I found a 327 engine locally, I haven't gone to check it out yet but he says it has a casting number of 3782870. Says it has an edelbrock intake and aftermarket cam. It is still in his car so I will be able to hear it run. It may have head gasket leak. They are asking $400. Would it be worth it, to throw it in my 66 Chevelle. My car has the original 283 but I have always loved the 327's and it seems like a good deal.

Any help on this type of engine or feedback is much appreciated.:D

That's a fair price for a running 327. I have a soft spot for the 327 too. As to should you install it into your Chevelle that's up to you since a 350 is a bolt in and would make more power. My question would be: Would you be happy with the 327, or would you change it out down the road? If you are planning to change it to something else you would be better off passing on the 327 and buying what you want. If your planning on keeping the 327 or are trying to get your car driveable then the 327 would be the way to go if it would be a cheap repair to get it running and dependable.

The dilema is that the 283 runs, is original to the car with 100k miles on it. My plan was to put in a 327 when it dies. I had a 327 in a 69 and loved the way it rev'ed up so fast, still have some really nice heads for a 327. If it is a steal I can't pass up I will get it, but if not, I will wait until I am ready to install one. I just got the car and am at the tear down stage, removing rust etc, to restore back to original type condition.

The price is right, but you need to look at it and hear it run. See if he'll take you for a ride in it, and have him get on it. Listen to what is sounds like cold and hot, and what it does under a load. If you feel like it is worth it, and you can wrench it, GO FOR IT! :thumbsup:

Is this block, casting number of 3782870, a good 327 block? or should I look for a different one? I think that is a 62-65 year block right? Will all my stock brackets bolt right onto it?

I think that is a good price. Engines are getting scarce where I live and even 350's are hard to find these days. :confused:

I have had similar ideas that a 283 or 327 would just plain have a high cool factor.

But my rebuild and research experience with my 75 350 found items that indicate there may have more drawbacks than I want to face. I stayed with the 350 that came with the car.

Do 327 cranks have crank bolts or just a press fit (hammer on) damper?

Is there anything else in one of these that makes them difficult or awkward to work with?

Thanks.

The dilema is that the 283 runs, is original to the car with 100k miles on it. My plan was to put in a 327 when it dies. I had a 327 in a 69 and loved the way it rev'ed up so fast, still have some really nice heads for a 327. If it is a steal I can't pass up I will get it, but if not, I will wait until I am ready to install one. I just got the car and am at the tear down stage, removing rust etc, to restore back to original type condition.

Ahhh, the blinding brightness of nostalgia...

The high-reving, quick reving "327" is kind of a myth...

The reason the 327 "seemed" so great, is that there were some really great performance engines "back in the day"... Yes, there were some that rev'd great,

BUT, build a 350 with the same parts, and it will rev about the same... It seems to be perception, as the 350 came out as the smog era was beginning...

remember the 350 HP L79? The 365 HP Vette fuelies? But by 1966, the 327 (in Chevelles, etc) was down on power in the Chevelle (we had the new BBs). For a Sports car, the HP 327s were still available in the Vette for a few more years.

Now if you think of the "Chevelle", the 350 was just a basic motor, nothing special. But even back in the day, the 327 (except the Vette or L79 versions) were not that special either... the 327s that were wild were basically the top of the chain anyway (no 350s, etc)...

But even with smog stuff, the 350 still managed to make more HP than any 327 (factory, the 370 HP LT1 in the Vette, I think 360 HP in the Camaro)...

So think of all those "corvette 327's", versus the "smog era 350s"... So yes, 327s were great, but when modified, there really not better than a 350... And unless you are building to take advantage of that slightly higher rev capability ( deep gears, lighter car like a Camaro or Nova), the 350 is a better building block...

$400 for a complete, running 327 doesn't sound bad, but I'd be worried about the "head gasket" issue... What if its a cracked block?

In the end though, unless its truly a "Corvette" engine, or an L79, it doesn't sound like a "steal", its just another small block, and therefore the price sounds reasonable...

Ahhh, the blinding brightness of nostalgia...

The high-reving, quick reving "327" is kind of a myth...

