[C2] In praise of the 250hp 327
12-08-2018, 11:46 AM
#22
Instructor
Thread Starter
Pistons on the Square
I'm quite jealous!! My wife and I purchased a house up in Lakeway for when I retire from the Navy and we move back to the area. I remember when the Austin Cars & Coffee used to be around the corner at The Oasis a few years back. I didn't realize they had moved it to COTA.
Apologies for going off topic....I get excited when I see other C2 drivers from Austin! 4 more years......
Apologies for going off topic....I get excited when I see other C2 drivers from Austin! 4 more years......
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater
12-08-2018, 12:06 PM
#23
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As an automotive tech for the past 4 decades, I share the sentiments of the OP. I have seen this with all makes, always with the same results. Guys who spend $$$ for the maximum power often end up with a rough tempered, out of balance ride that they can't leave town in or remains parked in the shop. Guys who drive unmolested garden variety stockers simply drive their cars hassle free for decades, money and miles ahead of the game. I've done the same thing with my base '67 GTO convertible.....put 130,000+ miles on it for the past 36 years while my buddies GTO's sit in the garage, parked for decades. Memories are made behind the wheel and on the road, not by bragging rights.
12-08-2018, 12:12 PM
#24
Team Owner
My 67 Chevelle was a “built” 69 396ci screamer. Finicky and you had to be on top of it all the time. My 63 250hp is a nice sedate cruiser but she’ll hitch up her skirts and sprint when I want her to. The 61 270hp 283ci was a nice middle ground. Superb sound, quick but a cruiser with the Tremec 5-speed.
12-08-2018, 03:35 PM
#25
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I own a 250/327 and a 360/327. Both with 3.36 axles. Both stock built engines. Both have all the low end grunt and more that you need or want starting from idle speed on up to whatever the max is. The 250 is still the original Flint assembly and the the 360 is an 11 year old home built. Both have been reliable causing no issues whatsoever. Both are well behaved in traffic and both have enough power to get you one or more tickets.
The main difference between the two engines? One looks like you'd expect a Corvette to look like and one sounds and runs like you'd expect a Corvette would. The other satisfies neither to my thinking as well as the crowds that walk on by the raised hood so they can look at a real Corvette engine instead of a transplanted passenger car engine. .
Other opinions vary, of course.
The main difference between the two engines? One looks like you'd expect a Corvette to look like and one sounds and runs like you'd expect a Corvette would. The other satisfies neither to my thinking as well as the crowds that walk on by the raised hood so they can look at a real Corvette engine instead of a transplanted passenger car engine. .
Other opinions vary, of course.
12-08-2018, 04:23 PM
#26
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…. I absolutely love this 250 hp engine. I can literally idle off the line in 3rd gear, don't need to downshift from 4th to pass at highway speeds, it starts within 2 or 3 seconds even after sitting a couple of weeks, gets decent gas mileage, and comfortably cruises at part throttle at 80-85 mph ….
Dan
12-09-2018, 06:11 PM
#27
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My 62 has the original 250hp motor in it and while it never was a screamer, it sure woke up when I blew a tooth off the ring gear and had to install the only spare diff I had......a 4.11 
....chirps into second and third!! A whole different car. 
So my advise is to get more out of a base motor the easiest way is to change diff ratios to say a 3.73 or 3.55 up from the stock 3.36. you can always change it back later if you want to. 4.11 is a little stiff though.
....chirps into second and third!! A whole different car. So my advise is to get more out of a base motor the easiest way is to change diff ratios to say a 3.73 or 3.55 up from the stock 3.36. you can always change it back later if you want to. 4.11 is a little stiff though.
12-09-2018, 07:31 PM
#29
Team Owner
I own a 250/327 and a 360/327. Both with 3.36 axles. Both stock built engines. Both have all the low end grunt and more that you need or want starting from idle speed on up to whatever the max is. The 250 is still the original Flint assembly and the the 360 is an 11 year old home built. Both have been reliable causing no issues whatsoever. Both are well behaved in traffic and both have enough power to get you one or more tickets.
