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my friend expressed interest to me in building an old datsun Z into a race/street car, nothing to high dollar i'm assuming. The curb weight is ridiculously low so we're trying to build more of a screamer for it than anything else, torque will overwhelm any rubber we could possibly fit back there. We thought a 327 would be a fun buildup since niether of us has ever done it.
Alright, a couple questions. This is going to be a relatively high rpm motor, maybe 6800 or so, do you guys think the AFR 195's would be a good choice? in addition, assuming our hp goal of around 500hp, would any stock forged crank hold up or do we have to go aftermarket? any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Set some realistic expectations. To achieve this kind of power from a 327 it will have to have a racing cam, headers and open exhaust, race gas for the very high CR, and the power peak will be about 7500.
And your buddy doesn't want to spend a lot of money. Ha!
Probably better off building a 355 instead of the 327. You can get brand new 3.48" forged cranks from GM for around $500. If you want to keep the tq down, put in a cam with more duration.
IMO, if you plan on building a fast car be ready to spend some money
I built a Large journal 4 bolt main 4.060 and destroked it to 3.25 inches to put in my 61 austin h MK6.
They look like the later Cobra's.
It comes out to @337 ci. At the time I installed a Crane solid cam 238/248 with new on the market World Sportman II heads 200cc or so. I had them ported with 2.055 intakes and 1.60 E.
What a fun motor! We later on put it in a dragster with twin tunnel rams and it lasted into a 53 ford street rod.
With all forged parts it was high rpm screamer. One of the last days at the track we let everyone drive the dragster at a test and tune day at Sacramento drag strip and had the two speed power glide stutter trans brake to 5000 and max rpm to 8000. My GF did a 9.92 @ 139 mph in our 1350 lbs dragster.
All motors 302 - 358 make about the same HP depending on the heads. The same can be said about the 377- 427 ci small blocks
The only difference is TQ which rises with ci and dollars
All motors 302 - 358 make about the same HP depending on the heads. The some can be said about the 377- 427 ci small blocks
The only difference is TQ which rises with ci and dollars
Important point, which most guys don't understand. Two similar engines, identical except for stroke will make about the same peak power at the SAME MEAN PISTON SPEED, so the longer stroke engine will make peak power at lower revs. This means the shorter stroke engine will have to have better valve gear to reliably run at higher revs, which means it may be more expensive.
Peak torque is primarily a function of displacement and CR, so a higher displacement engine will make greater torque throughout the rev range, which means greater average power across the rev range for the longer stroke engine. Also, like peak power, peak torque will occur at about the same mean piston speed for two engines, identical other than stroke.
With everything being equal, it'll be cheaper to build a 350 (or 383) to the same power level and you'll also have a more reliable engine. If too much low end torque is a problem just run a bigger cam and enjoy more power on the top.
From: The last place on earth to get cable... Sacramento
Re: opinions on 327 buildup (OatBoy)
A chevy powered Zcar out his way (Scarab build) is fast and more reliable than the datsun one in it was...
It is not real easy (springs replaced in front, radiator, and new rear after popping the original one) but putting in the GM power and tranny DID make his Zcar scream...
He's out of Vallejo... and still drives it almost every day... a fun project with a vette motor to pop inside...
we realized a 350 would in fact be cheaper, but since he's fixated on revving, i figured it might be safer to rev a 327, maybe i'm off base. I dont personally think 500 is out of the question, lots of people are making way more than that these days on pump gas.
"not a lot of money" is relative in this case i suppose.
so which heads would you think would be the best?
Dart Pro1 CNC heads are the best 23 degree (stock valve angle) heads. 318CFM on the intakes! $2500. But, those heads are definitely good for 500HP even with moderate compression, 600+HP with high compression. Of course you'll need the right bottom end and valvetrain to go with.
Using some rules of thumb, Duke is right about the really high RPM needed to get 500HP from 327 cubic inches. I calculate 7400RPM at 100% volumetric efficiency.
From: The last place on earth to get cable... Sacramento
Re: opinions on 327 buildup (OatBoy)
How did you know he put a 350 in his Scarab...
I didn't mention it here...
Hmmmm...
(Looking over shoulder at my sweet)
HONEY... I TOLD YOU SOME OF THESE FELLAS WERE PSYCIC...
All kidding aside... a stout 327 will make the Z snort and chew up pavement quick. I have not broken a 327 crank so I can't tell ya to go to get an aftermarket one... I've had and put in more than a dozen 327's over the years... They were quick to get up to revs
But I didn't get 500 ponies out of any of them personally... not that I didn't try...
I have friends that could but they use juice or boost...
ahh well considering the ridiculous curb weight of the car if we fall short of our mark its not a big deal, hell even 300 would make that thing move REAL fast