well i finally picked up a 396 ('65-'66 block) to build and now i need some advice of what to do/not to.. it came with a forged crank, oval port heads, standard bore. my goal is in the 500 hp range at the flywheel. i have a few ideas of what id like to do. i would like to keep the stock crank, possibly bore it .030, have it balanced. but im open to suggestions as to what to do/put in it. as far as the rest of the car i will build up my TH350 to handle the power and put a 12 bolt posi in it (im not sure what gears id run in that yet). but any help would be great! thanks

I would sell the 396 and buy a 454, nothing wrong with a 396. Just your goal would be easier and cheaper to get to with the extra 50+ cubes or stroke it and get 90 more cubes. 396's are bringing more money than 454's now also.

I agree, sell your 396. It will be more valuable to someone doing a stock restoration. Might I even suggest a 427 with Rectangular Port Heads?

Fwiw, A pretty much stock 325hp/396 w/ no more than a CC 280 Magnum hy-cam and a set of 1.75" dia, 4-tube, long headers will make almost 400 hp which is a far cry from 500 hp!!

454+ will make 500 hp not all that hard and a 496, 550 hp EASY!!

As alway's, jmho..

pdq67

Guys, let's keep in mind here that maybe he really wants to build the 396, and give him advice from there. Leaving it as a 396 with a .30 or .60 over, he's going to need some serious work to his stock heads ( 2.19/1.88 valves, porting & bowl blending ) or a good a/m set, a very healthy cam, headers and lots of other goodies. He can also look into the stroker kits offered by companies like Speed-o-Motive, which would give him around 434 cubic inches, which would help out alot.

Do a search with " 396 " and you will come up with some good reading. There was a fellow on here, I THINK his username was USFATL ( I think ) and he had a nice combo making around 500hp.

ADDITION HERE IT IS::D

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif Re: Comp XE284 in big block
Vince, you may be talking about my baby rat. Here are the specs..

1971 402 bored .040 over (410 CI)
1971 GM 063 Closed heads 2.19 Intake 1.72 exhaust
Flow #'s @ 600 Intake 298 exhaust 205
Static Compression Ratio 9.48:1
Combustion chamber: 100cc
6223 cross drilled crank
1.72 comp cams rockers
Comp Cams xe284H 110 lsa
matching springs retainers etc.
Eagle I-beam Forged rods
Speed Pro forged 10:1 pistons
Edelbrock RPM airgap
Holley 4160 750cfm carb.
1.75" long tube headers into 2.5" H-pipe exhaust
700-r4 transmission with 2700 stall
12 bolt rearend Auburn posi with 3.73 gears

My 410BBC has 560.42 foot lbs of torque! I am using 063 heads that have been worked on a little (2.19 Intake valves installed, gasket match, 5 angle valve job, little porting)Edelbrock Performer Air-Gap, CC xe284H cam. Oh Yea, it made 498.6 Hp.

Regards,
Steve Haraway
1971 Chevelle SS

The idle is pretty rough at 750 rpm.

Is a ProCharger out of the question?

if not, I think you would need some open chamber aftermarket rectangular port heads that support 2.25"/1.88" valves and .630+" lift. Then I think you would need a cam that has about 290*-300* duration, 110LSA, and the above lift. I suspect you would need about 11:1+ compression to make it work.

Dan,

You slapped at us too fast b/c you ALSO said!!

"He can also look into the stroker kits offered by companies like Speed-o-Motive, which would give him around 434 cubic inches, which would help out alot."

All I am saying is that for the money he/I can go two ways!! Max size and Torque OR for RPM!!!

Imho, the 496 is about the best bang for the buck, SMALLER BB-wise..

And if you want to rpm, then create a modern 301 or a short-stroke motor based off the .030" overbore, 400 SB block, (3.00" s = 325.4", 3.25" s = 352.5" and 3.48" s = 377.5"), and have fun up top..

You can also use a BB block BUT it get's PRICEY FAST!!

pdq67

Paul,

Fair enough, I was a little too quick there.

The point I was trying to get at was it seems that guys are quickly steered away from building a 396, when maybe that's all they really want.

No offense meant.

Paul,

The point I was trying to get at was it seems that guys are quickly steered away from building a 396, when maybe that's all they really want.

Its not all I want, its all I can afford right now ( I have the motor and it runs, just want it to run better:thumbsup:) so at least I'm interested in the responses to this thread. All I want to do is get in the 12s

None taken Dan.

I'm just trying to point out that if any internal engine changes other than cam might need to be done, that for the money to rebuild a 396, he might be able to swing a lot larger engine is all so he will only do it once. And you basically said the same thing....

