hey does anyone know if 307's are good engines? i never had one so idk.

 

Yes, I know.

They were intended as a baseline V8, economy version. Many ended up in pickups and light trucks. No performance versions.

Throw away everything but the shortblock, you can make as good a performance engine out of it as you can a 305. Slightly larger bore, shorter stroke will let it breathe and rev easier than a 305. Torque will be slightly reduced.

 

Its probably more expensive to build up a 307 than a 327 or a 350 though, just because the 307 doesn't come with parts built for high performance, like good rods, crank, pistons, etc... and high performance 307-specific parts (like pistons) will probably cost more than the same parts for a 4" bore block. The bigger engines like the 327 and 350 typically came with better parts, like the rods, crank, etc... that will work better in high-perf applications.

Basically, its just not very cost effective to build a 307, compared to the bigger mills.

 

Actually, If you do a search, you will find that in the past year or so there have been probably 3 or 4 threads about 307s. All of them ended the same, in argument. Basically its an inferior engien to a 350, or even a 327. However, it is still a SBC, and responds to modifications as such.

 

Of course, all of this is assuming that it is indeed a SBC 307, and not an Olds 307.

 

Yes, we must be careful ASSuming. Honestly, I have had an olds 307, and it was a lot stronger than all of the chevy 307s I have been around. I am willing to bet that the cost of performance parts would kill you though.

 

I got my first traffic ticket in a '68 Impala with 307 and Powerglide. For "reckless driving" - spinning the tires around a corner. The cop said they measured the tire marks at 150 feet long.

I had one in the early 80's in a '73 Nova w/TH350. I never exploited that vehicle. Did some body work and sold it after a year or so.

In stock form, they're pretty lame. Do the normal SBC things, it'll outperform a similarly modified 305 or Olds 307.

 

The strenght of the 307 parts are no diff from most any other SBC.

All SBC engines had forged rods.

Some of the high performance 283's, 302's, 327's, 350's like the real vette engines, LT1's etc got forged cranks and pistons.

Most how ever did not, so most all the SBC's had forged rods, cast cranks, and cast pistons

The only diff is rods was the LT1 used "pink" rods which was just norm rods that was mangafluxed and shot peened.

The rod bolt size changed when the crank's rod journal size changed in 1968

All engines but the 400 and one of the 2XX cid engines (262 or 267) used 5.7" rods, the 400 had shorter rods and that obe 2XX engine used alittle longer rods.


Performance pistons for a 307 will be higher than for a 350.

Power output will be a good bit lower once done than a 327 or 350 built the same way