I am thinking about going ahead and building a 301 for my willys, I have a small journal crank that I would like to put in my 350 block. I know that someone used to make spacers to do that. Does anyone have any info on this? Or any part#'S I have searched everywhere , and just called JEG'S and came up empty handed.
I know it's not what you asked, but if you have a small journal 283 crank, i would try and find a small journal 327 block for it. The 327 has the same 4" bore as the 350, and the crank is a drop in. I know the small journal 327's aren't as plentifull as 350's, but in my own oppinion it's probably a better, more solid foundation than using spacer bearing's.. only my 2 cents.
I've seen it done by boring the large journal bearing to fit a small journal bearing inside it. TRW used to make a special thick bearing to do this too.
Check with a performance oriented machine shop in your area...if bearings/spacers for that application are still out there (and I'm not sure they are) they'll know where to find em. If you don't have any luck and still want to do something offbeat/cool, find a large journal 327 crank, makes a neat 340'ish motor.
I have a standard bore, small journal 327 block also, but it had been sitting outside for a long time and is covered in heavy surface rust, which makes me king of scared of it, is there anyway to get it completely cleaned up? If so I would just use it.
Well if you have the extra cash get the block magnifulxed aka Mag'd at a local machine shop to check for any cracks in the block. Should only cost 50-70 bucks. I have a 283 that has been sitting out side for so long. I've made a table out of it...anyone wanna see..??? Actually I'm using it to support two junk car ramps at this point. HOWEVER I do plan to make it into a table if it is not salvageable. (which is sad) because only reason it wasnt stored inside is because I didnt have a storeage unit at the time, and my dad put a limit on the number of blocks I could bring home.....!!!! seriously.
Hey Guys , don't sweat the rust, just take them and have the block hot tanked, then check it for cracks I guess. If the rebuilders don't want to do it take it to a rust strip place.. don't use acid , it will cause hydrogen embrittlement. Grumpy Jenkins used to season his blocks outside for three or more years before he would use them. OK heavy pitting may mean some extra machining, but hell , you were going to rebuild the motors properly anyway....wern't you??
Most hot tank solutions are for grease and oil removal and are really poor at rust removal. If you really want to use an old weathered block. Have it Baked and blasted. It will look like new. The disadvantage is you can only accurately Mag it after the cleaning. Spacers are not available to install a small journal crank in a large journal block. Many years ago bearings were made for the conversion, but did not sell and were discontinued after a very short run. A large journal 327 crank in a 350 block still makes a 327..
I guess we use different solutions or at least different practices/names for what we do in different countries. I have a general degreaser tank, then a two layer diphase carbon remover tank and my electrolytic hot tank which completely removes any rust and scale to perfectly clean metal inside and out . Even crusty old flatheads which have been in the field or under a tree for thirty years will come clean in this tank. l use it for other panels and parts too.
You could most likely BUY a small journal 327 block for less than the spacers.....if you could find them..... 1962 to 1967.....is the years you should look for. .
childs&albert lists the spacers as#mbs-327-350 useing the spacers in a 350 4-bolt block is cheeper than having the 4-bolt caps fit too the 327 block. the small journal 265/283 crank in a lot lighter than the large journal one. we broke rods but never a crank useing this combination
No one has mentioned it but will need 302 pistons to use a 283 crank in a 327 block. I tried to run some TRW's down last year and found there wasn't any standard bore pistons avalable but .020, .040 were . There is a bood build up in Nov. Hot Rod pg. 88. List part #s too.These are good combos. Good Luck Hooley
I already have a set of forged .30 over 302 pistons that one of my buddies GAVE me. So I am set on pistons. I guess I will go ahead and get my standard bore small journal block cleaned up and bore it for the 302 pistons. I also have a forged 283 crank, so all I am missing on the short block is floating rods and a big roller cam!!
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