What kind of ET and MPH can one expect from a typical 325 or 350 hp 396 with no mods and stock-ish (2.73 - 3.31) gears. Just curious how these cars ran bone stock.

Mid 15's/high 14's low 90's for MPH was about the standard I've seen from some old road tests.A friend of mine runs a basically stock 325 HP 396 with a Performer intake,Holley 600 and headers..with a TH400 and 3.07 gears,it has run a best of a 14.38/94 MPH

i'd say those times are about right for the 60's and early 70's when cars didn't hook real well and they had to have a 4speed to get a decent time out of them. nowdays automatics with stall convertors are a much better choice IMO, carbs are far better, tires are infinately better, and exhaust technology is far superior too. so i would expect that stock 402's could probably run considerably better with the right auto and stall, drag radials, and a modern Holley carb, with a mandrel bent free-flowing exhaust system. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

The stock 402 (1971 pickup) we stuffed in CW's '70 Malibu with about 100k miles ran low 14's.

I had a mild hydraulic cam in a 396,with the old torker intake,carb sat cockeyed in a 66 chevelle w/4.11's and a powerglide, took it to Orange County International raceway,used to be in SO CAL,,,launched,shifted to second,,,what,no second gear,powerglide was toast,coasted the rest of the way, ran 13.20 would have been high 12's easy,but thats a little more gear than you have. Swapped in the 4 speed,drove it back to Missouri,sold the car for 500.00 damn,almost 25 years ago graemlins/clonk.gif

I have a reletively stock 69 402 punched .30 over, 10.25 CR pistons, 215 heads, mild comps cam, 3:31 posi rear, M21, stock exhaust and tires. My best 1/4 mile time out of 9 passes was 15.57@92.26 mph. The car is probably faster, I just need to learn how to drive!

gotago, you're fightin' a pretty shallow 1st gear ratio there, it isn't easy. Controlled burn out of the hole is the best bet. And keep your right foot PLANTED, preload the shifter, stab the clutch and SLAM! Don't let up.

When you say stock 402 or 396, remember how anemic the old 325 hp cam is, as compared to anything more modern.

Yeah, my launches sucked and you could measure my 60' times with a sundial. I'm going to practice launching and try some 1 3/4 hedders and see if I can squeeze some more out of her. But, I had a blast :D

Well not-for-nothing, but that's a mighty purdy car to beat the tar out of, Sir!

Here you go: Motor Trend, Feb, '66: '66 SS396, 360 hp, 4sp, 3.31 posi; 15.5 at 89 mph.
Cars, May, '66: '66 SS396, 360 hp, M20 4 sp, 3.73 posi; 15.85 at 91 mph.
Motor Trend, July '67 (3 car test): '67 SS396, 325 hp, Powerglide, 3.07; 15.9 at 89.5 mph. '67 SS396, 375 hp, 4 sp, 3.73; 14.9 at 96.5 mph. '67 El Camino 396, 325 hp, Turbo 400, 2.73; 15.7 at 90 mph.
Car Life, Jan, '70: '70 SS396, 350 hp, Turbo 400, 3.31; 15.5 at 90.42 mph.
Motor Trend, July '65: '65 Z16 SS396; 4 sp, 3.31; 14.9 at 98 mph.
Motor Trend, Dec, '69: '70 LS-6 SS454, Turbo 400, 3.31; 13.85 at 97.5 mph.
Car Craft, Jan, '71: '71 LS-5 SS454, Turbo 400, 3.31; 14.35 at 97.08.