Is the Edelbrock C396 just an old performer or is it very different. I have a C396 now but don't know if it is worth upgrading.

Good old manifold. The runners are much bigger than a Performer.

so is this thing a keeper?

so is this thing a keeper?

yes..it is a decent BBC intake

My 67 BB has had a C396 manifold and a 950 Holley 3 Barrel on it for over 30
years. They were built as a joint venture by Holley and Edelbrock in about 1968 and for the next few years they were the "Hot" item. I still run mine and like it fine.

I remember those 3-barrel carbs. One big retangular plate for the secondaries.

i run 1 on a 454 also. i emailed edelbrock tech asking if a performer rpm would give me a boost over the c-396. they told me they didn't think so. mike

Keep Your C396 Had Mine 20yrs Got It At Maple Grove Flea Market (super Chev)

All good info guys, I guess it stays! The car HAS been runnning good with it but I fugure it will be off fwhen I do my cam change soon so now I will send it out to be glass bead blasted instead of buying new.

THANK YOU ALL

When the Torquers and Tarantulas came out, they they were the be all end all advertising huge horsepower increases. I still have the old magazine ads. Now I can buy any number of them at swap meets for peanuts. On a street engine, the improvements from newer intakes is probably minimal at best. A friend has a healthy L78 Chevelle and what does he run? a stock L78 intake and he can run in the 11s. ADvertising sells more stuff that fact. Keep what you have, it will be hard to beat and looks retro as well. I picked up a C427 rectangular port intake a few years ago and I'm still waiting for something to use it on. Good enough for Motion Performance. Good enough for me.

Imho, a C396 is an early oval port Performer RPM!!

GOOD intake TOO!

The C427 is an early rect port RPM too...

pdq67