427's
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 155
Likes: 2
From: Naples Florida
427's
Why do people, change out the original 427 engine and not rebuild it? There are quite a few 427's out there short of the original engine.
I am Trying to buy a 427 now, and just would like an explanation, if some knows why this happens.
I am Trying to buy a 427 now, and just would like an explanation, if some knows why this happens.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
427 was only ran a few years before gm went with the 402 and the 454 for their big engine group. A 427 is just a 396(402) crank with the 454 bore. Now everyone wants the 496-502 stroker kits for the unbelievable torque.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 155
Likes: 2
From: Naples Florida
It seems the original 69-427's asking prices are higher than similar cars. Question is, are they really selling?
Thanks for responding.
Will the appraise at that value?
Thanks for responding.
Will the appraise at that value?
Last edited by mrh747; Jun 7, 2013 at 05:33 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,134
Likes: 4,206
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi mrh,
I think the numbers '427' held a certain cache for car guys in the sixties. It was the ultimate if you were a Chevrolet guy.
When the 454 came along it was a bigger number, but we knew there would never be another period like the sixties.
Only 77 more cubic inches than the 350.... but different in EVERY way.
SOME of that cache STILL exists even though cubic inches and horsepower have grown tremendously. So some owners still want that 427 in their car.
Regards,
Alan
I think the numbers '427' held a certain cache for car guys in the sixties. It was the ultimate if you were a Chevrolet guy.
When the 454 came along it was a bigger number, but we knew there would never be another period like the sixties.
Only 77 more cubic inches than the 350.... but different in EVERY way.
SOME of that cache STILL exists even though cubic inches and horsepower have grown tremendously. So some owners still want that 427 in their car.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Jun 7, 2013 at 05:54 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,098
Likes: 1,221
From: Madeira Beach, FL
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
As an owner of a 427 car, I can say the public WOW factor pegs the excitement meter especially when I do shows and parades and they see the 427 badged hood.
My car pulls all day.
I drove a 69 convert 350/350 car last Wednesday and thought it definitely was faster off the line than my 427.
That said at 100 mph I got a lotta pedal left in 427 car.
Many were blown up and replaced under the 5 yr warranty program GM had back in 68-69.
1970 the 454 came out in the short production year.
Many 427 Rat motors were grabbed up and raced in other
GM bodied cars.
There is a certain mystique with the 427.
Hope this satisfies your curiousity.
Now go out and find a 427!!!
Marshal
My car pulls all day.
I drove a 69 convert 350/350 car last Wednesday and thought it definitely was faster off the line than my 427.
That said at 100 mph I got a lotta pedal left in 427 car.
Many were blown up and replaced under the 5 yr warranty program GM had back in 68-69.
1970 the 454 came out in the short production year.
Many 427 Rat motors were grabbed up and raced in other
GM bodied cars.
There is a certain mystique with the 427.
Hope this satisfies your curiousity.
Now go out and find a 427!!!
Marshal
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 148
From: East London/SW Essex UK
Given the choice of re-building your original 427 engine - or - sourcing a seasoned 454 4 bolt block and swapping-in goodies like stroker rotating assy and aftermarket heads becomes a no-brainer as stuff (like pistons) for early closed chamber engines is in short supply and you can build a 60 cu in or so larger engine for less money.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 155
Likes: 2
From: Naples Florida
Thank you very much for your responses, the difference between a 427/390 and a 350/350 is in the area of $10-$15k. That is a lot of bucks for an emblem. All other things being equal.
Matching numbers and all, Which is where my sites are set.
You guys have saved me a lot of money. I will keep you posted as to my purchase.
Have a great day guys, I just love the sound of the sixties street machines. Owned a few, now want to get behind the wheel again.
Matching numbers and all, Which is where my sites are set.
You guys have saved me a lot of money. I will keep you posted as to my purchase.
Have a great day guys, I just love the sound of the sixties street machines. Owned a few, now want to get behind the wheel again.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,113
From: Crossville TN
Most of those original 427 engines were trashed from misuse and abuse just a few years after purchase. Others lasted long enough to wear the bores out...perhaps the owners were "advised" that a NEW engine (or crate motor) would be the "best" way to re-power their car.
