I am looking for some advice, hope you guys can help. I have been searching for a big block to drop into my 70 Malibu for a few years with no luck, they are tough to find in my area. I did have a lead on a mid to late 70's 454, but the owner wants to keep it for now. The other day I came across a 427 with one cylinder blown for free. It is a 68 427 truck block, casting 3999294 (2nd number could be an 8, hard to tell). Is this a good 427 casting. Given the free price and the fact that big blocks are hard to find, would resleeving to one cylinder by a viable option or not. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks Mike

If it's a 427 truck block, then it will be a tall deck motor. It would require special headers, intake etc etc. Would be great for a big stroker motor though, but$$$$$$ would add up. Keep looking BB's are out there

Tall deck block. I wouldn't use it because of all the problems they cause.

Sorry, but I must disagree. I got mine cheap too, but no sleeves and its now .060" over. In my 67, it fit without much trouble. The only area was the headers. My hedmans only needed clearancing on one tube on the drivers side, and two on the passenger. I did have to step up to a 2" cowl hood because of the team-g intake, but I think the stock hood would work if you used a low-rise intake. Bottom end on these things are bullet-proof. I say run with it, or at least take the crank and rods. Brad.

Also need different intake or use intake spacers, different distributor or one that has and adjustable hold down support to compendsate for the taller intake.

There are several manufacturers that make tall-deck specific intakes. There's no need to use spacers anymore. My Weiand team-g is made for a tall deck and the distributor hole is machined down to accept a standard distributor. I'm using a mallory unilite that came out of the old small block the 427 replaced.

Well, this can go both way it seems. Can the deck be milled down to normal specs? If these blocks are bullet-proof, perhaps it is worth the effort to fit headers, manifold, etc. I will store the block till I need it, in case nothing better shows up. I would be interested in hearing of others who used these tall deck blocks. Is the crank and rods different fron a standard block? Are only the pistons taller to make up for the taller deck?
Thanks for the information.
Mike

Originally posted by Mike Chernecki:
Well, this can go both way it seems. Can the deck be milled down to normal specs? If these blocks are bullet-proof, perhaps it is worth the effort to fit headers, manifold, etc. I will store the block till I need it, in case nothing better shows up. I would be interested in hearing of others who used these tall deck blocks. Is the crank and rods different fron a standard block? Are only the pistons taller to make up for the taller deck?
Thanks for the information.
Mike =
No it can't be milled down, it is .400" higher.
10.2" vs 9.8" nominal.

Same 3.76" crank & 6.135" rods but the crank is balanced for heavier pistons.

The bottom end is no more bullet proof than any other 4 bolt rat,, you have to work real hard to hurt any of them. ;)