The main difference between the two engines? One looks like you'd expect a Corvette to look like and one sounds and runs like you'd expect a Corvette would. The other satisfies neither to my thinking as well as the crowds that walk on by the raised hood so they can look at a real Corvette engine instead of a transplanted passenger car engine. .
Other opinions vary, of course.
The main difference between the two engines? One looks like you'd expect a Corvette to look like and one sounds and runs like you'd expect a Corvette would. The other satisfies neither to my thinking as well as the crowds that walk on by the raised hood so they can look at a real Corvette engine instead of a transplanted passenger car engine. .
Other opinions vary, of course.
12-09-2018, 09:53 PM
#30
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Well, if you could go to the dealer and buy a new Corvette with a 327/250 just as it left the factory, I'd say that's a Corvette engine in it. 
12-10-2018, 06:54 AM
#31
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It sounds like your are enjoying your car to the fullest extend possible. Good for you. A 250 hp 327 is still a great engine. I am equally thrilled with my 64 300 hp 4 speed car.
Last edited by emccomas; 12-10-2018 at 05:27 PM.
12-10-2018, 07:29 AM
#32
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Which majority are you referring to and which one of my comments are you referring to? I'd suggest my comments are accurate. I agreed the 250 is a good engine as far as engines go.
The posters in this thread or the ones that walked in to the showroom and put down the money?
21,000 + optional engines sold in '65. More than half '65 production sounded like bumpety bump when they idled. Other years are similar.
The posters in this thread or the ones that walked in to the showroom and put down the money?
21,000 + optional engines sold in '65. More than half '65 production sounded like bumpety bump when they idled. Other years are similar.
Last edited by MikeM; 12-10-2018 at 07:34 AM.
12-10-2018, 08:42 AM
#33
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There’s a foot for every shoe.
Great thread and the diversity of views is healthy and relevant.
Great thread and the diversity of views is healthy and relevant.
12-10-2018, 08:44 AM
#34
Team Owner
The 250hp motor runs especially well with a quart of raw gas in the crankcase - or so some have told me....
12-10-2018, 09:23 AM
#35
Melting Slicks
I’m fine with a any 327. What I find funny about “muscle cars” is that in today’s terms they are fairly weak. Yes, back in the day a 427/435 could go 0-60 in about 5.5s but I compare that to my wife’s Korean 4 dr Genesis that will do it faster and chuckle.
Thats is why to me it’s more about the looks of muscle cars then the “muscle”.
Ed
Thats is why to me it’s more about the looks of muscle cars then the “muscle”.
Ed
12-10-2018, 09:34 AM
#36
Burning Brakes
The main difference between the two engines? One looks like you'd expect a Corvette to look like and one sounds and runs like you'd expect a Corvette would. The other satisfies neither to my thinking as well as the crowds that walk on by the raised hood so they can look at a real Corvette engine instead of a transplanted passenger car engine. .
Other opinions vary, of course.
I hate that I am going to take the bait. You have to wonder why people have to make snarky comments. Real engine? Transplanted Passenger Car Engine? I am not sure how many real Corvette Engines exist? If you don't have a ZL-1, 67 L-88 or a 69 L-88, I am guessing what ever motor you have in your Corvette it is pretty run of the mill.
A better statement for you that would have gotten your point across might have been. Since I own not only one, but two Corvettes and have over 21,000 posts, I speak with a certain amount of certainty. In addition I have attended more car shows than you can imagine, and in my opinion as the crowds walk by my raised hood they stop in awe to view a Small Block Chevrolet. I then explain why it is special.
The majority of people on the site seem to go out of their way to be supportive of the hobby in general, maybe just a bad day?
Other opinions vary, of course.
I hate that I am going to take the bait. You have to wonder why people have to make snarky comments. Real engine? Transplanted Passenger Car Engine? I am not sure how many real Corvette Engines exist? If you don't have a ZL-1, 67 L-88 or a 69 L-88, I am guessing what ever motor you have in your Corvette it is pretty run of the mill.
