327 Chevy Build

Article by Mark Trotta

Removing the engine and stripping the block were the first steps of the engine rebuild. Engine disassembly on a small-block Chevy is fairly straightforward. Everything taken off the engine was cleaned, tagged, and put in boxes out of the way.

Read: 327 Engine Disassembly

The empty engine block was taken to a machine shop, where the block was cleaned, cylinders were bored .030" over, and new cam bearings and freeze plugs were installed.

Bottom End Build

Rebuilding the bottom end included new 030 over pistons, reconditioned connecting rods, clean, measure, and re-install crankshaft. A new Melling oil pump was installed.

Read: 327 Bottom End Build

In almost every small-block Chevy engine build, the camshaft is replaced along with the lifters. As with all phases of engine assembly, care must be taken while installing the camshaft.

Read: Install Camshaft in Small-Block Chevy Engine

Chevy 327 Cylinder Heads

The heads on this 1966 Corvette were original, casting #3782461. Date codes are J-12-5 and J-20-5 (October 12th and 20th, 1965). These were one of the best flowing factory heads GM had to offer for the small-block. Cylinder head assembly included checking, measuring, cleaning, re-assembly, and painting.

Lapping valves does not take the place of a valve job, but it does confirm whether or not one is needed.

Read: SBC Timing Chain, Gears, and Cover

327 Chevy Build Before and After

To get paint to stick to a cast-iron engine block and cylinder heads, the metal must be very clean and dry.

Read: Spray Paint Engine Block And Parts

Following the cylinder head rebuild was the valve-train assembly, which included installing lifters, push rods, rocker arms, rocker nuts, and rocker balls.

Read: Valvetrain Assembly

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L75 L76 L79 Corvette Engines

In 1962, the 283 Chevy small-block was bored to 4.00" and stroked to 3.25" making a displacement of 327 cubic-inches. A year later, Chevrolet began designating engines with letter/number codes. These most always started with the letter "L".

L76 327 Small-Block

The L76 motor had a hydraulic cam and single four-barrel carb. With compression at 11.25:1 factory horsepower rating was 340 for 1963. In 1964, engine output rose to 365 horsepower.

L75 327 Small-Block

The 327 Chevy engine featured in this article is from a 1966 Corvette. It is the L75 motor, which was factory-fitted with a single four-barrel carburetor and rated at 300 horsepower.

NOTE: The aluminium valve covers seen in the photos are not correct for a L75 small block.

L79 327 Small-Block

In 1965, Chevrolet released the L79, a 350-hp 327 engine with a single four barrel carb. This potent motor featured a Duntov solid-lifter cam, 11.0:1 forged pistons, forged steel crank and rods, and 2.02 intake valves.