What have you done to your square lately??

[Rustisbest]

At least its not a 305 or 307

 

[ChuckN]

BOO

Boo, haha. It is what it is. Just trying to make a case for both at this point.

I stopped by both the machinist and HRMC. The machinist spotted stuff that said would need a bore. And to meet my requirements for performance, a rotating assembly + block work would be very NOT cheap. Putting the new heads on a this engine as is would be a low compression slug in the 8s, (and it more or less feels that way already) and it wouldn’t have the displacement to use all the extra airflow unless I was wringing its neck all the time.

Paul at the shop has both SBCs in his cars as well as a LS swapped squarebody. His input is that the drivability of an LS worth it alone. He’s setting some time aside on Friday and bringing his truck to the shop to give me both the goods and the bads about what a guy or gal gets into with these swaps. We’ll see what happens.

A guy could show up locally with a 383 and I’d be just as excited about it if the price was right.

 

[ChuckN]

If you are going to go to the work for a different engine family swap go lt1 or lt4. But in reality
You can do a fresh 383 build with pieces you mostly have. For less money than you will have in a swap with a used engine. My .02 I wasn't even looking for deals and this was 2 minutes if searching

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That’s an option. Just depends on whatever else comes along with it. Block work to be gone through completely (and I’m not going forward without that) would be at least a grand locally.

 

[Ricko1966]

That’s an option. Just depends on whatever else comes along with it. Block work to be gone through completely (and I’m not going forward without that) would be at least a grand locally.

Seriously,to hot tank,bore,and install cam bearings?

 

[bucket]

I dunno, the very mildly hopped up 327 moves my big ol Impala around just fine. With good aluminum heads and a few other things, it would be a real hoot.

 

[ChuckN]

Seriously,to hot tank,bore,and install cam bearings?

And to deck the block. But it’s my suspicion that with that kit, you would have to clearance the block as well for crankshaft throws.

Yep, he quoted me 1000 to 1500. There’s one other place I can check, but I think locally that’s the going rate since there’s no competition.

 

[Ricko1966]

And to deck the block. But it’s my suspicion that with that kit, you would have to clearance the block as well for crankshaft throws.

Yep, he quoted me 1000 to 1500. There’s one other place I can check, but I think locally that’s the going rate since there’s no competition.

Were you going to deck the block before? Sure it's a good idea but your used ls engine isn't go to be decked or even have new cam bearings.
It's not right to compare all the bells and whistles 383 build with a pull it from a 19 year old junk car and install it build. Just remember you are comparing a mystery 19 year old used engine to a fresh build.

 

[ChuckN]

Were you going to deck the block before? Sure it's a good idea but your used ls engine isn't go to be decked or even have new cam bearings.
It's not right to compare all the bells and whistles 383 build with a pull it from a 19 year old junk car and install it build. Just remember you are comparing a mystery 19 year old used engine to a fresh build.

I totally understand that.

Just talked to another machine shop, and he said 7-800 for complete block work. Decking? Well, I mention it because both shops mention it. It might not need it, you’re right. But I think this is one of those “hope for the best, prepare for the worst “ scenarios. Based on what the guy told me when I purchased it vs the condition now, we’ll, I wouldn’t be surprised.

I’ve got logistical fish to fry, either way. I have very limited garage space and getting a cherry picker is going to be challenging, and an engine stand…hoo boy.

I’m in the process of looking at stuff for the SBC, thanks for pointing out those links. One shop said Eagle stuff is usually pretty reasonable.

 

[DoubleDingo]

I totally understand that.

Just talked to another machine shop, and he said 7-800 for complete block work. Decking? Well, I mention it because both shops mention it. It might not need it, you’re right. But I think this is one of those “hope for the best, prepare for the worst “ scenarios. Based on what the guy told me when I purchased it vs the condition now, we’ll, I wouldn’t be surprised.

I’ve got logistical fish to fry, either way. I have very limited garage space and getting a cherry picker is going to be challenging, and an engine stand…hoo boy.

I’m in the process of looking at stuff for the SBC, thanks for pointing out those links. One shop said Eagle stuff is usually pretty reasonable.

Weren't going to need a cherry picker and engine stand anyway?

 

[ChuckN]

Weren't going to need a cherry picker and engine stand anyway?

Of course, just something that I wasn’t planning on having to do.

 

[xm20k]

Have it punched to 4.060 and make it into a 388. I would also just have them cleanup the deck surface and not knock it down to 9" with a small chamber and thin gasket should be in the 9.5-9.75 CR range with the 2 valve relief flat tops. Will make more than enough torque to get in trouble with.

Pardon Our Interruption

 

[ChuckN]

Have it punched to 4.060 and make it into a 388. I would also just have them cleanup the deck surface and not knock it down to 9" with a small chamber and thin gasket should be in the 9.5-9.75 CR range with the 2 valve relief flat tops. Will make more than enough torque to get in trouble with.

Pardon Our Interruption

Thanks for that suggestion- I may have been incorrectly thinking that a standard 350 block would have to be clearanced for the bigger crank?

Sorry that my posting hijacked this thread today, wasn’t my intention @everyone.

 

[Sad Sack]

Just build a 383 out of what you got. Sell the 327 reciprocating assembly.

Now someone is thinking in the right direction!

 

[Sad Sack]

At least its not a 305 or 307

Now that wasn't nice...

 

[legopnuematic]

@ChuckN I’ll echo some of what others have said, don’t jump ship yet on what’s in the truck now.

Clean the deck surfaces up and take some basic measurements to determine where things are at and see what you have to work with. I’d have a hard time believing the compression would be that low with flat top (4 valve relief) pistons, the 461 heads should be around 64CC chambers, unless if it was rebuilt using super short rebuilders pistons, not decked, with a super thick head gasket.

A stock 70s smogger 350 should blueprint to around 8.5:1, with dished pistons, 76cc chambered heads, etc etc.

The bores might not look great, but if it ran well, didn’t have excessive blowby, smoke, make oil, or lose oil, I personally wouldn’t be above overlooking some things.

I suppose it does boil down to what you want from it as a result, if you are dead set on not building a 327, I’d put it back together with the old parts, then you can continue to enjoy it, find a good 350, maybe a factory roller block w/mech fuel pump provision, that’s still a 350, go through it, put your go fast goodies on it, get it ready to go, swap them, put the old mill up for sale. I’m sure that someone would want a running “327” for their traditional hot rod/t bucket/whatever.

Having something that in some capacity runs and drives is more fun than having something blown apart for months. BTDT.

Just my 2¢ for free.