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.

327 Chevy engine build

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.

Gen One Small-Block Chevy Build

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.

Camshaft installation small-block Chevy

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.

327 Chevy build

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

327 Chevy build

Read: SBC Timing Chain, Gears, and Cover

327 Chevy Build Before and After

327 Chevy rebuild

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

327 bottom end

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.

Restore an old Corvette

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