Old Timer's and 350 VS 327?

The only advantage a 327 has over a 350, is if it's an early small journal crankshaft eng that will rev just a little easier due to less reciprocating weight etc, but that is a very slight advantage, and the 327 got the bigger 350 sized crank in about 1967, usually out weighed by the extra cubes of the 350 anyway. just stick a 502 in it with a highway friendly 3 series gears in it, and tear the streets up.

I am an old timer, as you say, have had many 283s and 327s, and a lot of 350s

They are all dependable, most are about the same in the power department

The 283s and 327s will rev harder and higher than a stock 350, never blew one up!

My biggest peeve about the 71 up 350s is the gas mileage went to crap in 71 when they redid the block for the 4 bolt mains.

ALL my 283s and 327s got a solid 20 MPG, if ya didnt beat em, 350s are lucky to get 13 or 15 MPG

My 62 Impala wagon with a 69 327 Hi Torque got 25 mpg on the highway.

I did have a 70 350 2 barrel that got 20 mpg in a truck, but most my 350s got a bit over 10 mpg, and have unhooked many 4 bbl linkages to get a few more mpg out of them

I still buy every 327 I find, as far as I am concerned, it is the best engine Chevy ever made!

Chevy 327 Vs 350

Chevyracer's on some of the reasons - but I'll point out some facts that support the old timers. Its absolutely true that the 327 is the same bore, but with the 3.25 stroke. This doesn't just make the engine "rev" better; the rod to stroke ratio on a 327 is 1.75:1 - this is almost on the money for an ideal ratio (which is around 1.80 to 1.85:1). The shorter stroke length also produces a more optimal cylinder filling when matched with equivalent camshafts and with equivalent cylinder head designs. Its actually all not just displacement - design does play a major factor in producing superior hp numbers, and most of this design stuff mattered back in the day with the standard issue heads (as chevyracer mentioned), and it really isn't 'fair' to call out the vortec/LS designs when yapping to an old-timer who's never seen 'em, let alone run 'em!

Another indisputable fact is that, until the introduction of the LS6 (that's somewhere around 2001, mind you), the L84 327 was the most powerful non-boosted small block from GM. No first generation 350's can make that claim!

Sure things are different in the modern aftermarket, and the 327 is laid low against any decently built 350, but it still rightfully deserves some of its legendary status - stock to stock, and old-school build versus old-school build.

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RE:

Old Timer's and 350 VS 327?

I got a 57 with a 327 in it. Now I have met a ton of old timers (ie guys who started rodding in the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70,s) Who swear up and down "I'd take a 327 over a junk 350 anyday" I never asked them why.

So my question is why is a 327 better than a 350. And were they refering...

The ones that are saying they'd take a 327 over a junk 350 any day won't give you an answer because they're talking out of their asses. Like the one answer said, a small journal 327 will rev high and rev fast...

It also depends on the intended use of the engine/vehicle.

Pound for pound a 350>>>327 but keep in mind there are always other variables that come into play.

As far as running the 327 against the 350, enjoy the way the 327 works and don't worry about depreciating the price. Why are you buying the car, for the enjoyment of it or to try and make a buck when you see it? Answer that question and you will know what to do yourself. Most cars will not get more money back if you sell them later as the time and money spent to upgrade or bring them back to original will not amount to the same as you will get when selling. Love your car for how it drives and feels, not how much it's worth. Good luck.

A few reasons but nothing thats really fact based to tell you the truth.

1) old timers are set in their ways and you can't change their mind.

2) During their days of rodding, the aftermarket was not strong, parts was high if any was even made.

Now to the engines....

Based on just the bore and stroke, the 327 has same bore as a 350 but with a short stroke.. (3.25" for 327, 3.48" for 350)

The short stroke revs better and makes power higher in RPM band.

The stock 327's was making peak power in the 5000-6000 rpm range where stock 350's made more torque and lower rpm HP, peak HP in the 3500-5000 rpm range

Also the 1962-67 327 was small journal engines with the smaller dia main and rod bearings/journals. They saved weight on the crank and had less friction while turning.

Today.. Even the cheap $180 scat 9000 crankshafts are stronger than GM cast (almost as strong as GM forged) and weighs 5 lbs less then a med journal (350) cast crank

Today we have TONS of aftermarket support for the sbc engines with prices thats not too bad.

Today you can build a mild priced 350 that will out rev ANY stock 327, and make more torque and power doing it.

It's also the same with heads... Alot of the 'lost in the 60's and 70's' guys still thinks a set of 327 double hump heads are the best you can get stock and that world sportsman II heads are the best aftermarket heads ever.

When in fact a set of 96-00 vortec heads will make 40-50 HP over the old double humps and a set of brodix IK or AFR heads will make 80-115 HP more than the double hump heads

My 350 makes peak HP at 7,000 RPM and it has less than $7,000 in full rebuild on it and makes 600 HP.. Not hard any longer to get power por RPM out of the longer stroke small blocks

ive oticed old schoolers dont like the bigger motors. they talk bad bout them. my grandpa always talks bout 283's and ****. in my opinnion the 327 is not as good as the 350. the 350 is chevys best selling motor and its actually there best. for some reason there can take so much punnishment and run amazingly. cant say that for a 454. but i will say a 427 or428 which ever you wanna call it cuz ive heard both ways but they r nice as well. but yea dont listen to them. next time they say something as why they dint make the 327 the ls1. the 327 vortech or the 350 ls1 is a no contest. the ls1 one of the best motors ever made.

My philosophy is "There's no replacement for displacement" Go with the 350 and build it right.