Hi everyone, I am new to this forum. I have been reading the forums for a few days and wow! Very good info here, I wish I had found it sooner. Anyway, an opinion question for anyone who may have one of the engines I am considering in the future. I currently have a tired 350 in my 69 and considering either a ZZ427 big block or a Ron Shafiroff 427 small block. I would think I would run into less problems going small block to small block, but also have never had a bb. Is the ZZ427 anything like the original? Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Welcome to team camaro !!
I have a 427 sbc in my 69 vert and i love it..gobs of torque!!
IVE HAD BOTH AND I LIKE BOTH???

I would go with the 427.

^^ x2

J/K ;) it kind of depends on what you will do with the car. road racing, small block. drag strip, maybe BB. if it will be a street car/ weekend warrior I would stay SB.

Not for nothing but have you considered a 383? lots of power there. (don't ask how I know :) )

Everyone seems to forget the cost of converting from a small block to a big block. If you are already a small block, I would say keep it a small block.

427's rock. It's the truth !
But I don't find the ZZ427 that close to the orignal (which in my eyes is the L72)
But of course a 427 can be in many diffrent setups. Ranging from the 'slow' L33(if I'm not mistaking) to the ultimate 427 : the ZL-1

Elias

I like the look of the BBC....SBC just dont fill da hole...

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii15/davidcalligan/PICT0544.jpg

if it is the same cubic inches, i would go with the small block version and save the weight. instant free perfomance. both motors should make roughly the same power.

If you're talking about the $8795 Shafiroff Real Street 427, I know a builder that can do an identical engine but with AFR heads (not "unnamed heads") for a good bit less with a one year warranty. I know Shafiroff includes a two year warranty and free shipping but it looks like you're actually paying for it.

That said, you would most likely have to get new exhaust and have your cooling system up to snuff for either. If it's a street car, I'd get the big block if you're going to have to upgrade that stuff anyway. Always room to grow whereas the small block is done as far as stroke and all you could do is bore it some more. However, the ZZ427 is way up there in price.

I'd get the big block if you're going to have to upgrade that stuff anyway. Always room to grow whereas the small block is done as far as stroke and all you could do is bore it some more. However, the ZZ427 is way up there in price.
I agree.

The big block would be a stronger foundation and have more room for improvements down the road. If you had problems or something broke or let go it would be cheaper to repair. As for all out power "potential" it would depend on the combo but the big block has the edge there also.

If you do the small block, you could lie & tell everyone it is a 350. Would be fun smoking a few people with your "350".

A big block has the "huge" look that a small block never will & will get more attention when you pop the hood.

Personally, I would get a 502 over the ZZ427 if you want a big block crate engine. I'd go big bore & enjoy the extra cubes.

Also consider a 427 or larger LS based motor for light weight & killer air flow potential that the original small block (& many big blocks) cannot dream of without using altered valve angles.

Welcome fishface !
If you have the means to go big block 427 then IMO pull the trigger on the big block.
Sure it's some what of a hassle compared to the small block route but soooo worth it.
No guts no glory.

I guess you've forgotten one - a 6.2L block can be stroked to 427 and topped with L92 heads. Now you have 3 different 427's to choose from. No doubt, the LS engine will make more power when comparably built. The others just can't compete with 15* valves and an aluminum block that weighs half of what the others do.

Shafiroff builds great motors, but are expensive. They do usually yield tons of power.
The 427sbc will be expensive, but you need to consider not only the motor, but what needs to be done to the car if you do go with the BBC 427.
Either way, you will still need to make some upgrades to the car when you go to a high horsepower motor.
Even a 420hp motor will cause the body to flex like none other, and the stock suspension leafs will feel like they will be ripped from the rear frame at any given time.

