s I mentioned I just want to burn rubber at the F***ing stop signs/lights and run 60-80mph all day on pump gas, passing chevy's is simply a plus... What ever cam that might take, so be it...
That's gonna be a bit of a problem.
To make power will require rpm.
To multiply it for burning rubber is gonna take a performance gear.
To still cruise the hiway at 80 is gonna take more gears.
There is no fuel economy in this combo; zero..
Those Egge pistons cost nearly double compared to KB107s for a 360.
Putting a performance gear into a 7.25 and a SureGrip is more money.
At least you have a 4-speed, and with any luck it has the 3.09 low gear in it.
To get to 65 quick is gonna take 3.55s and second gear with maybe 82" tires(26.1 tall). The math says 5675rpm. So that is a pretty big cam for a 273.
The 3.55x3.09=10.97 starter gear, which is a good number. But the big cam in the little 273 is not gonna make any decent torque, so this is gonna take some revving to blast off. This gets old in a hurry.
At the other end 3.55s with those 82s will cruise at about 3000(65), and about 3660(80). This too will get old in a hurry. And you will have to plan your trips around where the next filling station is.
So,with the 273, to cover your bases you need ;
Hi-compression, moderately small cam, hi-flo heads, headers and a free-flowing exhaust,a 4bbl, 3.73/3.91gears, a SureGrip,hi-traction tires, and a 5-SPEED.
Or with a 360,you need
Any old junkyard dog running engine. Any old rear gear with a 3.23 or smaller gear, the SG and free-flowing exhaust.
do the math; you will be Waaay bucks ahead with the 360.
A lowC-360 with a 4bbl starts off at least 75 hp more than a lowC-273 with a 4bbl. This is about IDK 6 or 7 cam sizes for the 273 to match, and when it finally makes 265hp you will have spent a Bazzilion dollars and now you have to rev it to maybe 4000 to blast off, with the torque that the 360 makes at maybe 2400rpm. So the 273is gonna need TM help (Torque Multiplication) to the tune of 30 or 40% more. That is to say to match the power that the 360 puts down onto the pavement with a 2.76 rear gear, the 273 is gonna need 3.73/ 3.91s
The 360 is gonna cruise 65 at about 2300 with those 2.76s and 82s, as compared to the 273 at over 3100 with 3.73s and 82s. The 5speed, to get the Rs down to 2300 will cost you what? maybe $4500 or more after installation.
So let's see; one rebuilt 273 with Egge domes,ported heads, plus the 5-speed, plus 3.91s and headers and free-flo exhaust; VS
One running Magnum (just a timing chain),Your A833,your rear gears, a SureGrip, Trebleg log manifolds and free-flo exhaust.
I'll guess you can save $7500 using a used 360Magnum.
And what do you get with that savings? Maybe 275 hp,mega torque, plenty of MPgs, smooth,quiet,vibration-free 80mph all day with no overheats,a longer lasting engine, and best-of-all enough power that even 2.76s will show a lot of chebbys what your tail-lights look like.
And here's what else you get; potential. The 273 is getting close to the top of its street-game to make 265hp, whereas a 265hp360 ain't even breathing hard. Building it up to the same level as that 273 will probably get you close to 400hp and still no 5-speed required.........'course fuel economy is now a distant memory.
Honestly, with your stated goals, I wouldn't entertain anything but a 360. Even a low-C 360, and a Magnum is preferred.
Well a turbocharged 318 would be my second choice,lol.
