Currently have a 71 Chevy C10 with a 350 and 700r4, Used a low hp 350 Jegs crate engine. After a few too many carb swaps trying to get it to run finally used a Rochester 2G which is simple and it runs decent but it smokes some. probably used wrong fuel pump with too much psi for the carb. Runs rich and may have washed the cylinders trying to get it running. I have a rebuilt 327 ( 0.40 ) over been sitting for 30 years and I would like to use it. I removed the pistons and started the process of cleaning and reassembly with new assembly lube. ... would like to put some decent heads on this, the smaller camel hump heads I have don't have accessory holes....Looking for suggestions tips on how to proceed with a TBI conversion. what heads? not building a Rocket Sled, mostly want decent power and trouble free. Newer aluminum Heads? 1990 chevy TBI manifold?....Fuel injection kit ? with Edelbrock performer....Thanks in advance....Ed

 

While not being a 3rd gen and being a truck, this information could still be useful to a camaro or firebird owner.
with the smaller displacement of 327 and not looking to shoot the moon, vortec heads are a fair match if you find a good set that's not damaged. Newer aluminum heads are a great, AFR 195 enforcers, Brodix 180s, Trickflow 175 DHC's are all up your alley. What do you want to spend and how much you want out of it is up to you. Building an engine could just be slapped together and results end up much like your last 350. Check measurements, figure out compression, head gaskets for optimal quench, camshaft selection are pretty vital to build what you want your vehicle to do.
SBCs have a multitude of manifolds available, along with carbs a plenty to match that intake and engine.
I wouldn't waste the time with a tbi. It's a bit more work than the benefits are worth. While I'm not against tbi, a properly set up qjet will get good results.

 

Thanks for the reply, yea it's a truck, what can I say, I can get in a Camaro or a Vette but getting back out would be awkward. Trick flow heads look to be in about my price range. I need to pull the cam out and see what it is, been under cover for 30 years that I have had it. Will need to study some more before I start to rebuild.

 

Check with hot rodder or vintage truck forums, they probablyoffer way more direct experience. While thirdgen guys here know a ton on SBC's, many of us don't build 327s or have warmed one up for a truck build. Those Trickflow DHCs seem to be pretty good according to some of the vintage vettes and such I've seen, a proper cam, a good dual plane, and a qjet or small holley all calibrated will sing just fine for your truck I'd say. And it's a truck so exhaust is the easy part to put on something nice.

 

A 327 is no different from a 305 or a 350 as far as the end result. More than a 305, less than a 350. Nothing special or unusual. Nothing you need "experience" or an "expert" to talk about, for sure.

Likewise, nothing special about adapting TBI to it. A 350 knock sensor, ESC module, TB, and chip would probably work just fine.

Coming from someone that built 327s up until 350s became plentiful and easy to obtain at junkyards in the mid 70s; and I got tired of getting my a$$ whipped by somebody that spent the same OR LESS money time effort and risk on their build, and quit building 327s and switched to 350s.

That said, every 327 is 2-pc rear main seal, which means you'll have to get a new flywheel or flex plate. Every 327 came with a flat-tappet cam and is not roller compatible without $$$$ spending BIG TIME on the roller system we all used to use before the factory introduced theirs, with link bars. Every 327 had the oil dipstick on the driver's side and it WILL NOT fit with exhaust manifolds, if that's what you'd be using.

Heads from 87 up will have all the bolt holes that you need, and your intake will bolt to them.

I would NOT try to cheeeeeeep out by using some random 50 yr old block I had laying around, and then spend AFR money on heads. That's BEYOND nonsense.

Cheeeeeeepest way to a running 327 TBI combo would be, 187 (TBI 305) heads, 305 or 350 TBI (same thing) intake manifold, and the 350 TBI parts mentioned above. Wouldn't bother with "Performer" anything. Use a cam something about like this. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-12-388-4 with all of its supporting parts; springs most especially. You'll spend twice as much as just getting a L05 pullout at the junkyard and using it as-is, and the L05 will kick your 327's butt.

Me, I'd throw the 327 in the trash and move on. It's 2020 now, not 1990 anymore.

