i though i would chime in with a question or two so i am guessing that the bigger journals is better than the smaller journal? right? if the 283 block had small journals would the newer 307 block also have the small journals or does it have the bigger journals? not popular as in "not to many came from the factory" or not popular as in "it is a poor engine combination"?
I got the engine for free I have to to finish tearing it down and then have the block checked out before I do anything else. I'm just curious.
small/large journal...i really don't think it makes a difference in a street driven car all 283's were small journal....early 327's were small journal , late 327's were large journal it's just never been very popular...the reasons are as numerous as the stars in the sky..some people love them, some hate them....i think 307 just doesn't sound right to most people , 283 ,301 , 302 327 , 427 sounds cooler if i had a good 307 i'd run it , then just say it's a 327
My 57 truck has a 283 in it now. Its got 305 heads on it and a tri power set up. It runs a old cam dynamics cam and a stock power glide. It runs good but I want more power! Its getting a 327 in the spring.
i just read that the 307 had one of the lowest power to cube ratios in chevy history, so that might answer the popularity question for me.
The 307's main problem was that it was only available in a low compression, two barrel carb, single exhaust version. In an era when most engines were available from the factory in high performance form, 307s looked pretty uninteresting.
Back in the 60's, we made sbc 352's by boring the cylinders to 4" and then welding and regrinding the crank off-center so that we ended up stroking it to 3 1/2".
The Jalopy Journal
