The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 327 in a 58 chevy truck

i have a 1958 chevy 3100 with the stock 235. I just got a 327 out of a 1965 1 1/2 or 2 ton truck.

My first question is are there differences in the 327's that were used in the 1 1/2 or 2 ton trucks versus the 327's used in smaller passenger vehicles?

Second, what kind of money/fabricating would it take to put the 327 in this truck?

Third, does anyone know a ballpark figure on the stock horsepower of the 327 in a heavy duty truck application?

Finally, what would be the best upgrades for the 327 to get a little more hp/torque out of it?

Thanks for the responses in advance.
Curtis

1st question - only diff is the big truck might have had a governor under the carb, easy to pull off

2nd - very little required to put it in a 58, as the 58 could have had a V8 optionally, and just requires the repro stock front mounts for the 58 - might be side mounted in the 65, but those could be used too w/ the adapter cross member

3rd - the truck 327 = 250horse, 350torque at 2800rpm, usually w/ 4 barrel carb I think

finally, if you need even more than double the 235's hp, look at cams and maybe find bigger valve heads, but the stock 327 will spin your tires more than a sane person could afford anyway

Bill

The big truck engine has heavy duty parts. Probably forged crank & possibly forged pistons. The exhaust valves are usually sodium filled. I would put a mild cam & aluminum intake with Q-Jet carb. It is an easy swap like red says.

Thanks for the replies. Is a forged crank and possibly forged pistons a good thing? What about the sodium filled valves? Is this something that could be kept if i had the heads reworked? Also what is the purpose of sodium filled valves?

Thanks
Curtis

Hello fellow West Texan! I was born and raised in Midland and have visited Alpine on several occations.

I can't answer the question on the sodium filled valves, but forged internals are always a good thing. I agree with wrenchbender. A moderate sized cam, dual plane intake like an Edelbrock Performer RPM, and a new 4-barrel carb will really liven that motor up. If you are not too good at tuning carbs, definitely go with a q-jet.

Phil

Thanks for the info Phil. I am going to school in Alpine right now (Sul Ross). What type of cam do you think would be best (duration, lift, etc.) I would like it to be a daily driver, but I would also like the power when I really got on it.

Thanks,
Curtis

Curtis,

The 58 Panel that I bought a couple of months and about 3 grand ago, had a 69 Camero 327 already in it. Even tho it's only got a 2 barrel Rochester carb in it, it will still light up the tires. It appears that there were no major modifications done to the engine compartment. Bill is right, the book I have for a 58 shows that v-8's were indeed an option. Any small block chevy should fit. Mine has headers but when I tried to install Jegs headers for a 67 Camero they wouldn't fit past the steering box on the driver's side. I don't know who made the headers that I have, so I can't help ya there. Good Luck.

Mike

Curtis,
I would recommend Comp Cams High Energy Cam with 268H degrees duration and .454" lift. Jegs website claims "268H Series
This is a very versatile cam. It is a great high performance cam for small blocks and a powerful cam for big blocks. With its noticeable idle and great all-around power, the 268H cam is great for daily driven performance vehicles. The 268H cam is an ideal cam for pickup drivers who want major power increases. It is also good for big blocks towing heavy loads equipped with lower optional rear end gears."

Phil

the V8 Chev started in 55, and were an option from then on - as I said, very easy install, and the best exhaust to use is the original "rams horn" manifolds - aside from the perfect fit, they work well 'exhausting', and I'd consider proposed use and finances before getting into 'building' a 327 for feel good power - the stock 327 is strong enuff to spin your tires in that 3200# truck, prolly in 2nd gear

I believe the only kinda cranks they put in any truck were the forged ones - at any rate cast cranks were not common til after 67, and unless you're planning on race track revs, either crank is fine, and reports are cast ones actually break less - why they switched to them later I think - not sure about the pistons being forged, but whichever couldn't possibly be a problem for an 'ordinary' driver

sodium filled valves are for heat dissapation, but I'd be suprised if GM put that extra cost into a truck motor, more likely they'd be in the vette 327, if at all - if the valves are still good, you'd re-use them, but more important is putting in hardened seats if you redo the heads, and checking the valve springs

for a cam, it depends on what you're doing w/ it - for a driver, can you afford the price at the pump if you're jumping on something that's got a hi-perf cam in it just for the feel of it? do you expect to be pullin much weight regular? get an RV cam - ask the machine shop based on your use, what they'd recommend - if you're rebuilding it, count on replaceing the cam at any rate, cuz the small block cams wear fast

red58,

Do you know where to get manuals online for a '62 chevy pickup?

Thanks,
Rog

Rog - not ones actually posted online, but all the repro dealers will have the shop manual, prolly about 50$