Engine: 1966 Avanti II firing order and engine number

[stevee]

Anybody out here know where I should find the engine number on a 1966 Avanti II? the production order from South Bend says the number is 710142 AJ. The serial number of the car is RQA 0084, which is easily found.

This motor is supposed to be a 327 Chevrolet 300 hp, but I am trying to verify that.

The place where Chevy stamps the motor number (front of the passenger side block as an extension of the block under the head) is blank. Any help will be appreciated.

Also, in looking at the firing order, it appears the number 3 and 1 wire are switched. The car runs ok that way, it also appears to run switched, but I haven't got it timed yet because I don't know what motor I really have!

thanks,

steveee

[sweetolbob]

As long as it's an sbc it's this order

http://www.jegs.com/tech-articles/im...ring-order.jpg

Be sure to get it to TDC and make sure the rotor is 4-8 degrees BTDC.

Also remove the vacuum line from the dissy and plug it before timing it.

Bob

[jlmccuan]

I have RQA-0088, just 4 cars down the line from yours.

[stevee]

Our cars are the same color, and I have Cragars on mine, so they look similar.

Any idea where your engine number is on your Avanti II?

stevee

[Skip Lackie]

I believe all 66 Avanti IIs originally came with the 300hp 327, but do not know if they were stamped with engine numbers or not. Later Avanti IIs came with SBCs that GM just pulled from stock, so they often had engine numbers that indicated not only date and engine type, but that they were intended to be mated to a particular transmission in a particular model Chevy. The engine number shown on the production order with the AJ prefix does not cross to any mid-60s Chevy engine listing I have.

A 300 hp 327 should have a Carter AFB carb on it. There is book listing Chevy engine casting numbers that can be used to identify the block, manifolds, etc, many of which are unique to a particular engine. It might be worth investing a few bucks in a copy.

You also might be able to get more help on Avanti IIs by posting here:
http://www.aoai.org/forums/index.php

[stevee]

The Chevy book lists no 300 hp engines built in 1966,only in 1965 and 1967, and those timing settings are different. Since this car was built in march 1966, would you guess the engine is a 1965 or 1967?

[junior]

It is not uncommon for racers to change the 4-7 firing order on small block chevy engines, and some even order special camshafts that change the 2-3 and 4-7 firing orders for the sbc, but I've never heard of changing the 1-3 firing order. Perhaps the 1-3 order can be changed too. Why not put the firing order back to the factory sequence and see how it runs. I have no idea why Chevy wouldn't make a 300hp 327 in '66, I just assumed they did. What is the timing difference between 65 and 67? probably is not really significant, and a change of cam, dist, exhaust, carb, fuel,weight of car etc. can all affect the best timing for any particular engine making the factory timing only a starting point. Is there a specific problem with the engine and timing and with the way the engine runs that you are trying to figure out?

[sweetolbob]

The Chevy book lists no 300 hp engines built in 1966,only in 1965 and 1967, and those timing settings are different. Since this car was built in march 1966, would you guess the engine is a 1965 or 1967?

A quick scan of the internet shows 300 - 350 - 360 HP versions of the 327 SBC available in 66 in Chevy's. and most are listed as 66-67 designations. My Brookfields Avanti book lists the 66 with a standard 300 HP 327 as standard with a 350 HP 327 as an option. If it were me, I'd use the 67 300 HP timing which appears to be the same. They both use the "929" cam.

In most cases, Chevy's with "normal" HP liked 6-8 BTDC if I recall. They generally start and run well there, so you can change it to what you feel is optimum once it's running.

Bob

[Gunslinger]

If you have the original intake manifold, the firing order should be cast into it.

Avanti Motors supposedly purchased crate engines in batches such as a six month supply to get a quantity discount. In that case, it would not be unusual to find an Avanti with a prior year dated engine.

[starliner62]

1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, just like it has been since the beginning of the belly button engine.

[jlmccuan]

My engine number is F10142AJ. Body number RQ4627