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427bbc upgrade-not a vette

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Old Oct 20, 2013 | 11:45 PM
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Default 427bbc upgrade-not a vette

Not a vette butt I've got a 1969 335hp 427 in my 1965 chevelle. I've looked through my chevelle forum but not a lot of 427's over there. Its my understanding this engine is similar to the 390HP version with the exception of a different camshaft and maybe carb too. Runs great now but mileage and internals are unknown. Does have a mild performance camshaft, performer rpm and 750DP carb, th400 stock converter and a 12 bolt with 3.90 GearS and running a 26" tire. Pulls strong up to 6200 rpms. Looking to keep the power band from about 2500-6200rpms. I've run solid cams and hydraulics so I'm open to either. I've always been a sbc guy so I'm unfamiliar with 427's.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 12:04 AM
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Did you try the performance section of Chevelles.com? Tons of BBC guys there that race them regularly.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 12:10 AM
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Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Did you try the performance section of Chevelles.com? Tons of BBC guys there that race them regularly.
Yes I'm a long time member there but most guys are running a 496 or bigger and figured there are a lot more 427 set ups over here than there. Plus I dontdon't want to get hit with the "just build a 454 or 496" that happens just about any time someone asks about something outside the norm.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 12:18 AM
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True... usually that means they dont really have any info to offer you outside of the ability to add a post to their count.
Had a 427 block yrs ago planned for mine was stolen from a body shop in S.Clarita. Love those BBs!! Decent set of heads, SFT cam or say one of Straubs HRs can get you in the 10s pretty easy.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 12:23 AM
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Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
True... usually that means they dont really have any info to offer you outside of the ability to add a post to their count.
Had a 427 block yrs ago planned for mine was stolen from a body shop in S.Clarita. Love those BBs!! Decent set of heads, SFT cam or say one of Straubs HRs can get you in the 10s pretty easy.
The forum changed since All and Dot sold it. Anyway, yeah planned on a Straub hydraulic roller but don't know if its in the budget. Pretty much planning a stock rebuild with forged pistons either with the stock 10.2:1 compression or some ICON 9.7:1 pistons, my 063 closed chamber ovals and a upgrades camshaft. Might do big valves but really just planning on some bowl work and gasket match. BTW, forgot to mention I've got a 11" 2800-3000 stall on the shelf waiting to go in. Whatever camshaft I've got now works with the stock converter but pulls against the brakes a little. Plus its pretty lazy out of the hole.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 12:35 AM
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427's are a heck of a lot of fun and can surprise lots of folks when done right. You might look over that Chevelle Forum right now...there's a 3900 lb El Camino posting mid 10's@125 MPH with a mild build. Unported import aluminum heads, a Comp street roller Holley intake and 4150 carb. Nothing too radical and runs like crazy.

You can make a lot of power with the OEM iron heads and some port work.

I still have my old 427 that I ran for 20+ years. Lots of different cams, heads, intakes and carbs over that time.

What do you want to do with it? Sticking with same gearing and converter?

JIM
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 12:51 AM
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Originally Posted by 427Hotrod
427's are a heck of a lot of fun and can surprise lots of folks when done right. You might look over that Chevelle Forum right now...there's a 3900 lb El Camino posting mid 10's@125 MPH with a mild build. Unported import aluminum heads, a Comp street roller Holley intake and 4150 carb. Nothing too radical and runs like crazy.

You can make a lot of power with the OEM iron heads and some port work.

I still have my old 427 that I ran for 20+ years. Lots of different cams, heads, intakes and carbs over that time.

What do you want to do with it? Sticking with same gearing and converter?

JIM
Hi Jim, I just commented on Doug's thread. Very nice times he's running. We've talked 427's before on team chevelle, I'm sschevellefan over there. Just thought I'd get more input from over here. Like I said, ala lot more 427 guys here than there.

