1967 427 Distributor Versus 327 Distributor

[Jimmy G.]

Are these interchangeable??

[William C.]

Re: 1967 427 Distributor Versus 327 Distributor

In a word, YES, Allowing for differences in minor features like advance curve, vaccum advance characteristics, and other issues, but will they interchange and the engine start and run with no ill effects, certainly.

[Clem Z.]

Re: 1967 427 Distributor Versus 327 Distributor

the only difference is that "tall block" truck big blocks use a different length distributors

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1967 427 Distributor Versus 327 Distributor

Are these interchangeable??

Here's my two cents. Depends on what you're putting the distributor into. Does the '67 distrib have the partial oil annulus ? [I've seen early '67's (6H and 6K bands) with this feature]. If so, I'm not sure I'd want to put such a distributor in a small block or in a '67 3904351 BB without a grooved rear cam journal.

I know there's much controversy on this, so I'm all ears.

[Clem Z.]

Re: 1967 427 Distributor Versus 327 Distributor

Here's my two cents. Depends on what you're putting the distributor into. Does the '67 distrib have the partial oil annulus ? [I've seen early '67's (6H and 6K) with this feature]. If so, I'm not sure I'd want to put such a distributor in a small block or in a '67 3904351 BB without a grooved rear cam journal.

I know there's much controversy on this, so I'm all ears.

GM was trying to cut down on internal oil leak around the dist where it fits into the lifter oil gallery. i did it by using "O" rings on the distributor. this was a big problem with the aluminum blocks as the clearance between the aluminum block and the cast iron distributor housing opened up when the block was at temperature. having the grove not go all the way around cut down on the area where oil could leak out

[John H.]

Re: 1967 427 Distributor Versus 327 Distributor

Here's my two cents. Depends on what you're putting the distributor into. Does the '67 distrib have the partial oil annulus ? [I've seen early '67's (6H and 6K bands) with this feature]. If so, I'm not sure I'd want to put such a distributor in a small block or in a '67 3904351 BB without a grooved rear cam journal.

I know there's much controversy on this, so I'm all ears.

Wayne -

The same distributor housing (with the complete 360*-groove annulus) was listed as the Service part for all '62-'74 SB & BB Corvettes; the partial-groove annulus on some early BB's must not have been very important.

[Mike Z.]

Re: 1967 427 Distributor Versus 327 Distributor

I believe you will find all distributor P/Ns used in the big block motors, regardless of HP in 65, 66 & 67 had the unique partially filled lower groove. The debate of the rear cam bearing journal being grooved or not, or the cam being grooved or not had nothing to do with the partial fill lower groove. If you have one of these bare blocks sitting in your garage, you will see a void in the casting opposite the cam bearing on the left side at the lower groove area of the distributor bore. If a fully grooved housing is used, this will result in an internal leak. Interestingly though, the 67 396CI (all HP from what I understand) for Chevelle, Camaro, Nova, full size; correct the void a year early (and does not require the partial groove housing), but the 427 was not re-engineered until the 68 model run.
On the flip side, SB and later BB blocks did not have this void and do not need the partial fill distributor housing. Further, if a partial fill housing is used in the later BB/SB application; and if the housing is not correctly phased, the partial fill can/will block/restrict oil to the left lifter galley. Therefore, the partial filled grooved should be used in the early BB only, and the fully grooved units are not recommended in the early BB. Will they fire?, sure; but unless you are Superman, with his X-Ray vision, you can not see for sure if the oil is leaking past or getting to the lifter galley. Do you really want to take a chance.
I know I will get plenty of flake on this one, but I have been building TI distributors for several BB motors for many years and I come back to: GM had some pretty smart engineers, and GM always wanted to cut costs-so, don't think if the same P/N for the distributor housing could be used on all motors in 67, they would have used it. Don't know about you, but I ain't taking a chance on any of my BB motors.
Mike

[Tom D.]

Re: 1967 427 Distributor Versus 327 Distributor

Mike: Know anything about a non-GM part producer that made such a (partial groove) distributor housing? I purchased one from a well known NCRS member and together we concluded that it probably was not made in Anderson, Indiana.

[Tom D.]

Re: 1967 427 Distributor Versus 327 Distributor

Re: 1967 427 Distributor Versus 327 Distributor