327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

[Dan C.]

I aoplogize for being ignorant, but in looking at a '66 327, how can you tell if it is a 300hp or a 350hp?

My car has the aluminum finned valve covers which I believe are not correct. I should have the orange covers properly labeled as 300 or 350. At a show last Saturday a long time friend had a set in his garage on an engine and was willing to swap my finned for his orange. He likes the finned and I like to be correct.

Any help would be apprecaited....Dan

[Jeffrey B.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

Dan,
Check the stamp pad on the engine block just in front of the head on the passenger side of the car. HE, HH, HO, or HR would be a 300 H.P. car. HT, HD, HP, or KH would be a 350 H.P. car.
Jeff

[Joe L.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

I aoplogize for being ignorant, but in looking at a '66 327, how can you tell if it is a 300hp or a 350hp?

My car has the aluminum finned valve covers which I believe are not correct. I should have the orange covers properly labeled as 300 or 350. At a show last Saturday a long time friend had a set in his garage on an engine and was willing to swap my finned for his orange. He likes the finned and I like to be correct.

Any help would be apprecaited....Dan

Dan-----


As Jeff mentioned, the easiest way to confirm the engine's horsepower rating is to check the engine suffix code on the block's stamp pad. The tach redline is another quick check. Also, if you look at the harmonic balancer, if it's 8" OD and about 1-3/4" thick, then you have a 350 hp. If it's 6" OD and much thinner, you have a 300 hp.

The cast aluminum valve covers were originally used on 350 horsepower, so if you have a 350 hp, you have the correct valve covers. If the engine is a 300 hp, then it used the steel valve covers which were painted engine orange.

[John H.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

Dan -

Also, the 300hp used an orange-painted cast iron intake manifold (casting #3872783); the 350hp used an unpainted aluminum intake manifold (casting #3890490) with a 90* formed bypass hose from the front of the manifold to a hex fitting on top of the water pump. Both engines used the same Holley LIST 3367 carburetor (or LIST 3605 with K-19 air injection).

[Dan C.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

Jeff, Joe and John,

Thank you one and all. I guess I may have a hybrid of sorts....

The engine block reads....6120047...with the 120047 matching the Vin number for the car....the numbers finish with F0418HO.....which according to Jeff would then be a 300Hp 327ci.

The intake manifold is unpainted alumnium with a 3890490 casting....wicvh goes with John being a 350Hp.

The Tach reads yellow at 5000rpms

It does have a Holley carburator with a P-80 on the left side of the throttle body. Hopefully the two pictures can give all three of you a better idea. I would like to be right before possibly heading to the Carolina chapter meet in April.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

Dan, Your engine lookls like a 300 dressed like a 350hp engine. Save the valve covers $$$ and save the 490 intake manifold$$$.

Stock steel valve covers are easy to come by cheap, look at some pixs to see exactly the type to buy..

[Dan C.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

Tim,

I have a friend that we can swap the valve covers to be correct...one issue solved.

The intake manifold is another issue...I have pulled one before on a '72 350ci and it is a pain in the butt when you mis-a-line the distributor shaft.

Thanks for your input....Dan

[Russ S.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

Dan, What is the build date of your car? Also there are minor differences in the valve covers. Be sure you get the right ones.

[Dan C.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

Dan, What is the build date of your car? Also there are minor differences in the valve covers. Be sure you get the right ones.

Russ, the best I can figure out is about April 23,1966. I am waiting for my judging book from NCRS so I am flying by the seat of my pants right now.

dan

[William C.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

Dan is it a Powerglide car? I'm looking at the auxilary throttle hookup?

[Dan C.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

Dan is it a Powerglide car? I'm looking at the auxilary throttle hookup?

From the documentation that I have so far the powerglide has been replaced with a TH700R4 4 speed automatic transmission. It is very smooth on takeoff and gets great gas mileage compared to the '72 350 I had before.

You obviously can decipher a picture very well. How did you notice the possible difference?

Dan

[William C.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

I saw the kickdown linkage and knew that the 350hp was not available with auto trans in 1966, also that the pg linkage was totally different. If you want to restore the car you have some nice parts to sell or trade. The TH7004R is a nice combination also in place of the PG if your intent is to drive the car? Was any modification to the body or frame required to make it fit?

[Dan C.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

I saw the kickdown linkage and knew that the 350hp was not available with auto trans in 1966, also that the pg linkage was totally different. If you want to restore the car you have some nice parts to sell or trade. The TH7004R is a nice combination also in place of the PG if your intent is to drive the car? Was any modification to the body or frame required to make it fit?

What a great eye you have. I will trade out the valve covers to start.

The gentleman that had the car before me made several adjustments to make it a great driving car...one to drive to local showsand do well, but they hurt at larger shows. The transmission, different valve covers and intake maniforld I mentioned.... a puller fan was installed between the regular fan and the radiator (the car never overheats), a MSD ignition was installed on the firewall way up under the driverside fender between the battery and firewall, a AM/FM radio installed in the dash with a CD changer hidden in storeage area behind the passenger seat. To make a regional show I have some work to do. I drive the car once a month and crank it up some where along the way.

[Russ S.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

Dan, Sent you a PM. Also I assume you know that the side exhaust was also added if it is originally a 300 powerglide.

[Joe L.]

Re: 327 is it a 300 hp or a 350hp/

What a great eye you have. I will trade out the valve covers to start.

The gentleman that had the car before me made several adjustments to make it a great driving car...one to drive to local showsand do well, but they hurt at larger shows. The transmission, different valve covers and intake maniforld I mentioned.... a puller fan was installed between the regular fan and the radiator (the car never overheats), a MSD ignition was installed on the firewall way up under the driverside fender between the battery and firewall, a AM/FM radio installed in the dash with a CD changer hidden in storeage area behind the passenger seat. To make a regional show I have some work to do. I drive the car once a month and crank it up some where along the way.

Dan-----


The "HO" suffix code also identifies it as an original Powerglide equipped car.

I don't know that I'd trade the valve covers straight across. I think I'd keep them and, if you wish, just purchase a set of the original configuration steel covers. You should be able to pick-up a restorable set of these pretty cheap on eBay or swap meets.

You definitely don't want to trade the intake manifold straight across for the cast iron piece you need. The aluminum manifold is worth a lot more than the cast iron.

However, if you're going to maintain the car as a THM conversion, I would not be too concerned about getting the engine compartment 100% correct. Especially if your main intention is to drive it and show it at local car shows where 100% originality is not critical, I'd keep the valve covers and intake manifold you have on it now.