The Bird's in the Cooker!!

pdq67

thanks for the tips guys. im not dead set on 500 hp, i was just seeing what you guys thought would need to be done. it will probly not be that much since it looks like ill be lookin at some serious mods and $$! i just "finished" my car this last spring, and now ive decided i need more power and a posi. also im not happy with the stance so the the front end might get lowered a bit(thats besides the point though haha). but i would like to spin some high rpm's. i will have to put a lot of new parts in the motor and some machine work needs to be done, so i want to do it up right with what i have. so i will stick with the 396, but want it healthy without dumping 10 grand into it haha!!

How about a little more on the current condition. What cyl heads are on it?

Some of the early 396 blocks had the same basic casting as the 427 and could be turned into the bigger engine and still have lots of cylinder wall. Something to check into.

Right, and they might even swallow a 454 rotating assembly too!!

Check and see if an old-time wooden pencil won't go between the cylinders through the freezeplugs b/c if not, then it is a good candidate to sonic check too see how far it can be bored out to, like hopefully, 4.250"s...

And usually where a 4.00" stroked BB crank sit's it will usually swallow a 4.25" stroked crank fine too to make a 482.6" engine..

So you see why we talk about BB strokers here...

pdq67

casting numbers on block is 3855961. heads are 3872702. crank is 6223. those are the 3 things i would re-use, everything else needs to be replaced. i was told to have it sonic checked but i will try the pencil thing.

Whatever you do, put a soild something in there and rev that thing...396's/427's need to be spooled-up, so dont be afraid to do so.

I had a stock 1967 396/325 HP with a Crower solid cam 240/246@.050 .517/.530 lift 114 LSA,Edelbrock Performer RPM intake/BG 850,small tube headers,3" exhaust,3500 stall and 4.10 gears.
The car it was in (67 Chevelle) ran a best of a 12.45 @ 108 MPH
Don't think it made 500 HP but it sure ran strong! Heads where totally stock,unported and it had a stock,freshened up lower end with the .188 tall domed pistons.

casting numbers on block is 3855961. heads are 3872702. crank is 6223. those are the 3 things i would re-use, everything else needs to be replaced. i was told to have it sonic checked but i will try the pencil thing.

FWIW, I'm running a 396 with 702 heads with a bigger cam and some serious head work, and a bump in compression you may be able to get near 500HP..

Here's my combo, it puts out around 420 HP according to DDD software..
· 396 Bored .040 over
· 9.7 : 1 Compression
· 702 Heads with 3 angle grind, bronze guides, & hardened seats
· Speed Pro Forged Pistons (part # L-224ONF)
· Eagle SIR I Beam Rods
· Comp Cams XE274H-10 - .552 .555 / 230 236
· Comp K-kit (matching valve springs ect.)
· Harland Sharp Roller Rockers (1.7 Ratio)
· Speed Demon 750 Double Pumper
· Performer RPM Intake
· GM HEI Distributor
· MSD 6AL Ignition Box
· Hooker Super Comp. Headers (1 3/4”primary’s)
· 3” Mandrell Bent exhaust, all the way out..
· Muncie M-20 Tranny / 3.73 –12 bolt posi

Rods are fine up to 6,500+ rpm, just rebuild them w/ good aftermarket bolts and go.

pdq67

And usually where a 4.00" stroked BB crank sit's it will usually swallow a 4.25" stroked crank fine too to make a 482.6" engine..pdq67

Please forgive my ignorance but what is a 482? I think I get the 454 crank but what's the rest of it? Sounds interesting.

Power the easy way, Nitrous Oxide. Even small blocks run with Nitrous. lol

482.6" is a 4.25" b x 4.25" s BB.

A square BB.

pdq67

396 punched out to 414ci
750 vac sec 3310-2 carb
eddy rpm intake
'390 heads ported by me and 2.19/1.88 valves
kb pistons hypers
10.5 to 1 comp
delta regrind cam 233/239 @ .050 .551 lift 111 ls
rhoads lifters
summit headers
timing locked out at 36*
ran on 87 octane 107 plus mph thru 1/4 mile
shift point was 6500
pulled very good to 6500 rpms nice and strong

back in 1981 ,i had a stock 396 ,with a trw,zl1 cam,stock alum. intake square port heads,800 holley 4speed,456 rear 10 inch slicks best of 11.71 at 115.00in my 65 chevelle.!!! and i flat towed it !

Right, and they might even swallow a 454 rotating assembly too!!

Check and see if an old-time wooden pencil won't go between the cylinders through the freezeplugs b/c if not, then it is a good candidate to sonic check too see how far it can be bored out to, like hopefully, 4.250"s...

And usually where a 4.00" stroked BB crank sit's it will usually swallow a 4.25" stroked crank fine too to make a 482.6" engine..

So you see why we talk about BB strokers here...

pdq67


pencil went thru, would it still be worth getting it sonic checked?