OLD Modified Corvettes

[Tom Broome]

Originally Posted by Tim H

I've not really heard of the 277ci, was it a combo of 265 and 283 parts ? The 287 was a more popular displacement I believe .With the rather limited availability of components in the 1970's how was a 277 built ? Just curious, thanks.

TLDR This is Modified Eliminator stuff, pretty off the path for Super Stock guys.

The 277 was a 283 block (307 sometimes) bored .030 (3.905) with a 2.900 stroke crankshaft. For a budget build you took a large journal 302 crankshaft and offset ground the rods to shorten the stroke one hundred thousandths. If you put that crank in a 4.030 block that got you 296 cubic inches, also a popular combination.

So, basically it was a destroked 287.

The 283 bore size was the smallest bore that could (barely) accept the 2.05/1.60 valve combination popular in the 23 degree heads of the time. If an engine builder wanted live on the edge, they could take a 350 block and offset sleeve all eight cylinders with chrome-moly sleeves and have greater clearance between the intake valve and cylinder wall. You might even then put a larger intake valve in the head. If that allowed the port to flow more air, you might find some power. They might even go to the trouble to make a deck plate to accurately locate the bores off the head dowel locations.

I wouldn't know anyone who would go through that much trouble....Would I?