Hot Rods Does anyone build 396's anymore?

I have a chance to pick up a decent 396 from the estate of my best friend. He loved that motor. I just wonder if anyone builds them for hot rods, drag cars etc since the 454 pretty much dominates the BBC field it seems.

 

yes I do

 

Any advantage too running the earlier 396 compared to the 454?

 

How do you plan to use it? If your going to race, then go big or go home. I think they are great for street use.

 

I know squat about BBC. I was thinking of a future project for a gasser. Not a faux gasser, a real one.

 

You probably trick yours out a bit more then most.....but she is still a rat motor. Easy 400hp/550ft/lbs just walking down the hall. I'd angle a way to add it to the pile, someone will want it.

 

The 396 is internally balanced and doesn't need a special flywheel. The 402 engine in my OT 71 3/4 ton went down . someone installed hard valve seats and one came loose. dropped the valve and cracked the cyl wall. I have a 396 block and it will get bored to .030 and use 402 pistons. Ill use the 69 396 heads and not mess with the valves & seats. The engine will be put into something that has three pedals. I installed a later 454 in my pk because its a automatic turbo 400.

 

I would pass unless you have some camaro/chevelle friends you can sell it to. What type of gasser?

 

It would be a 36 Ford pickup.....

 

Should be a lot of fun. I pulled the 396 out of my 59 pickup when I wrecked the truck in 2005...but the engine was pretty well worn out by then. I first built it in 1979. I'm keeping all the parts, as well as a spare std size 396 block, one day I'll put it back together.

My Chevy II has a 427, made from a 454 block, 396 crank, and 427 pistons. It goes pretty darn good.

 

Well, I've run more 427s than 396s (or 454s) but that'd be pretty fuckin cool in a pickup like that. Of course, I'm one of those guys that likes 283s and 327s so what do I know- right.

396 came out in '65-- so should fit in era wise for a gasser.

 

You have a chance to buy a BB, and you haven't yet. I don't know if I understand your question. I am not even a cheby guy, but still it is a BB.

 

My neighbour is doing a 59 el camino with a 396 and muncie 4spd.

 

Easy torque, massive looks - what's not to like? Plus it was your friend's engine. You will think of him every time you lift the hood to show someone. Look at all the folks who build 283 SBCs while a 350 looks the same on the outside. Go for it!
Run the #s on the block and heads. You may find they are high HP rare stuff. People swapped a lot of stuff in the day. Found that the heads on my OT El Camino are "65 425 HP 'Vette pieces. Highest HP 396 ever made.

 

I remember when they first came out in 1965. My racing buddie had a 66 Chevelle with the 375 HP version and it was the fastest thing around on the street in those days. That fat Chevelle went 12.00's in real drive it daily trim with slicks so it should be fun in your pickup.

 

Here's one in The Ghost.

 

Well, the rage is 468 CID these days. Costs the same to build it, but it makes more power per cubic $$.

 

Malibukasey is building one for his '66 pickup.

I love the look of BBC valve covers, especially the finned OEM units!

Scoop it up!

 

Small blocks come up to 400 inches and are 100lbs less. Just thinking.


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I have a '66 vintage 396/375 that I last ran in my Nova bomber car. It needs to be gone through, it needs at least a crank re-grind and will probably go .030 over as well. It has a factory medium riser manifold, L88 solid cam, warmed over Accel distributor and wires. I'm really on the fence about keeping it or selling it... if the right '65 Belair or Biscayne around, I'd be keeping it.

 

I have an 11k dollar 557. I sure miss my "free" 402.

Don't ask me why a four bolt main 402"396" came in a 1972 Chevy pickup but it surely did. We threw my dad's L78 (396) stuff into it. New 12:1 TRW's, Weber alum. flywheel, and a balance job from Rojam Machinery in Omaha. Rev'ed like a small block, pulled like a freight train. (Everyday I'm here I want to scan my dad's pics/need to go home)

I understand bigger/better...I get that all the way. I also understand older and smarter. If that thing is a mint price PASS. If it sounds like picking up a best friend's estate engine(cheap'r then mint)...GET. I'm absolutely positive that if you like small blocks....that 396 will rev cheaper then trying to get a 468 to do the same You have a 1500 rpm gap that the 468 won't touch.....without more of those dollar signs.

If you're racing heavy....468 it. Want something fun and neat> THREE NINE SIX You will love it....especially judging by the nose bleed wheelie of your enjoyments. Just an assumption that you like 3 pedals.

 

Most BB guys I know go as big as they can as soon as they can, because it is so easy. That being said, a 396 has a bit of old school cachet, like a 283 or a 409. Plus the sentimental value, and the fact that it is a big block. I see no downside here.

 

Go for it dude.

 

All the cool kids these days are running at least 540 cubes. 468 is so 1970s. It's just a 60 over 454, and pretty much any old 454 block you find nowadays will need to go at least 40 to clean up, since it's already been bored 30 in it's previous lifetime.

Building a 396 today shows character...that you can ignore all the modern small block stuff....and build a real factory high perf engine.

 

I ran a 325 HP, 2 bolt main, 396 in my 57 Chevy, maybe not the fastest car in town, but it sure look look good with those big chrome valve covers.

 

I would if I had one, 454s are OK but I love the 396 and its 427 big brother.

 

I'd want it, just because it belonged to my buddy. Probably not the best choice for an all-out gasser motor, but they will make enough power for a decent street car.Good Luck!

 

I'm in the go for it camp. Heck, if I had a 454, I would stick 396 stickers on it and lie. Tell them it came out of a wrecked corvette and was matching numbers...
(heh heh)

 

Love them, first one was in my 68 Chevelle, 396/350 Horse, 2 bolt mains, Balanced, Stock pistons, 510 lift Isky cam, Aluminum intake, big Holley, Headers, pulled like a elephant, this motor was also in my C/Gas 57 210 Hardtop.

Second one was a 396/375 Horse, 4 bolt mains, Balanced, Bored 60 Over, 11:1 pistons, L88 Cam and Valve Train, Rectangular Port Open Chamber Heads, Two Cartar's on a high rise Intake, Fender well headers, it was in a 63 Nova Sedan, which I sold with the Nova, should have keep that one.

Have an other one which is a 396/375 horse block and will be building it to go in my 56 Chevy Gasser when I start on it. Parts collected for it so far are steel crank, 11 to 1/30 over pistons, Oval port heads with big valves, will have a big Cam and valve train (don't know what it will be yet) it will have a Tunnel Ram with 650 Holleys, Balanced, 4 bolt mains, Fender well Headers.

My younger brother just found a Factory original complete 1966/67 396/350 Horse in a 73 Chevy 3/4 ton pick-up and saved it, with will go into his 65 GMC 2 wheel drive Pick-up. Don't know just what going in this one but it will make that Jimmy stand up and go.

I'm like fourspeedwagon, I like the 283/327 as far as a small block and as you see I like the Stump Puller BB Chevy as well. An other thing I found if you Balance them I used to shift mine at around 6000/6500 RPM. They make awesome power. Big joke in High School was SMBK Chevy are just starter motors for BB Chevy.

 

You guys crack me up.....