As for my goals, kinda uncertain really. I think realistically I want to do a stock rebuild with stronger parts with a Cam upgrade. Still like that Crane 691 camshaft though.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 07:54 AM
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MEJ1990 is running the Isky Z-45 in the 402 and it runs great, I bet it would be sweet in a street bound 427. It's in the 240's at .050", even the -143 (L-72) cam ran great in that engine. Not sure about your pistons but my L-2300 have really shallow valve reliefs and can't run too much lift without fly cutting them.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by badrad
MEJ1990 is running the Isky Z-45 in the 402 and it runs great, I bet it would be sweet in a street bound 427. It's in the 240's at .050", even the -143 (L-72) cam ran great in that engine. Not sure about your pistons but my L-2300 have really shallow valve reliefs and can't run too much lift without fly cutting them.
I've actually thought about the L-72 cam. Sounds decent and seems to run fairly well for a 40+ year old cam design. I'll check out that isky too. I don't know what pistons I have in the engine now, could be the original cast pistons for all I know. I planned on running the L2300 or the Icon forged piston with a slightly smaller dome. Maybe I'll have them cut a little deeper before its assembled. Thanks for the tip.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 09:59 AM
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Isky Z-45 solid cam is 278-278 adv Dur and 244-244 @ .050, .530-.530 lift on a 108 lsa. Nice street cam for sure. Had one in a 62 Chevy p-u with a mild 396 and t-400. Ls6 #143 cam is 242-242 .520-.520 lift 114 lsa.

Last edited by wilcar; Oct 21, 2013 at 11:15 AM.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 10:20 AM
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You will reall need to pull the pan and intake off this old girl to see what you really have.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 10:22 AM
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always made me wonder regarding Chevrolet and their HP ratings.. the 70 corvette LT1 corvette and the 70 Z28 Camaro are supposed to be the same engine but the ratings are different.. some say only because the Camaro's exhaust is not as free flowing.. I would guess that the corvette gets more HP claimed only due to it's name.

One would not think the 335 and the 390 HP 427 are the same, but without seeing the original cam specs, jet settings, pistons, exhaust, etc.. from both engines, it is hard to define.

I would like to see some true dyno runs ( verified..not manufactured by GM) of the published truly stock chevy engines.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by wilcar
Isky Z-45 solid cam is 278-278 adv Dur and 240-240 @ .050, .530-.530 lift on a 108 lsa. Nice street cam for sure. Had one in a 62 Chevy p-u with a mild 396 and t-400.
Thanks for posting the specs, I like them.

Originally Posted by StraubTech
You will reall need to pull the pan and intake off this old girl to see what you really have.
Your right and I will when it come time to go through it. I`m not thinking of just thowing a cam in the engine in its current state. I`ll tear it apart and do it right. BTW, just sent you a pm on team chevelle.

Originally Posted by joewill
always made me wonder regarding Chevrolet and their HP ratings.. the 70 corvette LT1 corvette and the 70 Z28 Camaro are supposed to be the same engine but the ratings are different.. some say only because the Camaro's exhaust is not as free flowing.. I would guess that the corvette gets more HP claimed only due to it's name.

One would not think the 335 and the 390 HP 427 are the same, but without seeing the original cam specs, jet settings, pistons, exhaust, etc.. from both engines, it is hard to define.

I would like to see some true dyno runs ( verified..not manufactured by GM) of the published truly stock chevy engines.
From what i found was the 390hp 427 used the same cam as the 360hp 396 and i think the LS5 454. 216/218@.050 .460/.480 115lsa. Cant remember the .050 numbers on the 335hp engine but lift was only .398/.398, pretty weak. Someone changed the cam in my engine though but nobody has any info on the engine. Has a nice lopey idle when cold but rough idle when warmed up. Works with the stock converter but pulls against the brakes just slightly when warmed up. Pulls strong from 3000-6200.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 10:48 AM
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The LS-1 427 used the 193/193 cam out of the L-35 396 with single exhaust IIRC. For minimal (comparitively) cash outlay I'd say you can have a serious street mill. If you can afford it I would really consider a roller cam though. Only recently have I had the cash to really throw any money at an engine so I completely get the budget deals.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by badrad
The LS-1 427 used the 193/193 cam out of the L-35 396 with single exhaust IIRC. For minimal (comparitively) cash outlay I'd say you can have a serious street mill. If you can afford it I would really consider a roller cam though. Only recently have I had the cash to really throw any money at an engine so I completely get the budget deals.
Yeah someone already swapped the cam, I added the 3.90's and I plan to swap in the 2800-3000 stall when I get time. I still have a lot of tuning to do to it.
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Old Oct 21, 2013 | 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by 427Hotrod
You can make a lot of power with the OEM iron heads and some port work.
JIM
I'll second that. I put 2.19 and 1.88 valves in a set of iron ovals once with good seat work and some mild porting. Things moved a lot of air and my 64 El Camino with a big block they went on ran like crazy!
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