now i've got a 327 in my '69
compression is 135 to 145,edelbrock rpm air gap manifold,not sure what the cam is but it's not stock,headers,edelbrock performer 600 carb.,msd 6al and pertronix flame thrower,i think the heads are stock.

should i build this motor to the hilt?
what kind of power can it produce and at what rpm's.

or should i just get rid of it and spend some cash on a 383 stroker motor thats ready to make over 400h.p. from the get go?

sugestions, advise, or help? like everyone that works for a living i do have a budget,if neccesary it can be stretched if needed. thanx!

i like the short stroke motors i would build the 327 up after a set off head you might be surprised

it depends if you wants something that pulls hard on the top end or something that ripps you face off in the mid range! torque is what you feel and gives you that smile when you punch it around 40 mph and sets you back in you seat. personaly i like short stroke motors but theres no replacemant for displacement!!!the 383 will make more "streetable" power for the money,and will light the tires up at will if biult right. if you are going to build a 383 i would go some thing like this: 5.7 rods,flat top or D-dished pistons,zero deck clearance(this will build more h.p. on any motor because the squish is tightened up and will help keep it from detonating).heads, i would go with AFR or twisted wedge,with a 64 or 68 cc chamber(no larger than this or it'll hurt performance for the street)intake runners of around 180-190 cc,cam go with comps cams xe268h or xe274h installed at 106 degrees,use 1.6 magnum rockers from comp,if you want to go the extra the childs and albert ZGTF rings will give you a little more power around 10 more ponies,but they cost $80 MORE than conventional rings. run a rpm intake,and vacuum secondary 750 carb.1 3/4 super comp hedders with a cross over pipe or even better an X-cross over pipe. this combo will give you aprox. 420-450 h.p. depending on the cam and heads you chose.
for the ignition i REALLY like the JACOBS ignition but its rather pricy, around $200-$300 depending on model, but its the "best" for the street because it memorizes how much energy it takes to fire each cylinder and keeps all 8 cylinders seperate. hope this helps you out.
if you go with the 327 you really don't need all that much cylinder head,stay with 170-180 cc and no more than the xe268h cam to keep it streetable and "fun". DAVID VIZZARD said "you'll notice 10lbs more torque than 10 more h.p." for the street torque is where its at!!! GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR TOY!

thanks for the advise,i did figure that the 327 built would be a real screemer and i know that the 383 would be a much better street motor but it's just hard to shell out that kind of cash when i already have a motor in the car that could just use a better cam or better heads! you know what i mean?

do both,keep the short block and replace the cam and heads. if you want to make some good torque AND h.p. throw in a hydrolic ROLLER cam and it will make a WORLD of deference . but the roller set up will cost around $700-$800 because you have to replace cam,lifters,pushrods,and springs,and timingset. isn't it nice how EVERYTHING comes with a price tag! so for about $2000 you could have a streetable 400 h.p. 327. sound like fun?

Depends on what you want to do! If you want it really streetable and you drive it a lot, you're half way home with what you've got already.

We just did heads, intake, carb and headers on my original 210 horse 327 and probably added 100-140 hp. Motor has the Hi Energy 268 grind cam in it.

If you really want to fly and money's no object, get the bigger one. You can go as fast as your wallet and wife will let you!

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68 Camaro ragtop, 327, angle plug Camel humps, 202's, Performer, Holley 600, Doug's Headers, 3-speed Saginaw, 3.08 posi....

I really was cool even before I bought this car... http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1266568&a=10702248&p=36735341

The 327 is a great little motor, and since you have the bottom end already you will probably save money by rebuilding it. Toss on some Edelbrock RPM heads or AFR 180s if you can afford them, these will pick you up some significant power and allow you to run a little more compression. The little heads (1.72/1.50 valves) you may have on there actually do pretty well with a good porting job... not super, but good. I second the notion of not going over 180cc for the intake runner on a 327.

If you want it to be a mid-rpm puller, it can be that with a cam like Comp's XE262. If you want it to tach up to 6 grand, look into some solid cams, or if you can afford and want the best of both worlds... go roller. On the desktop dyno a 9.5:1 327 with those Edelbrock RPM heads and intake along with the XE262 will make aound 375 horses and 415 ft. lbs. of torque in a good streetable rpm range.

An added bonus is that everyone runs a 350 or 383 now days, have a 327 and be different.

used 350 cranks are a dime a dozen. I'd consider swapping cranks and rebuilding it as a 350.
Price that against a 383 engine.
I used to own a 327 and went to a 350 and it's a big difference worth going for.
If it comes down to doing a 383 with stock heads, or a 350 with aftermarket heads, go the aftermarket/350 route.
David

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Check my web page for First Gen Camaro suspension info:
David's Motorsports page (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/)
First Gen Suspension Page (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/first_gen_suspension.htm)
67 RS 327
69 Camaro Vintage Racer
65 Lola T-70 Chev 350
Can Am Vintage Racer

I had an '80 Firebird I built a little 327 for, and with the stock 2.76 rear, I could stomp it at 25 mph, and it would lose ALL traction:The car would completely stop, and fill up with smoke. For mid range, and upper RPM power, the 350 doesn't hold a candle to the 327, the only benefit with a 350 or 383, is off-idle torque, and that's great in a heavier vehicle, but usually overkill in a lightweight job, unless you just plan on doing burnouts all day.

I switched from a 327 to a 350. It was the best thing I ever did.
The 327 would only rev to 5000 (hyd cam stocker)
The 350 would rev to 7000.
I went almost two seconds faster in the quarter mile with the 350.
I'm not switching back!
David


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Check my web page for First Gen Camaro suspension info:
David's Motorsports page (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/)
First Gen Suspension Page (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/first_gen_suspension.htm)
67 RS 327
69 Camaro Vintage Racer
65 Lola T-70 Chev 350
Can Am Vintage Racer

I'm doing a build up on my 327 thanks to everyones help here. Don't have the budget for the 383 so here is what I did. Flat top pistons, Edelbrock RPM Aluminum heads, Edelbrock Torker cam, Elelbrock Air Gap RPM manifold and a 600 carb. Just waiting to get the heads in and put it all together. Will post how it runs soon.

It should run well. Let us know how you like it.
David

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Check my web page for First Gen Camaro suspension info:
David's Motorsports page (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/)
First Gen Suspension Page (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/first_gen_suspension.htm)
67 RS 327
69 Camaro Vintage Racer
65 Lola T-70 Chev 350
Can Am Vintage Racer