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307, M21? what do you think?

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lawlorj

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey Everyone,

Some of you may have seen my thread on trying to get the I6 in my 68' running. Well I have always been planning on swapping it out eventually but was going to try and get it road worthy first then eventually swap it out for more cubes. I also don't really want to sink much cash into it to get it going. Anyway I was just surfing around the local classifieds and came across what looks to me like a good deal. $2450 for a complete 307 and M21 transmission. Here is a link:

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...-Muncie-M21-transmission-and-Chevrolet-307-engine-combo-deal-W0QQAdIdZ357857051

I also want a manual transmission so it seems like a good setup, especially since it is so complete. I think It would make a good daily and doesn't have so much power that I would have to swap out the 10 bolt to handle it. Most importantly its within budget! Now it is a 307, which I don't know much about. Should I just hold off till I find a 350 or is a 307 a good mill? Is that a fair deal? Please give me your input on this!

Thanks!
 
#3 ·
A 307 is not often purchased, unless it comes as an original engine in a 69 model. Most often, people cannot give a 307 away because of the bore size and stroke. It certainly was not, as the ad states, an original 72 Nova SS engine. The only engine for Nova SS in 1972 was the L48 350. I don't know where the HP and TQ specs in the ad come from; was the 307 dynoed after "modification"? Don't see that thing breathing all that well through those small valve heads.

And a 65 model M21 with it? I don't know if you have decoded your rear axle yet, but I cannot imagine a 307 with an M21 in a typically geared 68 L6 Camaro, say around 3.08s (PA code). I would bet the clutch might last a month if you were lucky.

With that engine being yellow, I wonder if it was in a street rod. A light car is the only place that drivetrain makes any sense.

Quote from the ad: "Engine, trans and original car have never been drag'd or raced"

No kidding.
 
#7 ·
I would pass. Nothing against a 307, but they aren't really the hot ticket, and in my opinion you'd be spending $2450 for the trans with the motor thrown in as a freebie. I sold the original numbers 307 out of my car with a fresh rebuild to my mailman for $350, and he just scrapped it and saved the crank.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Wow, thanks for all the info. You guys know so much about this stuff it's mind blowing. I'll just have to wait for the next deal! And be sure I'll be posting on here again before I go pick something up! Thanks again.
 
#9 ·
The 307 V8 was never intended as a HiPo mill and to that end the factory never made any speed equipment for it.

I always considered it (and the later 262 V8) the bastard red-headed stepchild of the Chevy V8 family.
 
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#10 ·
Not that this will be particularly valuable, because no one can search "307" here, but I ran across the attached link and a bunch of others by googling "can hot rod 307".

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45615

If I had a 69 with a numbers match 307, I might consider trying some of the tips I found, because though anyone can run a 350, it might be fun shutting people up with "just" a 307.

I still would not pay the asking price for the OP combo, just to be clear. If that combo was more than $500-750 or so, it is probably still overpriced.
 
#11 ·
Once upon a time I had a 68 Nova with a 307 & PG. Put an Edlebrock Tarantula on it (shows how long ago it was) with a Holley 1850 and a set of Black Jack headers with duals. Also subbed a TH350 for the PG and went from 2.73 gears to 3.73. By then it was running pretty sweet for a DD.

I later built a full roller 327 with an 010 4 bolt main block and forged 69 327 crank out of a Vette engine and upped the gear to 4.11's. Things got interesting at that point...
 
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