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Did all small journal 327s come with a steel crank? I have heard from numerous people that to make hp in a 327 you really have to rev them hard. Well what is considered to be high for this motor in pretty much stock but fresh condition with basically an RV cam. How high would you rev a motor with stock rod bolts before you got concerned about parts breaking or exiting the side of the block?

I have had this motor in my truck for about a year now never really driving it. I flogged it pretty hard the other day and was actually surprised at how stong it runs for what it is and being in a 5000 pound truck. I shifted into 2nd at 5500 RPMs even though it was still pulling hard and seemed like it liked it. As I looked down and noticed the tach was at 5500 The thought of the weak stock rod bolts popped into my head and I got a little nervous. I dont know where the power falls off because I have never revved it that high.

Not all of the cranks are forged. 6500 is where I would start getting concerned about the stock rods. Having said that I've been MUCH higher...

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FIAA!

SFPP!

Cool I was hoping you would answer my post. Thanks

You're welcome.

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A guy in high school had a Vega with a 327 in it. Mildly built, with a big Erson cam.

Anyway, I believe he used to shift at 8000. He was probably pushing his luck, but the worst that ever happened was his harmonic balancer fell off.

The balancer thing happened a lot on the small journal motors, they didn't have a balancer retaining bolt, just an interference fit.

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8000 Rpms thats crazy. I dont have the guts to spin mine that hard. I have a set of stock heads I picked up from the machine shop 1.94/1.50 valves 76cc combustion chambers I was suprised that it was still making power when I hit the 5500 RPM mark.

After reading about the small journals not having a balancer retaining bolt I am a little bit curious about my motor. I was told by my wifes dad who I got it from that it is a small journal unit. Seeing that the crank was forged I didnt question him, after all he is a mechanic or auto tech something or other if you are talking to him you dont say mechanic. My crank has a balancer retaining bolt. Now I know this thing has had some work done to it before I got it because it had .020 over pistons in it but I dont know what all has been done to it. I had the wifes dad go through it for me before I got it from him so when I got it it was basically a complete motor minus the heads. How do I go about figuring out if its a small or large journal motor?

Can you run the numbers off the block on the net for an ID Some sources there can tell you what it is. Just do a search for small block chevy identification. I assume the only other way would be to pull the pan and mic the crank.

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Yeah figured those were probably the only 2 ways I would be able to tell.

Ya, his didn't have the retaining bolt.

Usually a good machine shop will drill and tap the end for a bolt for ya for a few bucks. When I worked at the engine shop we did a few of 'em.

I tried to get the casting number off the block after I got home but it was way to hot to crawl up in there.

You're not too far away to maybe consider these to be shipped?
They would put the compression way too high on my 350, but seems like a good price...

http://eugene.craigslist.org/pts/631758786.html

We're on a parallel course, I really enjoy following your threads, as I am constantly learning something. You often seem to ask questions that I haven't even thought up yet.

Thanks, this forum rocks.

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"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison

The price isnt too bad if they are ready to run in my opinion. You could do what I did about 6 months ago. I got a set of 487 heads and ended up dumping way too much money into them. As the machinist worked I dug deeper and deeper into my pockets with a bill of $700 dollars with an additional cost of $250 for the heads. Although they have been completely reworked jumping from 1.94-1.50 valves to 2.02/1.60 guideplated. larger springs and milled to max for compression and some port work done I would have been better off buying a set of Dart Iron eagles. I have been doing a little at a time trying to get my other motor built. I have been thinking about using the heads mentioned above on my 327 throwing a cam in it and a better intake. Derek Jewwet has been a great help answering a lot of my stupid questions and offering his help.