In a year or so I will be installing a SBC in a 1949 Plymouth to replicate a vehicle I once had. If I pull this off, I will also free up a 217 flathead six for a gow-job project I have had in mind. The V8 will be a carburetor'd motor with a points distributor. No EFI. The motor will spend most of its time between 1000 and 1500 rpm. 2000 briefly once in a while, and maybe (very briefly) 3000 rarely. I do need decent torque and mileage. I have a good 4 bolt 350 TBI truck motor on hand - these are supposed to be the worst flowing heads Chevy ever made, but perhaps that does not matter for the use case I describe. On the other hand, I would love something like a mid-sixties 283. Cast iron manifold (I don't want any aluminum on the engine) with a Rochester 2-jet or 4-jet carb. 350 is more cubes than I need so there is a mpg penalty right there. Does it make sense to sleeve a 350 bore down to 283 pistons? I don't own an engine like that - I could buy one but would expect to have to go thru the entire thing, raising the overall cost. I could also install an old cast iron intake on the 350 (I prefer one with an oil fill tube) and call it done. I expect to use cast iron exhaust manifolds. I might use a 1955 driver's side exhaust manifold I have on hand because the front dump will give me clearance. This will not be a high speed or race engine. I need strong smooth operation - low stress - for dependable long-term operation. Smog equipment is not an issue. Will run a PCV and that's it. I realize there are a zillion variables. Given that I have a pretty good lead time, I thought I would ask you all for opinions, pro and con, on the alternatives as well as specific parts to look for (cam grinds, etc.). If I had a time machine, I would go back to 1967 to buy a fresh 283 2-bbl motor. I am familiar with how that would perform as that is exactly what I had, and it would be perfect for my needs. (A 4 barrel would also be OK.) Regardless of whether I use my 350 (a 1988 engine) or a vintage 283 block, this motor will be dressed out like a 1960s-era SBC (nothing visible newer than 1967).
Finding an intake for that 88 engine will be difficult to impossible. The center 4 bolts are at a different angle and were never offered with an iron intake. Yes, those heads flow like shit and have centerbolt valvecovers. Here's what I would do, Use the good 350 short block. Chances are it does not have a roller cam but will be a 1pc rear main. Either way on the cam, you'll be happy with the result. Update the basics, new oil pump, gaskets, good cleaning, etc. I would run a little hotter cam since your mileage and performance will both actually improve. Again, these were turds from the factory. Get an earlier set of heads with a fresh valve job and matching springs. Early valve cover and intake options are endless. Paint it orange and rock & roll.
327 for me. Reasons are many, as are opinions, but you ASKED for them. A 350 is a vibratory mess, compared to the smoothness of a 327, and I had the chance to compare both, in the same car, same drivetrain. The 327 gets better mileage, revs better, and very nearly as much torque. The 283 is just a smaller bore on the same block, but the torque difference might cause consternation, not knowing the application, of course. Cosmo
I agree with Cosmo,I have a 327 in my Deuce pickup and a 350 in my Deuce sedan..the 327 is a smoother running engine. HRP
Here's an idea why not put a Mopar v-8 in your car? 318, 360, 383, 400, 440, or even early hemi's will fit.
A sleeved down 350 is effectively what a 305 is. Same stroke as a 350 with smaller bore. As for your question, since you have the 350, use that with some older heads to make a nice running engine. Plus it will look the part and you can run the iron 2 bbl intake if you want. Some 70's/early 80's 305 heads will get compression up a bit, or use some older small chamber SBC heads like used on a 283.
FWIW, in my 47 chevy coupe, I run a nice 283 with 305HO heads, mild hyd cam, 9.5:1 CR, an early Edelbrock Performer and a 465 Holley. The intake is an early one that has a pad in the front to allow a hole to be drilled and a filler tube/breather to be added like the early intakes which is what I have done. I run an early air cleaner, early Cal Custom covers, 2" rams horns/dual 2" system and a Mallory dist. A T350 and 3.5 gears round it off. Runs like a champ and is punchy, (dont feel the loss of TQ really as Ive cammed it right with a tight stock convertor and does really well on mileage on junk fuel and is ultra reliable. My 2c
So far, two ways to go: - 350 block with early heads and manifolds. Which early heads will give me a decent comp ratio for today's 87 octane gas? - 283 or 327 block for smoothness. Can a 50 year old block, assuming it is in rebuildable shape, be counted upon to provide 20 more years of service?
small journal 327 would be my choice. Smooth and reliable with plenty of snap-build to 62-65 300HP specs and should work fine.
The block has no idea how old it is. It is just a piece of cast iron. If it is not damaged, or over-worn, it has no age.
i would use the 350 change the heads run ram horn exhaust a quadrajet, the 4" bore will help the heads flow better, the quadrajet small primaries good gas mileage, ram horn exhaust are good flowing frees horse power and cylinder filling tbi block roller cam runs out of power at 5000 rpm but good bottom end and the roller lifters less friction.be careful of squish, deck height, gasket thickness, keep it between .035-.060 i like the minium for a good burn.good luck
Because the vehicle I replicating originally had a 67 283 swapped into it, back in the day. Plus, nowadays, the SBC ecosystem costs a lot less than any of the other V8 engine platforms out there.
I don't buy the 327 being "smoother" than the 350 statement. But then again, I never built a 327 to be smooth anyway.
