Hot Rods So I just bought a big block 396

60's 70's 80's......no difference, hell put em on your Toyota they would look good on any car any year, just imagine the look on someones face when you open the hood.
That is assuming they "get it".

 

Well you won't like the 396 at all better give it to me. I think that Edelbrock made some rocker covers back then and I am sure that GM had some fancy ones for the 427 that would work. Chrome covers were always available for the big block.

You can buy the 2x4 Offy new that is identical to the one manufactured in '65 and I don't doubt that M/T had some BBC offerings as well. If you contact companies like Erson and Isky as well as Crane you can probably get an old grind if that is what you are after cam wise or if you just want it to look good on the outside and modern inside Lunati makes a whole bunch of excellent BBC cams. We have used their throttle stop cams in a couple of street driven BBCs and loved them.

A neat trick for charging if you are shooting got the mid '60s era is to get a later alt and use an old gutted early exterior voltage regulater for e junction box. You can still get the early stuff but if you run much electrical stuff they won't make the amps you want.

If you look you can find a delco twin point for a Corvette with a tach drive and run a mechanical or run a clone football tach and still run a delco twin point without a tach drive. Mallory was producing a Revpol for the BBC in the mid '60s and I don't know for sure but I think that there was a duocoil distributer available for the BBC as well.

I am running out of ideas now but I'll think of more later I am sure.

Good score and good for you for helping a friend out my friend.

 

Bird
You are probably right, but I'd bet it was all those guys in the early years that were use to (at best) 409 power. The 65 Chevy's, especially 4 speed cars were a pretty regular sight at the dealers' service departments.
New found hp and a factory warranty was quite addicting.

 

LOL I'll bet you hit it on the head right there.

Rod bolts are a common piece in an overhaul and valve keepers are an easy fix. I think that an early high zoot factory 396 only made 335 if memory serves. The heads were not so good yet.

 

There you go!!! Only BBC I had was a 375HP 396 in my 56, 150 Bus Coupe; Muncie 4 speed and 5.38:1 Positraction in the stock 56 housing. Was OK for the street with 70's era tires. Later, went with a Powerglide and a Camaro 12 bolt when it became a Bracket Car. When I rebuilt the engine, no one had roller rocker arms in stock, and I looked everywhere. I wound up using rocker arms meant for the Boss 302 Ford; they use a sleeve fulcrum as opposed to Chevrolet ball style. My "partner" at the time blew that engine up royally. I managed to save the top end after having the heads gone through again, and sold everything else off; that was when I stepped up to the FED. I'd like a BBC for one of my non HAMB cars, and since it's a 68 too..............................................................I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

OK, I'm confused as hell, aren't 396 valve covers the same (size) as any other big block?

 

All the BBC V/Cs are interchangeable, just some are taller. (for sophisticated valve trains)

1968: A bud's younger brother borrowed their Mom's '56 TBird for the summer, he blew the 312 at Fremont.
Little bro and friends got a fresh 396 from a wreck (Navarro Auto Wreckers, San Jose) and into the 'Bird it went. Original T86 Borg Warner O'drive tranny, I was surprised it held up.
Ron's little brother drove like Parnelli. The 'Bird was a rocket...
Don't recall if he gave it back to his Mom, I loved that combo.

 

My stock 66 SS396 Chevelle came with the Holly 4 barrel rated as 360 HP boought that in 67. My 70 ordered new SS396 Chevelle came with the quadrajet rated as 350 HP. Strong motors would set you back into seat especially the 66.

 

The valve stem keepers would sometimes fall out, or let go when they were installed with gaps oriented at 9 and 3 o'clock if I recall. Maybe it was only at 7K though.

 

You want a little Bling for your 396? Check out my Nomad with a sweet running 396. Not only does it look good, it runs great!

 

You forgot the Nomad ^^. I built all my rat motors in the '70s-'80s and at that time, before the onslaught of cheap high flow mouse heads, 383 crate motors, etc., it may perhaps have been cheaper on a dollar per hp basis. Used engines costed a bit more but there were plenty of new and used go-fast parts available for about the same money.

