I bought a 1966 327 some time back. It was rebuilt years ago and installed in a 1970 Chevy camper. (A big one with a dually rear end under it - not just a camper shell on a pick up.) It was never driven much before it was parked and later parted out. Anyway, it is complete from top to bottom and has a 2bbl intake and carb. It has Power Pack heads on it. I'm hoping someone stuffed an RV cam in it when it was rebuilt. It is not locked up but I've not tried to start it yet. I'll swap to a 4bbl intake and carburetor and an RV cam if it doesn't have one already. Can I get the cam specs off the front or rear of the cam? Also, I'm wanting to use this engine in a daily driver. Should I stick with the Power Pack heads or swap to something else? Thanks, Jim
What Henryj is asking, do the heads have the camel humps ( fuelie) or the diamond, pyramid (power pack). or no cast marks on the front of heads? casting numbers would help. Either way, street driven less than 6000 rpm. no problem with whatever you have.
Jim it has rthe heads with the diamond in them right? I think they were officially called turbo fire heads on a 327 but most country boys still called the power pac heads. I would stick with those heads if that is what it has they were good heads. Sometimes you can get the cam specs off of the front of the cam but some manufacturers put them on the rear where there is more room. A generic cam even if it was sold as an RV cam may have nothing at all on it. If an RV cam is what you want lunatti makes a real nice one.
They have this marking: (Wish they were Camel Hump.... ) It'll just be street driven. Want it to sound good. Run good. Get decent mileage. I've heard of people using a 305 head before and wondered if that might be an option/worth the trouble. Thank guys, Jim
the specs may not be on the cam , but there may be a part number you could look up and get them what is the casting number of the heads?
There is no benefit to using 305 heads on a 4" bore like the 327 that you have. The 305 heads are better suited to the 283 bore engines. The heads you have will be excellent on that motor. I had a 70 chevy suburban 3/4T with a 327 those same heads and a Schnider (sp) RV came it had plenty of power and got 17 mpg. It made several trips cross country and had over 100K before it was rebuilt again. In my opinon you have a great motor there. Pat
Would original powerpack heads or 305 heads give a 283 more power? I have a 66 C10 with a 283 and it has powerpack heads original to the motor. I wanna have some muscle behind the truck but keep decent mileage as it is my first car and will be my daily driver.
Depends on which 305 heads; use the 601 casting number heads, and go with 1.84 intake valves (some come with those), and have them gone through, including having them surfaced. They have 53cc chambers (even smaller with milling), for a slight bump in CR, and have hardened seats. Performer intake with a Quadrajet carb, mild cam, HEI distributor, and free up the exhaust. It's how I would do it, but my 283 will be getting the 56' 265, 5603 casting number heads, as I already have them ready to go. The biggest drawback to those heads is the tiny ports/valves, even though the intakes have been changed to 1.84's. We'll see how things work out; I do have a ready-to-go set of 267/305 heads I came upon after having the 56' heads done. The low performance 327's, with Power Pack heads have a lot of potential; just don't over cam/over carb them, which is what usually happens. Butch/56sedandelivery.
1st up do a proper introduction in the proper location. Is this 283 fine, ready to go? Leave it. Otherwise if a full rebuild is in the cards, you may use the 305 for a bit of improvement. And modern accessories if that is the intent.
It is a good motor for now, it runs great but within a few years I plan on rebuilding it. A lot of things are rigged up improperly. The guy I bought it off of threw a 1973 q-jet for an automatic ****** so I have no vacuum line for the choke. Once it is warmed up the motor runs perfect. Just wanted to know which heads would bring more power for later on when I start pulling it apart.
Got my "327" home yesterday. Ran the numbers and found out that its a 283. I was going to put it in my coupe but I guess it'll go in my El Camino now. I pulled a valve cover and the intake manifold. Its clean as can be inside. Guess I'll find a 4bbl intake and run it as/is.