Well Ive asked many times, and read tons of posts on which type of engine to build up. Ive got that "strong 350" I rebuilt about 6 months ago, has ran fine since. But now im getting a nasty clinking sound from the passenger side, I havent investigated it yet so we'll see. Maybe it's my excuse for the BBC and 5 speed smile.gif :D
Im wondering what the best way the best way to go about things are. I work at a car parts/ race shop place now so I can get all my parts at a great price! Very excited about this. So building an engine wont be as pricey as planned. Ive rebuilt a couple engines but never BUILT an engine from ground up. I'd like to learn and do it myself, but im also not wanting her to sit for a long time. There is a 396 in the paper for $450, possibley a good builder. Don't have any numbers yet.
Anyways, maybe some pro's and cons, costs and stories? Time lines on installs? This 396 comes with a stand and hes selling an egine picker too. But how long it might take to build everything with medium knowledge... hmmm. Or I can see what price I'd get on the 540 out on the floor :D
Thanks in advance, let me know if anyone has any ideas or stories.
I want a nearly daily driver, Lots of torqe and pickup, Big and beafy! very little to no track plans. Also interested in a good 5 speed...
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I just spent like 3k on a 396, and I'm left going "wtf didn't I build a 468+ cube motor?"
I mean it runs GOOD, don't get me wrong but there is no replacement like displacement smile.gif

The 540 wouldn't be bad, but you'd miss out on alot of the fun building it from the bare block up. I bought a few books, which were awesome... couldn't have done it without them. "Howto Build BBCs" and "Howto Hotrod BBCs", both great books full of info. I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice, but its upto you and what you want!

Good luck!

Yeah the 396 sounds nice but I cant keep BBC out of my mind smile.gif Thanks for chimming in! A builder is what I really want, but if I cant drive it in the meantime and there is something nasty wrong with this current 350, I may go partially pre-assembled. 454+
My nieghbor thinks I should get a 383 stroker, whats the story on those suckers?

I'm not sure on the stock stroke on a 350, but a 383 has the same stroke as the 396/427 (3.75") with just a lil smaller bore size. If your gonna do it, do it right and go 454+ IMO smile.gif I like the way my 396 runs, but I can't help but think what a 468 would run like.

And if your core 454" motor has a bad crank, you can turn her into a 496" for not much more then building a 396"!!!

Boring means new pistons regardless of size and stroke..

And a bad stock crank can nowadays can be replaced with an aftermarket 4.25" stroker one for about the same price..

So the only thing that will cost more is just a set of 1/4" longer rods and there are a lot of them available that aren't all that high priced for just street motor use nowadays too...

pdq67