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Wife's 77 Monza. "The Black Dragon" as she calls it.

Back when guys were still running double humps (and similar variants like the 487 and 487X) as the go-to performance head, it was extremely common to have them upsized to 2.02/1.60 valves. In the early 00's, nice ones would still sell for 700-800 bucks. But with the popularity of Vortec heads and all the budget priced aluminum heads these days, nobody really cares about the old double humps anymore. Except for the resto stuff, of course.
 
Can't get pics of the heads, but by feel we do have one 2.02, one 1.94 lol.
This is where I got some info.Screenshot_20260408-061217.png
 
I forgot how little room there was between the radiator and water pump on those cars. The factory V8 cars had a little more room and a mechanical fan, didn't they? It's been so long, I can't remember.
 
That same casting was used regardless of hp or valve size. If it got 2.02 valves the combustion chamber was machined to unshroud the bigger intake valve, thereby increasing volume a few cc’s. And I wouldn’t believe what that book says…there was never a 327/325hp put in a Chevelle.
 
USSkoval said:
I forgot how little room there was between the radiator and water pump on those cars. The factory V8 cars had a little more room and a mechanical fan, didn't they? It's been so long, I can't remember.
Click to expand...
Yeah. This one even being a factory v8 has been butchered a little.

But, stock, the mechanical fan had about 1/2" inch space to the radiator.
 
76zimmer said:
That same casting was used regardless of hp or valve size. If it got 2.02 valves the combustion chamber was machined to unshroud the bigger intake valve, thereby increasing volume a few cc’s. And I wouldn’t believe what that book says…there was never a 327/325hp put in a Chevelle.
Click to expand...
Books called Chevy by the numbers.

.... :dunno:
Quick Google searchScreenshot_20260409-074906.pngScreenshot_20260409-074824.png
 
Thats correct…the 327/350 was used in Corvette, Chevelle, and Nova models. I’ve never heard of a 325hp version in any car. It was borrowed from the Corvette, much the same as the L-72 427/425 engine was used in other models.

The 325 hp engine available in 65-68 was the 396.

Its not unusual for an engine to be rated lower in non Corvette applications, but the 327/350 engine remains the same 11:1, high lift hydraulic cam, 2.02/1.60 heads and aluminum intake w Holley carb. Exhaust manifolds or intake manifold may have been the difference.
 
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Ah. I thought you'd said 327/350 lol.

There's an old aluminum factory Corvette intake for sale on CL near me sorta.
Was thinking about grabbing it for this because LOW, but now we'll be moving to vortec so not worth it I guess... :dunno:
 
Those manifolds were better than the iron versions, but when I went from my oem aluminum 365hp intake to an RPM Airgap I picked up 3 tenths in the 1/4.
That 350hp engine was a great engine, made for the lighter cars like the Corvette and early Novas. Chevelles were best w a BBC!
 
The intake would only be because you can't run a normal air filter under the hood of a monza with a modern intake and holley.
Intakes are too tall. So I even with a deep drop base the lid hits the hood.
That aluminum sticker was a full inch lower than most aftermarket, which fits.
I'd have to run a quadrajet, which wouldn't bother me at all.

But with the vortec, it comes with a real tight 90* adapter from the TB to a tube, so I believe it'll fit great.
If anything we'll have to take out or mod this brace.
Which we could probably do to clear a normal air filter too if it was carb'd :thinking: IMG_20260409_124430274_HDR~2.jpg
 
Really all I hope for with this car is 300-350hp.
If it has that, it'll be just fine lol.

In fact, the cam I'm getting for the vortec is a summit one that's the biggest I can go without tuning or a stall converter.
Still putting at least a 2000-2500 stall in it, for funs sake though.

It'll be more than enough for her.
 
Got it back together.
Tried to start it.
And after a bunch of cranking, still nothing.
But if you pour some gas down it, it fires right up and burns it off.
So it acts like it's not getting any fuel, even though nothing about the fuel changed.
Just pulled the carb off and set it to the side, then bolted it back on :dunno: IMG_20260410_173713380_MP.jpgIMG_20260410_211429605_MP.jpg

Only other thing I changed was we took the glass fuel filter out and put a steel case one in.IMG_20260410_220936477_MP.jpg
 
Big vacuum leak? Did you check fuel pump output? Pickup in the tank plugged up?
 
Last 2 pics....

I stuck a vacuum cap backwards in the fuel line to plug it while it was unhooked.
And stuffed it on the T feeding the carb without pulling the cap out of the line :haha:

Whoops lol.
 
Only took me about 2 hrs of pondering what the ell could have gone wrong. Lol

I had the view plugs out of the bowls and there was no gas in there. I was tearing my hair out about it.
Then I thought about that cap in there. Searched our entire mess, and couldn't find it.

That's when the lightbulb went off and I grabbed the screwdriver :thinking: :yikes::waytogo::haha:
 
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