Old 427
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Old 427
The 69 needed a timing gear/chain change. It has never been apart since it left the factory and had the plastic/nylon gear. The chain had an inch of play.....
Decided that since the cam is about an eighth of an inch (really) under spec, I might as well replace the entire valvetrain. Since I had the pan off I checked one main and one rod bearing and they look like new. They don't build them like this anymore....
Decided that since the cam is about an eighth of an inch (really) under spec, I might as well replace the entire valvetrain. Since I had the pan off I checked one main and one rod bearing and they look like new. They don't build them like this anymore....
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
Because I was a victim of a wiped out cam in my 427 ! I feel the need to warn you too rev the crap out of it for 20 minutes and do use the best cam break in oil you can find!!!
When I wiped mine, the crappy oil stories was just starting to be a problem that builders were experiencing. With a hot cam 290/560 and triple valve spring....it was ripe for a wiped lob...
When I wiped mine, the crappy oil stories was just starting to be a problem that builders were experiencing. With a hot cam 290/560 and triple valve spring....it was ripe for a wiped lob...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
You've been very fortunate with your cam sprocket. Shortly after buying my '69 I pulled the cam out of mine (at about 50k miles). The cam gear had worn through the nylon and the chain was running on little aluminum spikes (noticeable looseness in the chain). There was also a pile of nylon material in the bottom of the pan.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
I'm just going with close to stock stuff Hughie. Stock Comp valvetrain. I don't want to play on this old thing. The nylon gear looks ok but you should see the chain. It actually had an inch of play. I was worried about the rest but the block, crank, pistons and bearings look pretty nice so I am going to leave well enough alone.
I told my wife I was going to make a lamp for her out of the old 69 camshaft since she bought the car. Something about eeeeww made me think otherwise.....
I told my wife I was going to make a lamp for her out of the old 69 camshaft since she bought the car. Something about eeeeww made me think otherwise.....
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
You've been very fortunate with your cam sprocket. Shortly after buying my '69 I pulled the cam out of mine (at about 50k miles). The cam gear had worn through the nylon and the chain was running on little aluminum spikes (noticeable looseness in the chain). There was also a pile of nylon material in the bottom of the pan.
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Mar 21, 2014 at 03:30 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Here is the stock cam.
https://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfo...parts/12364055
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/perform...CATID=486.html
You could do a lot better with a more modern grind. You can still go with gentle ramps but up performance noticeably.
This would be a nice mild upgrade.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...09-3/overview/
https://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfo...parts/12364055
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/perform...CATID=486.html
You could do a lot better with a more modern grind. You can still go with gentle ramps but up performance noticeably.
This would be a nice mild upgrade.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...09-3/overview/
Last edited by 63mako; Mar 21, 2014 at 03:45 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Here is the stock cam.
https://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfo...parts/12364055
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/perform...CATID=486.html
You could do a lot better with a more modern grind. You can still go with gentle ramps but up performance noticeably.
This would be a nice mild upgrade.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...09-3/overview/
https://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfo...parts/12364055
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/perform...CATID=486.html
You could do a lot better with a more modern grind. You can still go with gentle ramps but up performance noticeably.
This would be a nice mild upgrade.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...09-3/overview/
I have to admit that I couldn't stand it and wen't up 4 points on lift and duration....
I was underneath and the old cross hatch pattern in the cylinders is still there. I probably stared at it for an hour just thinking. I actually got a beer, got down under and stared at it someore. The pistons read GM3925579.
Crazy or what?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
I'm just trying to keep this old thing as original a possible without going overboard. The valvetrain is crap so I am replacing everything but want to keep it stock. Kind of like going back in time. My first Corvette was a 69 427 and that was in 1970. My wife bought me this one. I had to give her my C6 Z06 in trade but it is mine.....
When I got my '79 it had about 170000 miles on it. Small block of course. The timing chain had about an inch of play in it, so I believe you. I had to do the heads, and rebuild the distributor, and replace the chain of course, but the bottom end was perfect. In fact a friend of mine installed it in his S-10 and put another 50000 miles on it after I swapped in my 383. These engines are amazing if they're maintained reasonably well.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Nice to see an all original. Let us know how the swap goes.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Original tags and the seats were the same.
The paint is also original. Not base/clear... Old enamel.
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Mar 21, 2014 at 05:00 PM.