I have absolutely no idea what the difference in motor oil is. I could not tell you what all the different numbers mean either which is why I'd like some direction here. I've owned my 1967 Camaro since 1999 and have always used Valvoline 5W-30 conventional oil and as far as I know everything is just fine.

If anyone has any strong opinions with regards to a certain brand or weight for a 327 engine I'd like to hear it. The engine is nothing special and has not been modified in any way. Thanks in advance for you info.

Dean, oil recommendations has been beaten to death on this site. If you perform a "search" you will probably have enough to read for the entire day. Good Luck.

Dean ! Here,s my 2 cent,s worth. Most people have their prefferences as to oil brand. My contention is this,. armed with all the info on TC TC &TN. Any of the major oil companies or after market brands are good . They have to be , some are a little better than others. If you use the proper grade either multi or single viscosity and use the ZDDP additive where needed all F/T cams you should be O/K. On the other hand if it,s a race engine then you need the proper oil ,for it,s intended usage and there are specific preferances and brands for that weather it be synthetic or conventional fossil oil. :DI also agree with Donny . Alex

From my experience Valvoline was not good ! In my younger years, I had bought used cars that had used valvoline. They used (burnt) oil and the oil was BLACK in a couple hundred miles. I switched to Halvoline (Texaco) oil and the oil burning stopped and the oil just turned a little darker than new after 2,000 miles. I used Halvoline exclusively for 25 years and never had a problem. Now, with the ungodly cost of oil and fuel, I mainly use Mobil oil as it is less expensive and no problems.

I have a nicely warmed over 350 and I have run Castrol 20W-50 conventional oil since the motor was rebuilt 10 years ago and I have no issue's to report.

Search here and/or google "ZDDP" and maybe "Camshield". you will find lots of info like this...

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=153683&highlight=camshield

You can also go to websites like Bob is the Oil Guy and see charts on which off the shelf oils have what levels of ZDDP.

Basically, a number of years ago now, the govt forced oil mfgs to reduce ZDDP content to help catalytic converters last longer. Because most production engines use hydraulic roller lifters or have overhead camshafts, this reduction in ZDDP shouldn't cause an issue in more "modern" engines.

For those of us that run the "old-fashioned" flat tappet lifters Ilike your 327, there is much debate on whether the drop in ZDDP is an issue regarding cam lobe wear. Your engine may be so broken in and/or worn, you can run any oil and not have a problem.

But, for all the more a ZDDP additive costs (CamShield, ZDDP-Plus, etc.), it is cheap insurance. And a good size bottle of CamShield (that is what I and a number of other guys here use) will last many oil changes and many years.

In all my years I've never heard of Camshield or ZDDP. I put less than 3000 miles on my car each year and have just used Valvoline oil. Is Camshield or ZDDP available at Wal-Mart or any of the natl auto store chaing?