Here's my thoughts---I have my 67 SS with the original engine. I have a chance to buy a good running 396 engine that smokes pretty good. I am thinking of buying this and pulling the original engine out. I can put it on an engine stand and build the other 396 like I want.This way if I ever sell the 67 I will have the unmolested 396 to go with it.I just want your opinions on a quick--streetable combo for the engine build---thanks Danny

If you're looking for more power, start with a 454 rather than a 396. The extra cubes are worth about 50hp on a mild build up and, assuming everything else is the same, those ponies will happen at a lower rpm. If max power is the goal, the 454 can use a larger cam/heads/carb for even more power while retaining the same driveablity as a milder 396. If you still prefer to stay with a 396, post some details about your car and how you use it and we'll be able to make some specific reccomendations.

If you're looking for more power, start with a 454 rather than a 396. The extra cubes are worth about 50hp on a mild build up and, assuming everything else is the same, those ponies will happen at a lower rpm. If max power is the goal, the 454 can use a larger cam/heads/carb for even more power while retaining the same driveablity as a milder 396. If you still prefer to stay with a 396, post some details about your car and how you use it and we'll be able to make some specific reccomendations.


Build the BIGGEST engine you can afford!!! :thumbsup:

If you want the 396 to go fast, just push the skinny pedal :D

Even as a 396 owner, I have to kind of agree with the above and go the 454 route, more cubes, looks the same outside as the 396, and you'll be able to actually find a selection of pistons for it.

Well, if you can afford them, get some AFR heads.

If you want to stay with the 396 then stroke it. You can make a very streetable engine with say around 500 hp then stroke it and use a good set of heads. Keep the compression around 9.5-1 and I would go with the Xtream Energy 284 Comp. You will have a mean sounding machine and the bite will be as good as the bark.

What are you running behind it? Standard, Auto????

But, If you can get your hands on a good 454, then that would be the route I would take and stroke it out to a 496. The cost is the same for a stroked 454 as say a built 468. There is no replacement for displacement.

I am currently running a 402 with 520 HP and 580 ft/lb of torque!! So it can be done with a 396!! 9-1 Compression and 93 octane fuel.

I am currently running a 402 with 520 HP and 580 ft/lb of torque!! So it can be done with a 396!! 9-1 Compression and 93 octane fuel.
How much did that cost you?

If you want to stay with the 396 then stroke it. You can make a very streetable engine with say around 500 hp then stroke it and use a good set of heads. Keep the compression around 9.5-1 and I would go with the Xtream Energy 284 Comp. You will have a mean sounding machine and the bite will be as good as the bark.

What are you running behind it? Standard, Auto????

But, If you can get your hands on a good 454, then that would be the route I would take and stroke it out to a 496. The cost is the same for a stroked 454 as say a built 468. There is no replacement for displacement.

I am currently running a 402 with 520 HP and 580 ft/lb of torque!! So it can be done with a 396!! 9-1 Compression and 93 octane fuel.


Just outta curiousity, if you stroke a 396, along with a .030" over bore, what would it be? 421?

Could you post your specs?

If you want to stay with the 396 then stroke it. You can make a very streetable engine with say around 500 hp then stroke it and use a good set of heads. Keep the compression around 9.5-1 and I would go with the Xtream Energy 284 Comp. You will have a mean sounding machine and the bite will be as good as the bark.

What are you running behind it? Standard, Auto????

But, If you can get your hands on a good 454, then that would be the route I would take and stroke it out to a 496. The cost is the same for a stroked 454 as say a built 468. There is no replacement for displacement.

I am currently running a 402 with 520 HP and 580 ft/lb of torque!! So it can be done with a 396!! 9-1 Compression and 93 octane fuel.

My 67 has in it now a stock 396 with a 4 speed behind it. It has a 12 bolt posi. Im not sure of the gear ratio--I know it is LOW geared.The reason Im thinking of going with the other 396 is because Im not haveing any luck finding a buildable 454 at a decent price. I can buy the running 396 for $400.00. Vince if you dont mind me asking---what was the cost of your total build on the 402? Thanks for all the replys----Danny

I agree with the more cubes if it's in the budget.

My first 396 went slower than the previous 350,dissapointing to say the least.Had a better seat of the pants feel to it but it didn't translate at the track.It(396) was a crappy mix matched affair though,in all fairness.Parts of it are going back in soon in a 402 block,hope it is faster.

No one mentioned nitrous....or lower gears....or a higher stall....not even a blower.....???????????

Thats a decent price for a running motor, depend on your intent and your budget.

I am running a 396 bored 60 over. On the bottom end, I had it drilled for 4 bolt main caps, installed eagle crank (steel) and eagle rods. Keith Black flat top pistons (forged) Total seal rings, 0 deck. Brodix BB0 Race Rite heads with 2.25 intake and 1.88 exhaust. The heads underwent extensive surgury. But they are gasket matched, ported and polished (I can post the details later, don't have the info in front of me). 304 Magnum Retro Fit Roller cam, Crane energizer roller rockers. The intake is a Torker II single plane with a 750 Mighty Demon (83 primary and 95 Secondary jets) Annular Booster. MSD Ignition with the 6AL Box.

It is nothing special, we just threw it together and put it on the dyno and it made this horse power. With the stock heads (with 2.19 and 1.88) it made 430 hp so the magic is in the BB0 heads. The torque is due to oval port heads verses the rectangle. You could probably make even more HP if you get the BB1 or above. I am driving on the street and didn't want a radical motor.

Just outta curiousity, if you stroke a 396, along with a .030" over bore, what would it be? 421?


A 396 30 over is a 402. If you stroke a 402 then you get a 427.

How much did that cost you?


Around $3200.

A 396 30 over is a 402. If you stroke a 402 then you get a 427.