The reason the 327 "seemed" so great, is that there were some really great performance engines "back in the day"... Yes, there were some that rev'd great,

BUT, build a 350 with the same parts, and it will rev about the same... It seems to be perception, as the 350 came out as the smog era was beginning...

remember the 350 HP L79? The 365 HP Vette fuelies? But by 1966, the 327 (in Chevelles, etc) was down on power in the Chevelle (we had the new BBs). For a Sports car, the HP 327s were still available in the Vette for a few more years.

Now if you think of the "Chevelle", the 350 was just a basic motor, nothing special. But even back in the day, the 327 (except the Vette or L79 versions) were not that special either... the 327s that were wild were basically the top of the chain anyway (no 350s, etc)...

But even with smog stuff, the 350 still managed to make more HP than any 327 (factory, the 370 HP LT1 in the Vette, I think 360 HP in the Camaro)...

So think of all those "corvette 327's", versus the "smog era 350s"... So yes, 327s were great, but when modified, there really not better than a 350... And unless you are building to take advantage of that slightly higher rev capability ( deep gears, lighter car like a Camaro or Nova), the 350 is a better building block...

$400 for a complete, running 327 doesn't sound bad, but I'd be worried about the "head gasket" issue... What if its a cracked block?

In the end though, unless its truly a "Corvette" engine, or an L79, it doesn't sound like a "steal", its just another small block, and therefore the price sounds reasonable...


Excellent post. :thumbsup:

I think since your 283 is running ok and you have a set of 327 heads that you like, buy a DOA 327 and get the satisfaction of building your own. It will cost a lot more than $400, however eventually you'd be faced with a rebuild. Head gasket leaks can turn into big head-aches after you open the motor.

I too have a soft spot for the 327 from my younger days, however the guys are right, also consider a 350.

Good luck

Find out as much as you can about the motors history. Has it been rebuilt and when, how many miles since the rebuild? I would also take a compression test and of course a test ride. Have someone follow behind and get on it a bit, does it smoke and if so what color smoke. This should help to tell the difference between buying a rebuilder motor of one you can use for while. I do like the idea of a 327 in your car it should be a performance increase over the 283 it replaces.

Ahhh, the blinding brightness of nostalgia...

The high-reving, quick reving "327" is kind of a myth...

The reason the 327 "seemed" so great, is that there were some really great performance engines "back in the day"... Yes, there were some that rev'd great,

BUT, build a 350 with the same parts, and it will rev about the same... It seems to be perception, as the 350 came out as the smog era was beginning...

remember the 350 HP L79? The 365 HP Vette fuelies? But by 1966, the 327 (in Chevelles, etc) was down on power in the Chevelle (we had the new BBs). For a Sports car, the HP 327s were still available in the Vette for a few more years.

Now if you think of the "Chevelle", the 350 was just a basic motor, nothing special. But even back in the day, the 327 (except the Vette or L79 versions) were not that special either... the 327s that were wild were basically the top of the chain anyway (no 350s, etc)...

But even with smog stuff, the 350 still managed to make more HP than any 327 (factory, the 370 HP LT1 in the Vette, I think 360 HP in the Camaro)...

So think of all those "corvette 327's", versus the "smog era 350s"... So yes, 327s were great, but when modified, there really not better than a 350... And unless you are building to take advantage of that slightly higher rev capability ( deep gears, lighter car like a Camaro or Nova), the 350 is a better building block...

$400 for a complete, running 327 doesn't sound bad, but I'd be worried about the "head gasket" issue... What if its a cracked block?

In the end though, unless its truly a "Corvette" engine, or an L79, it doesn't sound like a "steal", its just another small block, and therefore the price sounds reasonable...


If you think it`s a myth then you have never had a hot 327. A 350 will rev but everyone knows the short stroke will rev faster not only because of the shorter stroke but less weight to swing. Also, the 365hp 327 was carbed, the fuelie vette engines were ratedat 375hp which would make it the highest hp sbc that gm produced back in the day. Even the carbed version was only 5hp down and was basicaly the same engine with less stroke anda smaller carb. I think they both used the .30/.30 cam.

With that said, the 350 is cheaper to build andwill make more power simpl because it`s a bigger engone but I love 327`s and wouldn`t hesitate to build another one. They are great street engines and$400 is a fair price if my opinion.