Other folks really want to make BIG power and a modern design big-block casting is much stronger and will last longer than the 40 year-old iron 'puppy' that was state-of-the-art way back when....
Lots of reasons the originals are gone. Remember, nobody really cared about collecting C3's until the mid-late 1980's. By then, most of the original engines were "toast" (except for the die-hard original owners who babied theirs
).
Other folks really want to make BIG power and a modern design big-block casting is much stronger and will last longer than the 40 year-old iron 'puppy' that was state-of-the-art way back when....
Lots of reasons the originals are gone. Remember, nobody really cared about collecting C3's until the mid-late 1980's. By then, most of the original engines were "toast" (except for the die-hard original owners who babied theirs
).
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 476
Likes: 6
The 427 is much more than a badge.It made the shark top of the food chain.The 427 was called the Rat for a reason and the 350 was called the mouse.No matter how much money you spend to increase the hp on a 350,spend the same on a 427 ,you will get more bang for the buck.I have owned both small and big block vettes,all were great cars,but there is nothing like a big block,and I mean nothing,not the sound ,the vibration,the heat and the sudden power that does not end.Given the choice 427.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
My understanding is that certain racing rules allowed for a maximum of 7 liters...or roughly 427 cubic inches. That's why there's a number of performance engines during that time by American manufacturers right at or near that size...Chevy and Ford each had a 427, Mopar had the 426, etc.
When performance on the track and sales became even more important the horsepower wars made it necessary to up the cubic inches...454, 455, 440. That these bigger displacement engines were better suited for other applications such as trucks, luxury cars and the like made them even more attractive for mass production.
The 427 was pretty much only a performance engine...that doesn't include the truck 427 which was a raised deck block. The 454 can be found in performance cars, station wagons, trucks, motor homes, etc. That may be the biggest reason why the 427 is so desirable...its performance only heritage.
When performance on the track and sales became even more important the horsepower wars made it necessary to up the cubic inches...454, 455, 440. That these bigger displacement engines were better suited for other applications such as trucks, luxury cars and the like made them even more attractive for mass production.
The 427 was pretty much only a performance engine...that doesn't include the truck 427 which was a raised deck block. The 454 can be found in performance cars, station wagons, trucks, motor homes, etc. That may be the biggest reason why the 427 is so desirable...its performance only heritage.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
IMHO it's become a legend for good reason, and I have another one underway (awaiting funds) for my '78, but I've always noticed that even people who know next to nothing about cars get wide-eyed whenever a 427 Big Block is mentioned. Not many things automotive are so well renowned.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Had a 427 ready to go for yrs here too love those motors
Was stolen out of the body shop
Now the blocks are so rediculously priced I couldnt afford it.
When you think about it the larger BBC make sense to build 454 is simply less money. I cannot cough up 1000 for a 40 yr old block that would need gawd knows what in machinig plus everything else doesnt make $ense. After stroking a SBC I can only imagine what the same with a BB would get me.
Was stolen out of the body shop
Now the blocks are so rediculously priced I couldnt afford it.
When you think about it the larger BBC make sense to build 454 is simply less money. I cannot cough up 1000 for a 40 yr old block that would need gawd knows what in machinig plus everything else doesnt make $ense. After stroking a SBC I can only imagine what the same with a BB would get me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
Most of those original 427 engines were trashed from misuse and abuse just a few years after purchase. Others lasted long enough to wear the bores out...perhaps the owners were "advised" that a NEW engine (or crate motor) would be the "best" way to re-power their car.
Other folks really want to make BIG power and a modern design big-block casting is much stronger and will last longer than the 40 year-old iron 'puppy' that was state-of-the-art way back when....
Lots of reasons the originals are gone. Remember, nobody really cared about collecting C3's until the mid-late 1980's. By then, most of the original engines were "toast" (except for the die-hard original owners who babied theirs).
Other folks really want to make BIG power and a modern design big-block casting is much stronger and will last longer than the 40 year-old iron 'puppy' that was state-of-the-art way back when....
Lots of reasons the originals are gone. Remember, nobody really cared about collecting C3's until the mid-late 1980's. By then, most of the original engines were "toast" (except for the die-hard original owners who babied theirs
).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 878
Likes: 55
From: Deep South Denmark
