Thread: Rebuilding a SB Chevy 327---HELP!

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Hey all, I am very new to this website but it looks very promising and in good company.

I have a '69 327 that I am starting to rebuild but there is a problem: I've never done this before! I took everything out so all I have is the block and the cylinders look good.

Where do I go from here? Thanks guys!

Originally posted by DennyW
I hope you marked your parts

Especially those bearing caps.

Yea I marked them....I figure my next move is to hot tank the block to get it all clean. Been sitting on the ground all winter..eeek

Would buying a rebuild kit be a good idea??

Sorry if these seem like dumb question but I am determined!!!

Are cam bearings universal or do certain cams need certain bearings? I just want to do this right from the begining.

I forgot to mention I don't have any heads either. Any suggestions on that?

Basically, you have 3 choices.

1. Build it back to stock. Cast pistons, moly rings. Install hard exhaust seats for unleaded gas, standard valve job. 8.5:1 - 8.75:1 compression ratio. Cheap, reliable, good mileage, decent low-rpm performance with the stock converter and original rear gear. Daily driver.

2. Build it warmed-over. Cast pistons, moly rings, HEI ignition, 1 5/8" headers, 2 1/4" dual exhaust system, very mild cam (usually the first one listed in any grinders catalog, such as this Crane cam) http://www.cranecams.com/?show=brows...Type=camshaft, or maybe a Comp XE-250-H, 3-angle or 5-angle valve job on hard seats, roller rockers, spreadbore intake with Q-jet carb, 8.75:1 - 9.25:1 compression ratio, zero deck with 0.039" head gaskets. Good reliability, great gas mileage with stock converter and original rear gear or numerically higher rear gear for even better acceleration but slightly worse mileage. Daily driver that will run on cat piss pump gas and have more response than stock when you press on the "loud" pedal.

3. Build it so that it is neither great for performance or mileage. This is what most first time guys try to build and it makes for a miserable car that is neither real fast or pleasant to drive. You simply cannot build a car that is really fast and a pleasure to drive on the street at the same time. I won't go into a parts list for this combination because there are so many variables, but they usually include compression ratio that is too high for pump gas, a cam that idles too high for a stock converter, a power range that is not suited for the street, dismal fuel mileage and compromised reliability. We see it constantly on this forum, the kids who want 400-500 horsepower from their 327. I'm not saying this describes you, but if 500 horsepower is your goal with a 327, you need to be thinking turbo or blower, not naturally aspirated. See these threads that I put together on blowers and turbos.....

http://streetmachinesoftablerock.com...topic.php?t=81
http://streetmachinesoftablerock.com...topic.php?t=83

I really think this is one of those occasions where you need to buy a book. Go to your local Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, or whatever and look for books on rebuilding Chevy engines. There are several to chose from. Best $20 a novice can spend. The first mistake you don't make pays for the book.

you could put a 283 crank in it and have one high winding sumbit*h

What would be a good intake mani?