,000 miles on my IROC, but I really, really don't like giving up my accessory holes, so I want to get rid of them in favor of some vortecs when the new manifold comes out. Because of their collectability value, I did absolutely no modifications to the heads except to have them cleaned up and have the seats and guides done. Oh, they have Z28 springs too. Let me know if you're interrested. They'll be available sometime around the end of october.

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JC88Camaro

I Don't have to worry about smogging my car where I live. In Valley Springs you only have to smog it when you buy it. After that you don't have to worry about it again until you sell it. I plan on keeping this car forever so it doesn't matter to me. Actually my 305 wouldn't smog if my life depended on it. It has no smog equipment once-so-ever. Plus my insurance still says it has a V6. I don't plan on telling if you don't, if you know what I mean.
Anyways, Jim I am interested in those heads if the heads on my 327 aren't good? And Milt that 700r4 sounds nice. How much are you guys asking? I'm supposed to pick up the engines sometime over the weekend. I personally haven't seen them so I'll let you guys know. Thanks alot.

Tas

no smog. man I wish. there was a 500+hp 327 on camaroz28.com

I'd get the year that had the forged small journal crank, get some good rods, 6" if possible, forged pistons, Vortec heads, Vortec Victor Jr. from eledblrock, demon carb, 450hp easy right there =)

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AOL IM: superGRtaz
ICQ: 82881207

[This message has been edited by Tas (edited September 21, 2000).]