Hello all, brand new to this forum. I am looking for a little advice. I have a 1968 Camaro RS with the original 327 engine, 120,000 original miles. My question is weather to rebuild the 327, I would like a little more power, or go with a crate engine such as the 385 horse fastburn? Thoughts are go with the crate motor and rebuild the 327 to original specs, put back on the original parts, intake,card, exhaust manifolds etc. and keep in on a stand while installing the crate motor. Or, build the 327 to around 350 horse or so, it is the 210 HP 327. Any thoughts, comments and ideas are greatly appreciated. thanks!

 

everyone here will tell you that if you have the original engine keep it. the car is worth more money with that engine than without it. That bing said if you have the cash and want to build/buy (building is so much cooler than buying) a 350 thats cool but keep the original around. And you can make 350 HP from a 327.

 

Once you got the crate installed you wont want to go through the hassle of putting the 327 back in. You will have to upgrade ALOT for the crate motor. Most of those things wont be needed when you put the 327 back in. Personaly, I would build the 327 as a trophy.... thats just me though. Or not waste money on a second mill and put it into the 327.

I really like the 327 and think it gets underestimated often. This mill has a ton of potential, the bore and stroke allow it to rev (comfortably) much higher than a 350 netting more HP/TQ per ci ratio. Besides you will have better gass milage with the smaller engine.

 

You didn't tell us much about what you have to work with but I'm like the others, the 327 is a great platform to build the power you can afford. cplthomas is right, you'll want to upgrade almost your entire drivetrain to keep up with that much of an increase in hp!

That said, a nice pro-street with a modern drivetrain would make it drive less like a 60's car and if done right would give you a reliable new car under the 1st gen body...

 

Thanks for everybody's advice. I do have plans to swap out the powerglide with a turbo 350, would eventualy like to go with a 700R4 but the 350 is what I have now. Also, I really want to get the 2.71 or so rear en gears out of there.