help with 273

You'll find that the 273 is just as cheap to build as a 318 or 360. If your aim is to cruise then the 273 may be to your liking. I have two A bodies running the 273. The vert I have has a pretty reliable motor. It cruises all day long with fairly good gas mileage but at the same time it has some giddy up and go. There are some little tricks to making the 273 perform. The stock 2 barrel 273 with the steel shim gasket had an advertised CR of 8.8 to 1. With the gas available today 8.8 to 9.5 is where you want to stay. One thing to remember. That little motor is not a torque monster so if you want to lean toward performance then you'll need some gear in the butt. 273s likes to rev and the lower the rear the faster it will grab the RPMs. Nothing more fun to drive than a hot little 273 with a 4 speed and steep gears. My vert runs with the following basic combo


.030 block, flat top pistons. Everything machined to give a 9.2 CR

920 heads with cut down stainless valves, ported and polished for maximum flow and port velocity (Flow tested)

Isky E-4 solid cam

Edelbrock D4B manifold

Carter 625 Cfm carb

Stock Hipo 273 exhaust, Y pipe to tailpipe into a Flowmaster and ending in the stock Commando resonator

Electronic ignition

Push button 904 with 8 3/4 rear with 3.23 SG