I would look into a local builder that could help you /build/get what you want :yes:

I went 406 smallblock and hope to go 434 smallblock next time :D I really like a Dart set-ups personally.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Brand-New-Dart-SHP-427ci-Small-Block-Chevy-Short-Block-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2a01b2308eQQitemZ18041 7081486QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

Hey, thanks everyone for the input! I am planning this within the next year or so this will help me make a good decision.

And one more thing. When Chevy design engineers were put to work on the Camaro back in the mid '60's, the first thing on the list of parameters was it HAD to accept the BB. There's no substitute. Small blocks belong in grocery getters.:D

i'd look at the LS series also, power and light weight, can't beat the combo. Mast motorsports has some nice choices also

Anyone have dyno sheets on both of them ? I would like to see them if you do !

Anyone have dyno sheets on both of them ? I would like to see them if you do !


This is on my fairly small cammed 10:1 400 on a Dart block. Doing the dirty math based on they dyno, the extra 27 cubes would be worth roughly 35 hp and lb ft give or take. The builder wanted to go ahead and do a 427 for about the same price but this is a purely street and highway driven car that I hope to put a whole heap of miles on so I went with a 5.7" rod 400 and kept the power band below 6000. Any more and my -6 fuel lines, pump, and injectors would all have to be upgraded.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2375/4521741236_2fa5d44c07_b.jpg

I have put a zz427 in a 68 camaro it fits tight the HEI dist is close to the firewall I put lemons headers with 3"exhaust and had to cut the cross member to get them to fit (the flanges hit the floorpan) I BOUGHT TORQUE TECH SYSTEM AND IT IS TO CLOSE TO THE FUEL LINE (HOSE FROM STOCK LINE TO LINE OFF SENDING UNIT) AND WILL HAVE TO LOWER FUEK TANK AND SOMEHOW MOVE IT ANY SUGGESTIONS

if ya need some advice here ya go
a bigblock is conciderably heavier
so youll need new front springs .
bigblocks are not known for high revs
smallblock can rev a bit more
all around a 427 smallblock will run circles around a 427 bigblock.

if ya need some advice here ya go
a bigblock is conciderably heavier
so youll need new front springs .
bigblocks are not known for high revs
smallblock can rev a bit more
all around a 427 smallblock will run circles around a 427 bigblock.

I disagree. My 427 ZL-1 is lighter than a 350, revs to 7000+, was designed by GM to run at 7000+ rpm all day long, makes 580hp stock, will blow away a small block with it's massive torque. Plus, its sounds like a full race motor but can be driven on the street. The LS motors do not have the sound a 60's muscle car should have, and the motors are throw away-you can not bore them unless you add sleeves. I had one, I know. So the only choice is a ZL-1 big block. Trust me, I drive mine hard!

I disagree. My 427 ZL-1 is lighter than a 350, revs to 7000+, was designed by GM to run at 7000+ rpm all day long, makes 580hp stock, will blow away a small block with it's massive torque. Plus, its sounds like a full race motor but can be driven on the street. The LS motors do not have the sound a 60's muscle car should have, and the motors are throw away-you can not bore them unless you add sleeves. I had one, I know. So the only choice is a ZL-1 big block. Trust me, I drive mine hard!

I like the way you think.
It's essential to remember our muscle car roots :thumbsup::thumbsup:

if ya need some advice here ya go
a bigblock is conciderably heavier
so youll need new front springs .
bigblocks are not known for high revs
smallblock can rev a bit more
all around a 427 smallblock will run circles around a 427 bigblock.
uhh.. False

:popcorn:

To be fair on the cylinder lining thing, the LSx Bowtie comes in an iron version and the truck engines are iron.

i'd look at the LS series also, power and light weight, can't beat the combo. Mast motorsports has some nice choices also

this is what i'd do if i was going to spend the money. there are kits out there to make a 427" motor that's based on a 6.0 truck block. throw some L98 heads on it with a mild cam, and it would be a beast in either carbureted or efi configuration.
i bet if one was to price everything out, the money comes out about the same no matter which 427 you build.