[wally]

I have a 60 283 and a 64 327. The 283 has a 7 qt oil pan with a windage tray that I would like to put on the 327. When I went to swap the pans, I also need to to swap the main cap bolts from the 283 for the windage tray but they were too short for the 327 by about a half inch. Now I want to order new main cap bolts for both the 283 without a windage tray and a 327 with a windage tray and I do not know what to order. Are the 327 main cap bolts longer or are my 327 main cap bolts longer because it is perhaps a large Journal?

[DoubleVision]

There shouldn`t be any difference. Large journals didn`t come along until 1968. What`s the casting numbers for both your engines? Check the main caps on both engines and see if there`s any difference in there height.

[wally]

64 327 - #3959512
60 283 - #3756519

[DoubleVision]

Your casting numbers show both engines are small journal blocks so there shouldn`t be any difference in the bolt lenths or the main cap height.

[wally]

Thanks for the info, but when I tried to transfer the main cap bolt (same bolt location) from the 283 to the 327, it was too short to reach any threads. Do you happen to know what length they should be?

[cobalt327]

For two bolt SBC main caps, there are only 2 lengths- for SJ and LJ (including the 400 SBC).

A LJ bolt measures 3-3/8" from the end to the underside of the hex head.

Are you sure you don't have the head bolts mixed up in the main cap bolts? lol

[cobalt327]

FWIW, the LJ block has 1-3/8" of bolt extending below the bottom of the main cap.

So if you were to measure the main cap of the SJ block from the bolt pad to the bottom of the cap and add about 1-3/8", this should be very close to the bolt length required for the SJ caps.

[wally]

Originally Posted by cobalt327

For two bolt SBC main caps, there are only 2 lengths- for SJ and LJ (including the 400 SBC).

A LJ bolt measures 3-3/8" from the end to the underside of the hex head.

Are you sure you don't have the head bolts mixed up in the main cap bolts? lol

I just dropped the pan on the 327. Below is a picture of one of the main cap bolts. So I guess that from your measurements, I have a LJ crank and the 283 is a SJ?

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by wally

I just dropped the pan on the 327. Below is a picture of one of the main cap bolts. So I guess that from your measurements, I have a LJ crank and the 283 is a SJ?

That looks like that's the deal. ALL 283's are SJ, BTW. The 327 can be either. But in your particular case, the 327 is a LJ.

Good luck.

[wally]

Originally Posted by cobalt327

That looks like that's the deal. ALL 283's are SJ, BTW. The 327 can be either. But in your particular case, the 327 is a LJ.

Good luck.

Today was a good day! Local machine shop had some LJ bolts wih studs for windage tray. Got everything back togeather and so far no leaks



Only thing left is to find some SJ bolts.