 

Not really the case.. The reason older BBC's were/are hard on valves was the lack of good stock type valve springs. Back in the day, there were no good springs available for stock type heads. Springs bounced and did the hula trying to control the heavy valves..The valve locks were literally beaten to death bouncing between the retainer and valve stem at high RPM. Lock groove and spring retainers pull thru was common. Dropped valves at speed were fairly common and catastrophic. Spring technology has since vastly improved.

Also never use a later open chamber BBC head on a 396. Unless you plan on using tractor distillate fuel in it. Going from a 90 cc. 396 head to a 122 cc. 454 head just isn't the way to go to get big valves.

 

Ive got a nos edelbrock low rise Dual 4 bbl intake. im planning on boring out a 396 to a 402. 030 oversize. the 396-402 & 427 have the same stroke. and the 366 truck has the same stroke. don't wind it like you would a small block chev. plenty of torque and can handle tall gears.

 

Some of mine and I agree with either in line low profile 2x4 or crossram

 

Forgot another set with added breathers...lol

 

I had a set of M/T's on a 427 in my 59 El Camino.

 

I always liked the stock chrome covers sitting on B&B spacers to raise em for rollers (even if they're not in there).
http://www.jegs.com/p/B-B/B-B-Valve-Cover-Spacers/747514/10002/-1

Induction, dealer's choice for sure but more carbs are better for bling. I'd probably like the earliest and lowest tunnel ram I could find and jet the carbs (or single carb) as needed for good driving manners. There used to be one that had a box affair as a plenum. Don't know how streetable it would be but sure would be mean lookin.

 

Here is a Weiand dual-quad intake - they are not super common but are out there with a bit of digging.

Weiand WCP2Q dual-quad "say-why-and" intake for big block Chev by SimonSez posted Nov 19, 2010 at 8:54 AM

There are also a couple of variations of Edelbrock valve covers - one that looks like the Cal Custom with an Edelbrock script and one that looks like the M/T's but with Edelbrock instead.

Moon also do some valve covers that are nice.

 

tried one of those too, not something for the street..



for looks and reasonable performance a dual cross ram is cool..

 

Brings back memories....
My only BBC was a 402/350hp version, th400 w/3.73s. Man that combo just WORKED for the street. Late night shenanigans, launch off the brake and let the TH do the shifting. Surprised quite a few 'stronger' cars.
That thing took some severe abuse from a heavy footed kid, can't believe it never scattered.
(ran the cast M/T 427 labeled valve covers btw, and was accused of such more than once)

 

I have one that needs a rebuild and I'm considering selling it. A '65 396/325 with 454 heads on it and a solid lifter L88 cam. Ran great until it spun a rod bearing, but cranks are like penny candy for those.

 

Had a 396 (402) 350hp in my O/T '70 SS396 Chevelle I sold a few years back. Had plenty of power for a heavy car.

 

My Dad bought a '65 impala with the lo hp 396......it was such a dog he went back to the dealership to find out about any factory HP upgrades.......they had a 425hp vette on the showroom floor - he traded for it (no he doesn't still have it) Anyhow, the 396 sucked a valve due to this exact issue within 6mos and chevy put a 427 in it as a replacement!

 

This is the newer air gap dual quad I tried for awhile, but I like the crossram idea for a more period looking piece.

 

I was having the valve adjustment issue too, someone on here (Sam i am?) said to machine the tops of the rocker studs flat and use quality poly locks.
Worked great, never had had that problem again.

 

A little bigger than 396 that I pulled out to put a "mores better" engine in it's place. But it's dressed the same as a 396.

 

Edelbrock also made several different styles

 

Just seen this engine in a 66 vette on facebook

 

This is the 396 in my 69 SS/RS/OT, I went for a day 2 look in the engine bay for a change. Valve covers are new and cheap (I think I gave $150 for them at a swap meet, full polished), used to have a bowtie cast in them, milled that out and added the hemi breathers in the same spot that were machined to set level on the covers when bolted down. The lid on the air cleaner is a moon piece that I milled the front ribs out and polished, then added a 396 fender emblem to sort of resemble a decal but 3D. Not suitable for your build but maybe some ideas. I love driving this car, have fun with your BBC. Hope it helps.