[MosinNagant]

the lifters on my 327 are badly gashed or ground in and i need to replace the cam and i wanted to know if a chevy 400 cam would fit in it.i have a 400 motor -minus alternator, distributer.both engines have the same exact carburetor. the 400 has ben offline 4 like 2 yrs since i acquired it and i would like to clean it up for no reason but to see if its possible to interchange some components if any,for as minute as it might be in the GO or rumble categories.

[SSedan64]

Originally Posted by MosinNagant

the lifters on my 327 are badly gashed or ground in and i need to replace the cam and i wanted to know if a chevy 400 cam would fit in it.i have a 400 motor -minus alternator, distributer.both engines have the same exact carburetor. the 400 has ben offline 4 like 2 yrs since i acquired it and i would like to clean it up for no reason but to see if its possible to interchange some components if any,for as minute as it might be in the GO or rumble categories.

Yes, the SBC400 Cam will fit in the SBC327. If you do swap it into the 327, use the Lifters from the 400 also and keep them in the same order they were. If not you will most likely ruin the cam.
You should check the Main, Rod and Cam bearings for damage/wear from all that Cam & Lifter material that is in the engine.

I have an old MosinNagant rifle.

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by MosinNagant

the lifters on my 327 are badly gashed or ground in and i need to replace the cam and i wanted to know if a chevy 400 cam would fit in it.i have a 400 motor -minus alternator, distributer.both engines have the same exact carburetor. the 400 has ben offline 4 like 2 yrs since i acquired it and i would like to clean it up for no reason but to see if its possible to interchange some components if any,for as minute as it might be in the GO or rumble categories.

Any reason you can't clean up and regasket the 400 and run it, using the parts (dist, carb, starter, etc. as needed- it all fits) from the 327? This would be better than swapping out a used cam from the 400, IMHO.

If the 327 ate its lifters and cam, it really should be disassembled and at least cleaned out real good- the bearings and crank could have been ruined by all the debris from the lifters.

[Hippie]

I agree with the others but I haven't pulled apart a 400 SBC yet that still had a good factory cam and lifters so don't get your hopes up. Chevy had serious cam material issues in the 70's and early 80's. It wasn't just 305's like a lot of people seem to think either, it affected 350's and 400's too.

[ap72]

$90 for a new cam kit, you can get the cam kit and springs, timing chain and gaskets for a hair over $200. Yea $200 isn't free, but its a small price to pay to do the job right.

[MosinNagant]

Originally Posted by cobalt327

Any reason you can't clean up and regasket the 400 and run it, using the parts (dist, carb, starter, etc. as needed- it all fits) from the 327? This would be better than swapping out a used cam from the 400, IMHO.

If the 327 ate its lifters and cam, it really should be disassembled and at least cleaned out real good- the bearings and crank could have been ruined by all the debris from the lifters.

you got me thinking about it now, though the 400, after removing the heads i discovered [buried treasure] kitty litter it got in through the exhaust ports but the pistons and sleeves or walls perfect even though my fren and moved it opn to some pallets my fren let it fall over bending the oil check tube i can replace that maybe with the 1 from the 327? watery oil came out of it not creamy white i could still tear it down pressure wash it lube it and re assemble and kick it.on my truck i turned the fan by hand does it mean the piston rings are smoked. i would like to leave the pistons of the 400 in place i dont want to deal with the rings i will if i have to. any advice on technique in order to clean it its gunked up sick on the outside

[MosinNagant]

Originally Posted by Hippie

I agree with the others but I haven't pulled apart a 400 SBC yet that still had a good factory cam and lifters so don't get your hopes up. Chevy had serious cam material issues in the 70's and early 80's. It wasn't just 305's like a lot of people seem to think either, it affected 350's and 400's too.

in hp what differences or what ratings am i looking at with 327 to 400 swap? if they are marginal i will most likely take the oc [obsesive compulsive] professional approach like i am doing right now researching the case at hand before investing time and money that i dont have.you see my pops gave me the 68' chevy c-10 to fix for him cuz a local mechanic im sorry CROOK has ben experimenting on it.