273 time to 'fish or cut bait'...

66fs said
The 273 will do all you want it to do. The $100 engine seems cobbled from the little I can see. The intake is a newer 360/318 intake. Not a fan of using one with the smaller 5/16 intake bolts at the early angle, but it has been done and works. The carb should be a Thermoquad or Quadrajet on that manifold. If you have the adjustable rockers, use a solid cam. All 64-67 273's had solid lifters and adjustable rockers. Have to agree with Yellow Rose. Isky E-4 or Racer Brown cam. Get the lifters and springs that go with the cam and use a good double roller timing chain. Run the 2 barrel pistons. Check the head castings first though. I thought the 273 you had was in running condition?

66fs,

I do have one 273 that is in running condition, but don't want to put the stock 2v in the 'Commando'. Since the engine had a 340 4 barrel intake and was $100, I thought I'd take a chance. Makes sense to use the 2 barrel pistons, someone mentioned that IF (Ha Ha!) I have to get the cylinders bored, stock pistons will be too small (?) anyway.. I have lots of issues (don't we all) but since the heads are in the shop getting cleaned up (and hopefully ported) I really should address the cam and valve questions now rather than putting them off. Hope the book gets here soon so I can work out a build sheet and not be flying by the seat of my pants, (though I typically roll that way anyway). I can't say how much it helps me to have FABO to bounce my ideas off of. I will keep in mind the Thermoquad/Quadrajet carb when I come to that bridge. Forgot to mention the double roller timing chain and electronic ignition but will install them as well in whatever build I come up with.

Haven't considered putting the 340 intake on the running 273 either, but that kind of makes sense. Though I haven't looked into that engine other than to start it a few times, Cuda#1 has it's own issues... in my uneducated mind I thought I should stick with the heads the 340 intake was used to. Can installing the jerry-rigged intake damage the heads???

Thanks for your advice on the 2 barrel pistons I will consider that, how much are the domed pistons going to help with what I want anyway.

65Cudafix