327 Vs 350

Luis68 · Aug 23, 2001

I Have an original 327 on my 68 and i don't know if i should rebuild it or get a 350. I want to get 375 to 400 hp at the engine, but a couple of people told me that it is to much horsepower for a 2bolt main and that my engine will tare apart. is this true or not?
should i get a 350 or keep my 327?
thanks, luis

Joe R · Aug 23, 2001

half true, half not. Bigger question is sinking all that money/time to rebuild a 2 bolt main block as opposed to going out of your way for a 4 bolt main motor. Sounds like you want speed? or rumble? Big misconception around here is that horsepower= speed. Torque is what turns the wheels. The real question is can my motor handle all the torque requirements that I want to push on it- not will my increased hp turns the wheels faster.

Luis68 · Aug 24, 2001

I just want to be able to push my car in the 13's for the 1/4. How much torque do you think is needed for that with that much horsepower and speed?

gheatly · Aug 24, 2001

The fuel injected 375 HP 327 used in the Corvette was a 2-bolt main block. You should have no problem with block durability with the level of power you want. A lot of guys are running 500 HP small block 400s with 2 bolt mains.

Joe is right, though. A 350 has a longer stroke and will produce more useable torque. More torque makes for a faster street car. However, its really a matter of preference. Do you like fast revving, high RPM horsepower engines or engines with a lot of low end grunt?

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Pearl blue & white 69 Camaro with supercharged 350, Tremec TKO, and 3.73 12-bolt

See my website updated 4/16/01 at:

www.geocities.com/gheatly

camaroman7d · Aug 24, 2001

A two bolt main blosk is plenty strong for what you are looking for. The 2 bolt main "blocks" are actually stronger than the 4 bolts. I also agree that up to about 500HP two bolt are fine as long as you don't abuse them (at the higher HP levels). Torque is a good thing, but you can't have torque without HP. People lately keep saying torque this and torque that, but I have yet to see an engine with 500ft lbs of torque and no HP. I think what they are trying to say is build an engine that makes it's torque lower in the RPM range. The 327 or 350 will have no problems pushing you into the 13's. Both are great engines, build the one that will cost you less.

Royce

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70 Camaro 383ci
69 Camaro 385ci
91 Camaro RS V8 (305 TBI)
Link to my 70

http://profiles.yahoo.com/camaroman7d

gheatly · Aug 24, 2001

camaroman70d,

A good example of a high torque/low horsepower engine is the 400/455 Pontiac. They make over 500 ft-lbs of torque and "only" 350 HP in stock form. Most Chevy guys build their engines to rev to 6,000 RPMs or more. If you can get past that, you can build a torque monster of a 400. The only "problem" will be that it will run out of breath by 5,000 RPMs. You will, however, have stump pulling torque.

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Pearl blue & white 69 Camaro with supercharged 350, Tremec TKO, and 3.73 12-bolt

See my website updated 4/16/01 at:

www.geocities.com/gheatly

SY1 · Aug 25, 2001

I've never seen a sbc main fail. Worry more about using the best rods you can get. 4 bolt is nice but you don't need it under 500 hp. I don't like 350s because of the longer stroke, I've blown up way too many GOOD 350 engines. I prefer the 302 and 327, or if you really want torque and don't want to fork out the bucks for big block stuff, go with a 400 sbc. The 350 I've always considered to be a compromise engine. I'll take a lot of flack for that I know, but again you can't twist them as high and there are better torque producers out there. The one thing going for them is they're cheap and readily available, everybody has them. Most guys today go for the torque, so i know I'm the minority here with the high winders, but that's what I like.

327 Vs 350

Luis68

Joe R

Luis68

gheatly

camaroman7d

gheatly

SY1

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