I thought destroking a 454 made a 427? Or are both possible? I'm not too familiar with BB's, that's why I'm asking :) So if both are possible, then which is a better motor to build upon? Cause to the best of my knowledge, 396 blocks are different from 454 blocks. Am I right?

Around $3200.
Thats a very good value, especially because you only have a 9:1 CR.

I thought destroking a 454 made a 427? Or are both possible? I'm not too familiar with BB's, that's why I'm asking So if both are possible, then which is a better motor to build upon? Cause to the best of my knowledge, 396 blocks are different from 454 blocks. Am I right?

Yeah, the 427 and 454 both have 4.25 inch bores. The 427 and 396/402 have the same stroke, 3.76 in, but the bore on the 396/402 is 4.09/4.12 in.

Pretty impressive! Looks like those RR heads are worth alot of power. I think I know what heads I'm going to go with when I upgrade. I wonder how much HP all the work you did to them was worth.

I am running a 396 bored 60 over. On the bottom end, I had it drilled for 4 bolt main caps, installed eagle crank (steel) and eagle rods. Keith Black flat top pistons (forged) Total seal rings, 0 deck. Brodix BB0 Race Rite heads with 2.25 intake and 1.88 exhaust. The heads underwent extensive surgury. But they are gasket matched, ported and polished (I can post the details later, don't have the info in front of me). 304 Magnum Retro Fit Roller cam, Crane energizer roller rockers. The intake is a Torker II single plane with a 750 Mighty Demon (83 primary and 95 Secondary jets) Annular Booster. MSD Ignition with the 6AL Box.

It is nothing special, we just threw it together and put it on the dyno and it made this horse power. With the stock heads (with 2.19 and 1.88) it made 430 hp so the magic is in the BB0 heads. The torque is due to oval port heads verses the rectangle. You could probably make even more HP if you get the BB1 or above. I am driving on the street and didn't want a radical motor.

I thought destroking a 454 made a 427? Or are both possible? I'm not too familiar with BB's, that's why I'm asking :) So if both are possible, then which is a better motor to build upon? Cause to the best of my knowledge, 396 blocks are different from 454 blocks. Am I right?

I would never destroke a 454. If you have a 454 block then stroke it and at least get a 489 if it is 30 over. But yes, you are correct the origional 427 is a 454 block with a shorter stroke. Below is a listing of GM bore and stroke:

366T = 3.935" x 3.76"
396 = 4.096" x 3.76"
402 = 4.125" x 3.76"
427 = 4.250" x 3.76"
427T = 4.250" x 3.76"
454 = 4.250" x 4.00"
496 = 4.250" x 4.37" (2001 Vortec 8100, 8.1 liter)
502 = 4.466" x 4.00"
572T = 4.560" x 4.375" (2003 "ZZ572" crate motors)

T = Tall Deck


348 = 4.125" x 3.25" (6.135" rod)
409 = 4.312" x 3.50" (6.0" rod)
427 = 4.312" x 3.65" (6.135" rod) 1963 "Z11" SHP drag race


Small Block:

377 = 4.155" x 3.48" (5.7" or 6.00" rod)
400 block and a 350 crank with "spacer" main bearings
383 = 4.030" x 3.75" (5.565" or 5.7" or 6.0" rod)
350 block and a 400 crank, main bearing crank journals
cut to 350 size

I would never destroke a 454. If you have a 454 block then stroke it and at least get a 489 if it is 30 over. But yes, you are correct the origional 427 is a 454 block with a shorter stroke. Below is a listing of GM bore and stroke:

366T = 3.935" x 3.76"
396 = 4.096" x 3.76"
402 = 4.125" x 3.76"
427 = 4.250" x 3.76"
427T = 4.250" x 3.76"
454 = 4.250" x 4.00"
496 = 4.250" x 4.37" (2001 Vortec 8100, 8.1 liter)
502 = 4.466" x 4.00"
572T = 4.560" x 4.375" (2003 "ZZ572" crate motors)

T = Tall Deck


348 = 4.125" x 3.25" (6.135" rod)
409 = 4.312" x 3.50" (6.0" rod)
427 = 4.312" x 3.65" (6.135" rod) 1963 "Z11" SHP drag race


Small Block:

377 = 4.155" x 3.48" (5.7" or 6.00" rod)
400 block and a 350 crank with "spacer" main bearings
383 = 4.030" x 3.75" (5.565" or 5.7" or 6.0" rod)
350 block and a 400 crank, main bearing crank journals
cut to 350 size


Yeah, that's what I figured. I know the bore/stroke ratios for small blocks but wasn't too familiar with BBs. What was said confused me about stroking a 396/402 to a 427, which is the same as destroking a 454. It sounded to me as if it was implemented that the 396/402 blocks were the same as the 427/454 blocks. I was thinking, if this is true, then why are soo many people looking to build 454s instead of stroking 396/402 blocks to get 427 or possibly 454 cubic inches. I know they're not the same blocks, that's why I was asking...maybe I just read/misunderstood things :)

i have a 396 and i have been planing my build on it for a couple months now.

stock i have about 335hp, which is decent i think. Im looking into getting a pair of eddelbrock performer rpm heads (basically because they make alot of power before 5000rpms and they are the cheapest aluminum heads you'll find for a big block) The cam you cant go to big, its only a 396 you dont wanna ruin the combo with an oversized cam, either a 268 or 276 cam would be prefect. Desktop dyno believes this is good for 535hp, and it will only cost you $2000

so thats what im saving up for


EDIT: i just opened desktop dyno, and the voodoo 262/268 cam and edelbrock performer rpm heads make 536hp @ 6000rpms and 512tq @ 4500rpms

and all of this for $2000, just make sure you got a strong tranny and rear ;-)