If you are looking at making the bikes single speed or fixed, why not go with 700c wheels? For the same $100 that a cheap set of 27" will run you Bicycle Wheel Warehouse has these :
http://www.bicyclewheelwarehouse.com...&productId=204
They are currently out of stock and they only let you order one set at a time, but they seem pretty decent. I have a set waiting to have the bearings repacked and adjusted before putting them on a bike.