 

....Thanks, that is exactly the advice I was looking for. And I was leaning toward a newer set up when mechanic friend said just use what you have.....I have a hard time throwing parts away. I need to get a grip and move on......this board has a lot of TBI .. TPI.. LS info.....the 67-72 truck board is also good. I'm looking for a solution... 1 and done...getting too old to be swapping engines...Thanks for taking the time......Ed

 

Throw the 327 in the trash and move on.

If it was a whole short block, perfect, pristine, inviolate, virginal, unmolested, known working, virgin, white cotton panties, untouched ... without doubt as to its perfection, then, yeah. Bolt up abuncha L03 or L05 crap to it, boogie on.

But a 327 that needs rebuilding? Not so much. Pistons? Bearings? Gaskets? Crank work? The right water pump? Fight the dipstick? Deal with abuncha 60s "quality control" and HOPE a flat-tappet cam IN 2020 WORKS? The list just keeps getting longer. Not so much.

Throw it in the trash and move on. It's 2020, not 1972. Been there done that. In 1972. Maybe, sell it to somebody that has a 66 Chevy 2 Chevelle or a C10 truck or whatever that hallucinates about "numbers matching"; trust me on this, no matter what you think, there is ALWAYS a "Greater Fool" out there somewhere. Might have to wait awhile, but they're there. Never underestimate the stupidity of humans in the aggregate.

Yes I'm old. Real old. Don't bother asking. I'm so old I fart dust. Quite possibly older than anybody in your immediate (though maybe not your extended) family. Old enough that your grandma was probably not even a gleam in your great-grandma's eye yet when she was riding in the horse cart that she met your great-grandpa in.

 

Leaning that way, 327 was 0.40 over and rebuilt, clean and fresh for 30 years I have had it under the bench. Journals and all are still #1 polish and it looks good overall..... I will probably go with a more modern set up, adding parts to a short block and getting it right, probably not going to happen, I am more in the parts replace and repair, I did pretty good on this last project. And it is probably my last project.... almost got stuck in the engine bay replacing intake manifold, a bit more than I expected. With the camel hump head I think it will sell and probably pay for most of the replacement....maybe....Cheers...Ed

 

Which letter of "throw it in the trash and move on" is causing confusion? I was really seriously definitely trying to be as plain and upfront and straightforward as I could. Is there a letter I didn't make clear? I know I'm a dumbass but I thought I wasn't leaving anything hanging? Help me understand so I can help you. "Throw it in the trash and move on". It is 2020, NOT 1990. Let alone 1972. Can I help make it any clearer?

 

Yeah I got that, I'm not rich and ready to throw $1000 dollars away.. I know somebody that wants it. My question was whats a good donor car? truck? to be looking for to get a decent replacement?

 

Someone in the car show crowd with a 60s GM car will be glad to buy it. Some folks like their cars period correct and those old 327s are getting rare.

 

96-2000 pickup, tahoe, suburban, van 350. Vans are even up to 2002. Roller cam, better machining, better heads. You can easily get a carb or tbi manifold for those vortec heads. The factory tame cam is pretty dull but that may be just what you want.

If you're more adventurous, a 4.8 or a 5.3 from a 99-2007 silverado could even be carb'd or keep the benefits of multiport efi. If you're moving closer to todays tech, it's not that hard to move to stuff designed in the last quarter century. Not as easy as carbing an old sbc and dropping it back into a chassis that's always been carb'd but not nearly as complicated or as difficult as it would have been 20 years ago.

 

Thanks I will start looking for a 96-2000 5.7.....I like the LS 5.3 but the wiring and instalation is probably above my skill set.

 

By all means it's not much more work than setting up a tbi in that chassis. Higher pressure fuel pump, a few more wires, different motor mounts and exhaust manifolds but not much else. Oh and the gauges, which I'm sure there's a kit for that nowadays too. Leave the long block alone and theres no tuning. A tbi would benefit from tuning on anything other than bone stock.
I'm not trying to talk you into it but rather give you more information on options.

 

You can put added emphasis on "***"

Attitudes like this run people off forums.

 

So, apart from being useless by attacking people who give sensible advice to young just-starting-out types who don't know the ins and outs of these things and have got an idea into their heads that is CERTAIN to lead to an expensive disappointment (not the introduction to this hobby that encourages people to continue it), what pearls of wisdom would you have told this person?