new buyer - engine thoughts and question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 229
Likes: 31
From: Finger Lakes area NY
new buyer - engine thoughts and question
I am looking at 68-72 convertibles
It will be driven regularly
Is there much difference between a 68 327-300HP and 69 350-350HP in noticeable power?
Torque numbers and fairly close 360 vs 380?
The 327 torque comes on faster 360 at 3600 vs 380 and 3800
The HP difference only comes into play and the top end of the motor.
These torque numbers tell me there really isn't a noticeable difference under normal driving and light "sport" driving. Is that the case?
Has anyone owned both?
Forget year nuances, would you pay extra for the 350?
Next:
I have also located a 427 car. it is very clean, frame off resto about 8 years ago.
Does the 427 transfer a lot more heat into the driver compartment?
This would be bothersome.... Car does not have AC
It is a numbers match car so I do not know if adding a modern AC kit would be a smart thing.
-I am a competent mechanic.
Any reason to steer clear of the BB c3?
I will be traveling to see some cars, so I want to narrow the contenders down as much as possible and limit travel expense
Thanks for the help!!
It will be driven regularly
Is there much difference between a 68 327-300HP and 69 350-350HP in noticeable power?
Torque numbers and fairly close 360 vs 380?
The 327 torque comes on faster 360 at 3600 vs 380 and 3800
The HP difference only comes into play and the top end of the motor.
These torque numbers tell me there really isn't a noticeable difference under normal driving and light "sport" driving. Is that the case?
Has anyone owned both?
Forget year nuances, would you pay extra for the 350?
Next:
I have also located a 427 car. it is very clean, frame off resto about 8 years ago.
Does the 427 transfer a lot more heat into the driver compartment?
This would be bothersome.... Car does not have AC
It is a numbers match car so I do not know if adding a modern AC kit would be a smart thing.
-I am a competent mechanic.
Any reason to steer clear of the BB c3?
I will be traveling to see some cars, so I want to narrow the contenders down as much as possible and limit travel expense
Thanks for the help!!
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
I don't think there's going to be huge performance diff between the 2 small blocks. One thing to think about is the '68 shares a lot less with later C3s than does the '69.
427 is desirable but yeah it generates more heat.
BB C3's always generate more heat, same size engine compartment, bigger engine. But generally these aren't drive all day cars anymore. 8 hours might be too much but 3 hours might be well within reason.
427 is desirable but yeah it generates more heat.
BB C3's always generate more heat, same size engine compartment, bigger engine. But generally these aren't drive all day cars anymore. 8 hours might be too much but 3 hours might be well within reason.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,400
Likes: 1,226
From: Tampa Florida
I am looking at 68-72 convertibles
It will be driven regularly
Is there much difference between a 68 327-300HP and 69 350-350HP in noticeable power? I think so!
Torque numbers and fairly close 360 vs 380?
The 327 torque comes on faster 360 at 3600 vs 380 and 3800
The HP difference only comes into play and the top end of the motor.
These torque numbers tell me there really isn't a noticeable difference under normal driving and light "sport" driving. Is that the case?
Has anyone owned both?
Forget year nuances, would you pay extra for the 350? Yes!!!!
Next:
I have also located a 427 car. it is very clean, frame off resto about 8 years ago.
Does the 427 transfer a lot more heat into the driver compartment?
This would be bothersome.... Car does not have AC
It is a numbers match car so I do not know if adding a modern AC kit would be a smart thing.
-I am a competent mechanic.
Any reason to steer clear of the BB c3?
I will be traveling to see some cars, so I want to narrow the contenders down as much as possible and limit travel expense
Thanks for the help!!
It will be driven regularly
Is there much difference between a 68 327-300HP and 69 350-350HP in noticeable power? I think so!
Torque numbers and fairly close 360 vs 380?
The 327 torque comes on faster 360 at 3600 vs 380 and 3800
The HP difference only comes into play and the top end of the motor.
These torque numbers tell me there really isn't a noticeable difference under normal driving and light "sport" driving. Is that the case?
Has anyone owned both?
Forget year nuances, would you pay extra for the 350? Yes!!!!
Next:
I have also located a 427 car. it is very clean, frame off resto about 8 years ago.
Does the 427 transfer a lot more heat into the driver compartment?
This would be bothersome.... Car does not have AC
It is a numbers match car so I do not know if adding a modern AC kit would be a smart thing.
-I am a competent mechanic.
Any reason to steer clear of the BB c3?
I will be traveling to see some cars, so I want to narrow the contenders down as much as possible and limit travel expense
Thanks for the help!!
Good luck with your search.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,379
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Heat in the cockpit is irrelevant of the engine size. The C3 Corvettes are now 50 years old - half of a century. Most "heat in cockpit problems" are due to the seals and gaskets in the firewall and in the heater box being completely crumbled and destroyed, allowing massive heat flow from the heating system and the engine compartment to enter the cockpit. The size of the engine has nothing to do with it - it's the fact that it's an old car that needs to have all the seals replaced. The seals never get replaced, because it's a horrible job to pull the heater box out of these cars, and it's miserable working on all the firewall insulation and seals. So nobody fixes the problem and the cockpit runs hot. People blame it on the Vette design, engine cooling, size of engine, fiberglass design, and on and on. That's BS. It's due to deteriorated heater box seals and bad seals and insulation in the firewall due to the age of the car. I drove these cars when they were brand new, and there was never a cockpit heat problem with either small block or big block cars - GM did not sell a car with a cockpit heat problem.
Lars
Lars
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,426
Likes: 1,559
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
How much of the original horsepower do you think is left in an engine that's decades old?
Would a higher horsepower engine have been more aggressively driven and be more worn out by now?
Would a higher horsepower engine have been more aggressively driven and be more worn out by now?
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,209
Likes: 9,347
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
The rear end ratio will make a big difference if the 2 SB arent geared the same. You can gear a 327 really low to multiply the torque to make it quicker off the line and out of the corners but it would travel at higher RPMs. The big block will be a torque monster everywhere and with the proper suspension still handle nicely through the turns. Just rememeber the front of the car will be 300 pounds heavier with tthe big block. And the big blocks tend to be more valuable in resale as well.
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