The only difference I know of is the stroke. The bore is the same.
327 =4.000" x 3.25"
350 =4.000" x 3.48" (Gen.I, 5.7" rod)
350 =4.000" x 3.48" ('96-'01,Gen.I,Vortec,5.7"rod)
350 =3.900" x 3.66" ('89-'95, "LT5", in "ZR1" Corvette 32-valve DOHC, 5.74" rod)
I found this info on <a href="http://www.mortec.com" target="_blank">www.mortec.com</a>
you can even look up your engine #'s to find out what the 327's were put in.

 

The main difference is stroke, the 350 has 3.48 as opposed to the 3.25 327. If it came from the '67 on your pic it's probably a 327 ( could be a 307) the pics showed what looked like a powerpack set of heads, so it could be either of the ones mentioned. I don't have the #'s handy but will check at the shop and if someone else hasn't posted by then I'll re-post.

 

3782870 62-67 small journal 327.

 

Doublevision is correct. A bit more info; this casting number was used from 62-67. The 63, 327, 300 HP Vette was casting # 3830944. However, that motor could be special ordered into about any 63 Chevy product in those days and have been found in 4 doors and pickups, so stories go!!

Trees

 

So I guess there is no way I can pinpoint exactly what year and car it came from?

 

There is a date code somewere on the block and the #s stamped on the altenator pad can tell ya what it was in.Theres usually a 2 or 3 letter code on the pad like CMJ or something.Allot of old motors books list the letter codes.

 

Thanks for the tip 78 monte, I'll have a look next time I'm under the hood.

Rodrunner, what exactly does the difference in stroke mean for the engine? I'm still new at this.

 

My folks and a sky blue metallic '63 Impala SS 2dr hard top w/327, front bucket seats console shifted PG, engine turned dash, console,& tail light pannel. Nice car to learn to drive in!

 

a sky blue metallic '63 Impala SS 2dr hard top w/327, front bucket seats console shifted PG, engine turned dash, console,& tail light pannel. Nice car to learn to drive in! <hr></blockquote>

Well, if you change sky blue to rusty grecian green we're in the same boat. haven't had, or wanted, or driven, a car in 10 years till I saw the impala so I guess I'll be learning to drive again too.

Should probably get myself a license...

 

Originally posted by 327ImpalaSS:
<strong>

Rodrunner, what exactly does the difference in stroke mean for the engine? I'm still new at this.</strong><hr></blockquote>

The stroke is the distance the piston travels in the cylender, the longer the stroke the more cubic inches you have. If you take a 350 and install a crank out of a 400 that will make the 350 a 383, longer connecting rods will give it even more cubic inches as does boring the cylenders. I'm currently building a
"Stroker" motor and I've had it bored over .060 installed a crank from Scat and with the changes according to an engine calc. I found on the internet it should be a 394 cubic inch small block!

 

Hey Rodrunner,

That sounds sweet. My first question is why doesn't everyone do that? Seems like it would be one of the best ways to increase HP. Is it harder to do than just replacing the crank and connecting rods? Do you have to replace the pistons? Wouldn't you have to make the cylinder longer somehow?

 

Too True, 327, you would have to make the cylenhdar longer. But since that's not reaosnable you buy yourself another set of pistons with the wristpin hole closer to the top. This mean that when the piston is at TDC it won't stick up out of the head.

If you keep the bore the same and increase the stroke you do 2 things. All other things being equal (and they never are)(1) you add torque and power, and (2) you shift the torque/power peak toward a lower RPM. Both can be nice for street machines. I think the 327 still holds the claim as being the highest horsepower small block that came from the factory, but it made this power at higher RPMs compared to an equivalent 350.

 

Bluesman's right. You have to make sure the piston doesn't meet the valves or the piston meets the crank or the rods meet the cam. A machine shop will have to clearence the rods so they won't hit the cam as well as balance the engine because you're using a 400 crank and the 400 is an externally balanced engine you will need to use the balancer and flywheel or flexplate off the 400. special pistons with shorter skirts and the wristpin hole closer to the top of the piston will also have to be used. With my engine just the machine work cost me $800 but they did a lot of extra work to it too. I don't even know what I'm gonna put it in yet!

 

the numbers you have are for a 327 block,the numbers on the pad will tell you what it was supposed to be in,then there are some numbers in the back of the block you should have a bracket on the back of the motor for a breather tube,if you pull that bracket off you can see these numbers if these numbers don"t match up within 6 months of the numbers on the pad than it didn"T come with that particular vehicle.In other words if you had a mid year vette that was supposed to have been built on January 10 than those numbers on the back have to represent a motor that was built no later than June 10 to have a matching number motor to that car.

 

what would be a better engine for a 1987 chevy pickup 327 or 350? do you need a carb for a 327 instead of a throttle body? Is a 327 better for racing?

 

The stroke is the distance the piston travels in the cylender, the longer the stroke the more cubic inches you have. If you take a 350 and install a crank out of a 400 that will make the 350 a 383, longer connecting rods will give it even more cubic inches as does boring the cylenders. I'm currently building a
"Stroker" motor and I've had it bored over .060 installed a crank from Scat and with the changes according to an engine calc. I found on the internet it should be a 394 cubic inch small block! [/B]

A stock bore 350 (or 302 or 327) with a 400 crank is a 377. 0.030" over is a 383. 0.060" over is a 388. 0.060"over and 394 requires a 3.800" stroke. The stock 400 stroke is 3.750". I am assuming the Scat is either an offset ground 400 crank or a special casting/forging. Changing rod lengths does not change the cubic inches of an engine. The only things which change the cubic inches of an engine are the bore, stroke, and number of cylinders. Rod length changes affect the piston to wall loading and the piston velocity profile.