V8-283 2 Barrel 3.875 x 3.00 283 9.25 195 @ 4800 285 @ 2400 30-45 AC 45 .035 .019 28-32 18436572 4° -12 220 H.P. V8-283 4 Barrel 3.875 x 3.00 283 9.25 220 @ 4800 295 @ 3200 30-45 AC 45 .035 .019 28-32 18436572 4° -12 275 H.P. V8-327 4 Barrel 4.001 x 3.25 327 10.5 275 @ 4800 355 @ 2800 30-45 AC 44 .035 .019 28-32 18436572 8° / 2° AIR Auto -12 300 H.P. V8-327 4 Barrel 4.001 x 3.25 327 10.5 300 @ 5000 360 @ 3200 30-45 AC 44 .035 .019 28-32 18436572 6° / 4° ATC AIR -12 350 H.P. V8-327 4 Barrel 4.001 x 3.25 327 11.0 350 @ 5800 360 @ 3600 30-45 AC 44 .035 .019 28-32 18436572 10° -12 Here are the factory stats on the earlier SBC. Add a few aftermarket pieces (dual plane, camshaft, dual exhaust) and you will have a reliable, long lasting engine.
Maybe? My favorite low buck / Big Bang sbc build is unbeatable on the dollars per HP ratio. The only caveat, and its very easy to find, is to start with a good 307 bottom end that's been relieved of service simply because its a 307. These are Cheap cheap cheap. source a set of 305 heads preferably the H.O. version which are also cheap cheap cheap. You'll need a set of steel shim head gaskets, the rest of the gasket kit, timing chain set and a cam to suite your application. This combo yields great mileage, the smoothness of the 3.25 stroke, plenty of power to send the tires up in smoke. I'd be surprised if you get more than 800.00 wrapped up into the whole thing and will get you over 300 HP easier than falling off a log. 330 if you pay attention.
All you need to do is make 4 wedge shaped washers for those angled center bolts. Its been about a million times and takes less than an hour with sticks and rocks, much faster if you have some tools
Many years ago I built a 327 using a 350 4 bolt main block and a 307 crank. The 307 crank was the same number as the later 327 large journal crankshafts. If I remember right I used 327 pistons. Older camel hump heads with the 64 CC chamber I believe. Still have the motor and planning on rebuilding with lower compression heads to compensate for the 11 :5 pistons. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
To start with you are taken in by a myth, more cubes does not = poor fuel mileage. I have a 400+ HP 355 that has about 150K on it now and has consistently made better that 20 MPG. No OD just geared and tunned properly. If I was duplicating a ride I once had I would put the engine in it that it once had. if you want a low end motor any or all of the above could be used, they can all be made to be all in by 3K. The 350 wuill make the most low end torque for less money then the 283 if torque is what you are after. You actually left a motor out of the running and it would be perfect for what you want. get a 307, it is built for low rpm cruising stock. Freshen it and drive it. Done deal.
No matter HOW you dress it up, a later LJ 350 still won't look the same as a SJ 327 or 283. There are features (like the boss on the back of the block for PCV or road draft tube) that the later blocks don't have. If you're trying to be true to the era, be true to the era. If you want a cheap SBC and already have the 350 and don't care if it's not "right"...build the 350.
Based on your original post, and wants, I would definitely go with a 327, or 283. I love them both, and am running a 283 now, but with what you are looking for it seems like a fairly stock motor is what you need, and in that case the 327 probably would give you a little more low end torque.. Let us know what you do !
I've been following this thread with interest and it is always amazing how many opinions there are. My 2 cents is NOT a late model 350 (2 bolt valve covers) I would go with a Chrysler but since that was not your question, I would opt for a 327 the just run so good. I had one in my 67 GMC suburban with a turbo 400 and the stock Rochester 2 bbl. it was .030" with a Schneider hydraulic cam it took me out to AZ twice we drove it around 50k miles and it got 15 MPG with 4:11 gears and a 4500# truck. I even raced it once at Winslow AZ drag strip and ran a 17 sec time, not a world record but good enough for what it was. A cast iron manifold w/ a 4GC Rochester carb and a mild hydraulic cam would be very good for what you want to accomplish. Good luck with your build. I would also use a Turbo 350 trans the 400s are too heavy internally and require more HP to turn them. Pat
If you use 305 heads they have to be off a H.O. Motor you the 4416 they are the good ones. You don't sound like you want preformance so i would stay away from 305 heads.
I´d go with a 283 or a 327, just because I love them. I f you already have a 350 I´d use it and make it perform with better heads and a torquey cam
porknbeaner is right smaller doesn't mean it's better on gas it all depends on hp-weight and gearing with tweaks on cam, carb/injection, and timing curve
If you're not doing a period specific build, 350, throw those heads away, get a set of vortec heads and a vortec edelbrock intake, grind off the logo and paint it orange. Cam with about a .460 lift, 268 advertised duration. 9 to 1 cmpression so it wil run on any fuel. Rebuilt quadrajet or the edelbrock 600 vacuum carb. Tune the carb so your secondaries don't come in until well past cruise rpm.
96 up style 350 vortec motor... metric rings , hyd roller cam, 1 pc rear seal....and of course vortec heads. easy motor to make some decent power on the cheap.
Just read through all of the input...my 2 cents worth is...just because when someone ask's what you got in it...it sounds cool when you you can tell them...it's a 283
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