A better statement for you that would have gotten your point across might have been. Since I own not only one, but two Corvettes and have over 21,000 posts, I speak with a certain amount of certainty. In addition I have attended more car shows than you can imagine, and in my opinion as the crowds walk by my raised hood they stop in awe to view a Small Block Chevrolet. I then explain why it is special.
The majority of people on the site seem to go out of their way to be supportive of the hobby in general, maybe just a bad day?
12-10-2018, 10:04 AM
#37
Team Owner
The main difference between the two engines? One looks like you'd expect a Corvette to look like and one sounds and runs like you'd expect a Corvette would. The other satisfies neither to my thinking as well as the crowds that walk on by the raised hood so they can look at a real Corvette engine instead of a transplanted passenger car engine. .
Other opinions vary, of course.
I hate that I am going to take the bait. You have to wonder why people have to make snarky comments. Real engine? Transplanted Passenger Car Engine? I am not sure how many real Corvette Engines exist? If you don't have a ZL-1, 67 L-88 or a 69 L-88, I am guessing what ever motor you have in your Corvette it is pretty run of the mill.
A better statement for you that would have gotten your point across might have been. Since I own not only one, but two Corvettes and have over 21,000 posts, I speak with a certain amount of certainty. In addition I have attended more car shows than you can imagine, and in my opinion as the crowds walk by my raised hood they stop in awe to view a Small Block Chevrolet. I then explain why it is special.
The majority of people on the site seem to go out of their way to be supportive of the hobby in general, maybe just a bad day?
Other opinions vary, of course.
I hate that I am going to take the bait. You have to wonder why people have to make snarky comments. Real engine? Transplanted Passenger Car Engine? I am not sure how many real Corvette Engines exist? If you don't have a ZL-1, 67 L-88 or a 69 L-88, I am guessing what ever motor you have in your Corvette it is pretty run of the mill.
A better statement for you that would have gotten your point across might have been. Since I own not only one, but two Corvettes and have over 21,000 posts, I speak with a certain amount of certainty. In addition I have attended more car shows than you can imagine, and in my opinion as the crowds walk by my raised hood they stop in awe to view a Small Block Chevrolet. I then explain why it is special.
The majority of people on the site seem to go out of their way to be supportive of the hobby in general, maybe just a bad day?
99% of the people that walk by my 250hp car wouldn't know a 250hp from a Hemi....especially with the base motor not having valve cover decals... After all, its still a Turbo Fire!
My wife's 2016 6-cyl Durango has more horsepower than my split window as does my 310hp Tundra; so yes....we get nostalgic for big HP numbers in vintage cars but most of the speed is subjective today based on the visceral aspect of launching with a 55+ year old car...
12-10-2018, 11:09 AM
#38
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I would think the one thing that people at car shows & just in general might think when looking at a 250 HP corvette engine is that it looks just like the Chevy 4 door post their Dad had when they were young. The high HP Corvette engines has aluminum intakes & finned valve covers With a good looking air cleaner. To them it's about different & dressier that orange intake & stamped steel valve covers than HP.that makes it look like a Corvette engine.
12-10-2018, 12:00 PM
#39
Team Owner
“Young People’s Dads” drove 1978 Gremlins.
12-10-2018, 12:25 PM
#40
Burning Brakes
I would think the one thing that people at car shows & just in general might think when looking at a 250 HP corvette engine is that it looks just like the Chevy 4 door post their Dad had when they were young. The high HP Corvette engines has aluminum intakes & finned valve covers With a good looking air cleaner. To them it's about different & dressier that orange intake & stamped steel valve covers than HP.that makes it look like a Corvette engine.
If HP floats your boat go for it.
If you can appreciate different strokes for different folks, all the better.
In a C2 Corvette 250, 300, 350 or 365 HP as the measure of the worth (not value) is kind of a joke to anyone that really knows cars. I would always enjoy reading what would make a real motor in any car.
We do have pretty Air Cleaners. Must be a Corvette Engine.
1964 250/300 HP Air Cleaner
1964 350/365 HP Air Cleaner