1963 327 engine gaskets

[Sven C.]

Hello all. Thinking about a rebuild of a 1963 327 engine and want to keep everything original for judging purposes. Looking at some of the available engine gasket kits, but they don't appear to have steel head gaskets. I am hoping someone has a recommendation for a supplier of a "correct" engine gasket kit or even several suppliers where I can put together a complete set. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Jimmy G.]

Re: 1963 327 engine gaskets

Contact me I have a bunch

[Sven C.]

Re: 1963 327 engine gaskets

Jimmy. PM sent.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1963 327 engine gaskets

If getting a rebuild don't get it decked. 😪

[Sven C.]

Re: 1963 327 engine gaskets

Steven. Thanks for the advice. That was the first thing I told the shop and I know that they have done numerous corvette motors without decking them. Put my mind at ease, but I will keep on them.

[Duke W.]

Re: 1963 327 engine gaskets

Which 1963 engine configuration do you have? It makes a difference.

Duke

[Sven C.]

Re: 1963 327 engine gaskets

Duke. It is a 300hp.

[Duke W.]

Re: 1963 327 engine gaskets

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The '63 327/300 was equipped with a single .018" steel shim gasket from Flint. (340/360 HP engines had TWO of these gaskets.)

So what do you have? Do you have detailed maintenance records going back to the day the car was delivered?

You can measure head gasket thickness with feeler gages at the corners of the head/block interface. So what do they measure? Does it have an OE equivalent camshaft. Measuring idle vacuum in neutral with a manual trans and Drive with PG can give a clue.

Idle vacuum measurements without specifying the IDLE SPEED AT WHICH THEY ARE MEASURED ARE MEANINGLESS, so be sure you quote the actual idle speed, and use an accurate test tach, not the IP tach.

What pistons are installed? OE or something else if the engine was rebuilt in the past?

Why do you think the engine needs to be rebuilt? Have you done compression and/or leakdown tests?

Before you get sucked into a black hole, figure out what you've got, whether or not it actually needs to be rebuilt, and what your objectives are for the finished product.

Rebuilding an engine to what you want it to be is not a simple process. It requires research by the owner and finding machine shop that will machilne only as required to meet your requirements whether you do the disassembly/assemby or have some "engine builder to it.

The Web is FULL of rebuild disaster stories.

Duke