Hey guys, I actually have a bunch of questions but I'll start with this one. Did all 327s come with flat top pistons?

No, some had pop-ups (domes).

A guy has one that I want to buy but I'm not sure if it is a high cr or low cr motor. All I know so far is that it has flat tops. Thanks:welcome:

A 327 with flat-tops and 64cc heads will have roughly a 9.5:1 static compression ratio, perfect for an iron-headed motor on pump gas.

Post the casting number and suffix number for us. Casting number is on the back of the block, on the top, just in front of the bellhousing mating surface, driver's side. The suffix number will be on the block deck, passenger side, all the way to the front of the block deck.

 

Okay I'll ask the guy. I'll report back asap

 

Well it has flat tops so that's a start.

 

Now, let's determine what kind of flat top....
Do the pistons look like this....
http://i.tfcdn.com/img2/LCABVIEADcd...wWPHd4lQW6GP7__7g0FCOjEyrBSsY9yV0oum2ZFhHXZHi5XK8KpBgQFlrDNufkrxqvEH/fvUG-v8A.B
or like this with a dish in the middle....
http://i.tfcdn.com/img2/LQ4pYlcAY8p...X5BYVFKsl5yfq--Zm5ieWqwfUJSfUppc4pufkpoDFSrIiDc0NTQwiy_JKM1N0ssqSAcA/fvUG-v8A.B
or like this with a larger dish in the middle...
http://i10.ebayimg.com/07/i/001/49/a3/9f97_1.JPG
or do they have only 2 valve reliefs like this....
http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/medi.../product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/S/B/SBC-305-Pistons.jpg
or no valve reliefs and a trough like this....
http://daymotorsports.com/prodpix/kb-134.jpg

While you're figuring this out, be looking around for a good set of long-blade feeler gauges and a stiff steel 12" rule. We'll use them to find the piston deck height. (distance from the crown of the piston to the block deck where the heads bolt on with the piston at top dead center).

 

I haven't heard back from him yet. I asked for the casting # and suffix #. The middle two are referred to as dished pistons right?

 

Yes, that's correct, but they have very shallow dishes and may not be referred to as dished pistons by fellows who don't know better. If you look at them casually, they look like flat-tops, especially in the dark corner of a garage.

 

Well the motor is assembled right now so there is no way of visual confirmation that way

 

With a very strong light, you can peek in through a spark plug hole.

 

Some of the later 327's did have dish pistons.The low CR low performance 2 bbl setups used in trucks & passenger cars although most are advertised as "Corvette Engine" when being posted for sale.