Anybody here ever run a Chevy 307. I rememeber hearing or reading somewhere once that they were not very desirable to use because of the cyinder layout. I think it was due to thin walls. The only reason I am asking is that I have one being offered to me here locally for about $100. Came out of a 68 Chevelle. It also comes with a Powerglide. Just not sure it would be worth the h***le to rebuild. Thanks
If you want an engine to use "as is" to get a car on the road, then a 307 is a good choice. A stock rebuild would be fine, but kind of a waste of money compared to building a more desirable engine like a 327 or 350, although stock it would be like building a stroked 283. Some guys like to punch them out to 4.00" bore to make a 327, that's when the thickness of the cylinder walls becomes an issue...it would be better to find a 2 bolt 350 block to build such an engine, you could use the rest of the 307 parts on it if you want.
You can probably get most of your investment back by selling the Powerglide. The only reason 307s got a bad reputation is that they were available in one form: two barrel carb, single exhaust, low compression. At the same time they were available (1968-73), there were several much more exciting small blocks that you could order in your car. All they are is a 283 with a 327 crank in a large journal block. It's a small block Chevy--how awful can it be? It will respond to more cam, carburetion, compression and exhaust flow the same as any other engine.
rebuild kit costs more. 15 dollars more search fathack's responses to this question, he gets fired up for 307s
Ive run a couple of them and so has a friend in his 35 pickup. No trouble, good engine, but they really need better airflow (heads, intake, carb, cam) than they came with in order to get some fun out of them. No one liked them when they were new because most anything could outrun them in stock form.
When I hear 307, I think early 70s nova 4 door, jacked up with air shocks...it's the wannabe engine for us who grew up in the 70s
they all put out about the same power, but the rating system changed in 72, hp was as follows: 68-71 200 hp 72 130 hp 73 115 hp The specs on all the engines were the same, although they added EGR for the last year or two. All car makers went from gross to net hp ratings in 1972, that accounts for the huge hp drop
Well ****, I am pretty sure I had read that info in a Hot Rod article. You would think they would have noted the reason like that. I ***umed they were comparing apples to apples.
Forget about factory ratings. If you can pick it up cheap, ring and bearing it and get by with it until something more exciting comes along, so much the better.
I got a running 307 for $200 and threw it in my 53 gmc. It had 37,000 on it and I put another 35,000 on it before I pulled it, put a cam in it and threw it in my 31 roadster. Plenty of motor for the roadster and still running strong. It has world products heads, cam, headers, 4 barrel, and roller tip rockers. It's $100, buy the sob.
I've got one in my 60' wagon... gutless POS. Had one in a 70' elcamino in high school... gutless POS. can't wait to upgrade to something with a little more torque for towing. Save your money and buy a long block 350. Joe
yep....gutless is a good choice of words......had one in my 71 nova.....that thing smoked like there were no rings on the pistons.....what i sight......i know a guy that has a 68/69 nova with a 307 and a 3 speed.....original green paint....old nhra stocker...with a bunch of gear...cragars...bench seat and a floor shift...ran in the 12's.....neat car....bought it new...and still has it stashed at his family's old john deere dealership....adn still not for sale.......hah brandon
307's OK, it's the 262 and 267? (monza V8's) that are the weird head bolt patterns, expensive rebuild kits and schitt power.
It is a small block. Name one factory camed, two barrel small block that wasnt gutless. I had one in my 69 C-10 and it ran like a scalded dog. A duntov(sp?) cam, a set of warmed over power pack heads, edelbrock proformer and 1405 carb. I could eat just about anything from light to light on the highway it was wound out at about 4500 rpms and 90 mph but that was my rear gear
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