The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 327 swap

I have a 327 in my 58 and would like to get a smaller engine for it.
I have a 700r4 in wait , what are good options....? LS swap 235 or larger original engine.
thanks

I think a 235 came in the 1958 trucks. Is the 327 worn out?
An LS swap can be quite costly, depending on your time and skills. In my area of SC, folks want $1000 or more for a 200K mile 5.3.
Tell us more about your driving plans and skills.

If you want to stay "period-correct" a 283 would be a drop-in swap, assuming you can find one in good running shape or are willing to build one up from scratch. A 30 year newer option would be a 305- - - -which is basically a 265 with a 350 crankshaft. Lots of torque and relatively better gas mileage than a 327, and parts such as blocks and cylinder heads are much more available since that engine was used through the late 1980's at least. A 3rd. generation inline six such as a 230, 250, or 292 will bolt up to your transmission since they all have the V8 bellhousing bolt pattern, as well as a bunch of V6 engines. S-10 trucks tan a V6 with a 700R4, and if you don't want to go with the throttle body fuel injection, there are lots of intake manifold and carburetor options possible. You've got a big variety of options- - - -"Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice!"
Jerry

I would like to stay period correct with a little less horsepower and
better gas mileage. A 250 or 292 . The 327 feels like too much to me.
But what V6 engines are available matching my bell housing + 700r4 ?
thanks!

Easiest fix, replace the throttle return spring with a stronger spring!

Ed

You will have to save a lot of gas to make up for the engine swap. Put that 700r-4 behind the 327 with a super tune up & you will get a nice driving truck & about as good of gas mileage as these old trucks can get.

George

You also could swap to a different rear end. Find a 3.42 rear or 3.42 ring/pinion for the rear end you have (if that ratio is available for it). That is one of the best rear end ratios for the 700r4. Good luck.

Thanks fellas!! Lots to think about. 327 been gone thru and I`ve adapted it pretty well
to the truck. Just a beast. I`m hoping the 700r4 will make it more of a cruiser. Quiet it
down some. I plan on running a new
exhaust system with new hooker headers. 2 1/2 inch pipe(2inch now) and move it to the
rear. Side exhaust now.

The 327 is just a SBC, I think we don't really know what you mean by it being a "beast". Anyway, a 700r is a great choice. The Lokar floor shifters are really neat. Check that out.
As you may know, the pic you show are not headers, they are manifolds. You really don't need those. You have them already. If they are "better"/bigger, wouldn't they just add to the "beast" effect? Not getting the goal with those? You will gain +/- 1HP with what you plan. Maybe just straighten out the tail pipe design to run out the back. Which will add backpressure bends. <<<<<<<<<<<< mostly a joke everybody.

"Who draws the crowd and plays so loud"

I ran tailpipes out the back of a '67 Chevelle I once had. It made a drastic difference. It was almost too quiet. I was much younger then.

John

Love the 700R4...run it in my 37 pickup and my 52 panel which had a reman 305 and 3:42 or maybe it was 3:48 gear from Yukon. The 37 is a hot rod and loves the 700....but the panel also loved it. The 700 ratio's which I have forgot are good and the overdrive is fantastic.
I'm with bartamos on the headers. Unless you want some eye candy you wasting your money......and some of them also make it louder in the cab.....just my .02

guitplayer That is a nice cruiser,can't think you'll be sorry on that 327 it wont have much load but will provide power when you need it.

Jlucas Quiet is OK that way you can think !!

Sometimes I think too much.

John

The headers in the truck now , won`t accept the larger pipe diameter.
I guess the beast part is alot of power. That might be better used with an auto instead of a manual 3 speed.
Id like better gas mileage and no threat of tickets. Quiet performance would be ideal.
I wanted to thank you guys for all the help and advise. I can do some things
with the truck but I have limitations. I`ll keep you guys posted!

The 700R4 will help some with mileage, but the 235 and 283 didn't really do that great on fuel in these trucks any way due to the rear gears.

My 235 with three speed and 3:90 gears would get about 15 to 16 mpg on fuel, and 55mph was comfortable in it.

My 350 (fuel injected with 4L60E ) and the stock 3:90 gears now gets 20 mpg at 70 mph. Plenty of get up and go past that if I want it.

So don't really think you will help yourself going to a smaller engine. The 327 is a great engine and I bet with the 700R4 behind it your fuel mileage will increase.

If you need a place to put that 327 after you get it out, you can always send it to me!

Thanks Roy, I`ll try it out

Hey you guys think 2 1/2 inch pipe traveling the length of the
truck would be better than 2 inch ?

Rams Horn exhaust manifolds with 2" pipes and stock mufflers is what I'd run. Take the pipes straight out the back so you don't get road reverberation noise.

Mike B

The 3.90 is a truck/load haulin/50-55 MPH rear. No matter how you spin it's pinion, it's still 3.90:1 ratio. With all you are doing, that needs looked at.

The manifolds in your photo that do not have stiffener struts between the ports are notorious for warping after a lot of heat/cool cycles and putting tension on the attaching bolts. if they're ever unbolted from the heads they spring inward, and can't be reinstalled without a LOT of prying and possibly cracking. Later versions of the same manifold had a 1/2" square strut cast between the ports to prevent the warp. BTW, dyno tests I've run using that style of manifold have outperformed a bunch of tube-type headers, especially in the low and mid-RPM ranges.

The 4.3L Chevy V6 used in the S-10 trucks with the 700R4 transmission are plentiful and cheap, if you're determined to replace the 327 with something else. That would be sort of like throwing out a good Sirloin steak and eating a hamburger, though!
Jerry

Man after my own heart.