I posted this on another thread about a 71 Ventura but it is interesting enough I think to bump up.
They got their bone stock 40 year old 307 for $250, it immediately pulled 230 HP on the dyno then they tweaked it a bit and saw 315 HP. All this on a low buck budget. Not bad, 315 HP should be good for most of us.
Dave Hannan (owner) said he spent $4000.00 on 307 rebuild. I thought that was a lot, but it was his story. He had a yellow Ventura with a 64 327-300HP 'vette motor, and says the 307 (now 311) would run away from Yellow car.. We shall see... I wasnt worried about a motor, I just wanted, a reasonably priced "rust free" car.. He thought it was important to rebuild the matching number engine? We shall see.. I talked to driver, who is bringing it and he wont be here till week after next... Carl
As long as it spins the A/C compressor, I will be happy.. It has a 350 HP cam and flowmasters, so it should have the "bad boy" sound, I still have the "big dog" in the garage, that walks the walk! lol
I didn't change the heads but the cam shaft specs are close to what I used. Its not a race engine and I have to admit when it dies I'm going for a 327 or a 350. Car pulls okay and the gas mileage isn't bad. 15/16 city 20/22 Hwy.
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Dave Weir
Member #1
Canadian Classic Chevelles & Beaumonts
http://cdnclassics.chevelles.net/
For those who don't know, my 2+2 originally came with a 327, but when it was restored a 307 found its way between the fenders. So Carl graciously offered me a 327, knowing I wanted to get the right engine back in her. I'd like to get decent power and decent milage out of her considering I may be driving her to Edmonton this summer...
Hence why I'm thinking about going Vortec...seems to bring decent power and decent milage...
The 307 got a bad rap early on. The 283 loved to rev due to its short stroke, but when the (relatively) long stroke 327 crank was dropped into it yielding the 307 there was never a performance version. The performance version was the big bore, short stroke 302 Z28 with all the tough reciprocating stuff, ultra high compression and a hot cam & valvetrain.
When a decent larger displacement small block was around like the 327 and the then new 350, what performance future was there in a 307? The 302 had a large bore, which allowed a better bore / stroke ratio and permitted larger valves for deep breathing at revs. The bore on the 307 was the same as the vaunted 283, limiting valve size. You could get 1.94" intake & 1.60" exhaust valve into a 307, but the factory only ran with 1.72" intake & 1.50" exhaust (same as the Chevy six).
When you think about it, the 307 has a much better bore / stroke ratio than any crappy 305. The 307s all came from the era of high nickel content blocks. They suffered from the lack of a performance identity. Larger displacement from 350s in the same package meant the 307 wasn't worth considering. Also, have you priced pistons for the small bore small blocks? 283 & 307 pistons cost more than 327 / 350 pistons.
The 305s are most useful for giving up their H.O. heads for use on 307s. Now you are talking!
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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
Great post Cam, as usual. Indeed the 307 and more moderm 305 (except L69) were never intended to be performamce engines. The 307 was your basic V8 for use across the line generally the first upgrade option from a six. However the old rule of power to weight could make for some spirited perfomamnce in the right car, I don't think too many of us would turn our noses up at a 307 Acadian with a 3 or 4 speed. A 4 bbl version was never offered from the factory however a Marine version was produced with a dual plane intake and 4bbl and was rated about 250 HP if I recall correctly.
The entire point of that Chevy 307 build is that with some outside the box thinking just about any small block can be upgraded to provide more power and enjoyment.
I bought a 72 Pontiac Ventura II 307 3 speed 3.08 open
Car was a hoot The 307 2bbl would "pull" to 5500 stock
I added a 4 speed (L79 Munice) (thats a story) and a 327-275 Quad and intake A set of Hedman headers and real Corvair turbo mufflers...
At St Thomas it ran 15.1 @ 93 on F70-14 General Bias tires... I took it to Jordan Grey in London and had dist re-curved after that it would just blow off the tires
I've had a few 307s. In a full size car they had plenty of power for cruising but wouldn't break the tires loose. I stock rebuilt the smoky one in my 68 Impala. It ran well before the rebuild, but used lots of oil. It was even better afterwards with a re-ring, new bearings and some valve work.
Most 307's ended up as crank donors for 327's. I once built a 4 bolt main 327 from a 307 crank and 350 block. Swapped it into a lifted 4X4 which had a crappy 305. Was a good hill climber after that.
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'68 Parisienne 2+2 Convertible Matador Red (Resale Red but not for sale).
Fat chance on that. You were moving pretty good last weekend!
I still have the "big dog" in the garage, that walks the walk! lol
i remember the 307s being gas guzzling dogs.