From what I was looking at here I am totally confused. This thing appears completely original and intact. The valve covers read 327 but it has a 2 barrel carb. It has the old oil bath filter and the last number on the casting is a 5 so I assume it is a 65 - not a 75. I looked for the numbers on 327s with 2 barrel and there is no such animal. Do I have a 283 here or could it possibly be a 55 rather than a 65. It still has the rams horn exhaust manifolds and it fired right off like a new motor. Looking at all the other visible details to determine it's condition and it all checks out very clean. I am wondering what I need to look for to really pin down the right year and size of motor we have here - I just don't know squat about SBCs (I'm a Pontiac/Buick guy)... Please help. ~Broman
There will be casting numbers on the heads, manifolds, and block. Air filters get changed over the years. Could have been swapped into an older car that used one, then removed and sold complete. What are the stamped numbers on the top of the front of the block, right in front of the right side cylinder head?
I appreciate the interest. I will get as many numbers as I can and possibly pics too. I used to have a book to decode this stuff but who knows where that went off to. Thanks guys. ~Broman
Sh*tload of 327 2bbls produced, probably more than 4bbls. There is nothing magical about a 327, they were a pedestrian motor for most of their production run. Mortec.com is your solution for identifying casting numbers. Check it out, you'll learn where to look and what the codes mean. Good luck
Just for clarity - I wasn't saying that there were no 327s with 2bbl. But I am certain that this motor is likely a 65 and I didn't see anything for that specific year, so I assumed it wasn't a 327. It's either that or it's not a 65 as I suspected. ...and I am glad it's a pedestrian motor, that makes it more likely that I ger this thing for free The guy that bought it wants to build HP, if it's a weakling he'll hand it over to me at no cost in favor of going with the other motor that he already has. I should get more numbers soon - and thanks for the link, if that doesn't work I'll be back with more questions... ~Damion
does it have straight hole valve covers or offset? that could tell you if it was 55 or 65. and like everyone else said, just look up the casting numbers of the block and heads
well for one thing if it was a 55 you'd know it. no oil filter in the block ( had a can on the intake) as well as no side mounts. any time i need a chevy part ID I google the number and a bunch of good sites pop up never heard of an oil bath air cleaner on a 327, though it could have been a option for heavy duty applications.
The best indicator of what the engine is ... is the Engine ID number/Vin code. See the photo ... for it's location. After finding the code ... go here for the chart http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/DeuceRoadster/endinedetail1.jpg?t=1250870699 FYI ... A 1955 V8 Chevrolet will not have side motor mounts.
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