I currently have a 383 in my '66, but I have
recently purchased a '66 396. I have always had sbc's so I am not very familiar with the big ones. Can this engine be stroked? Only paid $500 for it and a th400 in running condition so I figure I'm already $'s ahead. Thanks for any info given. injected66

I know you can install a 454 crank. Some blocks require a little clearancing but it can be done. Pistons might be a little tough to find though. Some 396 block will take a pretty hefty overbore too. I've heard of 396s being built to 454 stats.

An EXCELLENT book on BBC information, stats, and modifcations is "Max Performance Chevey Rat Motors" by Ed Staffel (and no I'm not him!). I highly recommend it for folks planning on buulding a bruiser.

If you bore a 396 .060 over and install a 454 crank, you should be about 18 inches short of a 454, or about 436. Then if you build that engine with the same approach that you would take with a 454, the difference would not be enough for you to notice. And you might even be able to bore it .090. This makes a killer engine for folks with a matching number 396/402/427. Just remember, you would need to use the 454 balancer and flywheel.

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As a side question to this post, just how much can you overbore a 396 rat engine? Since the base 1970 SS Chevelles came initially with a 0.030 overbore from the factory (a 402 cid), can you safely bore the engine out an additional 0.030 to 0.060 and then again 0.030 to a net 0.090 bore? Will the engine run at a much higher temperature at 0.090 overbore? I think it would. Will the cylinder walls be getting too thin at this point??

[This message has been edited by Super70 (edited 04-16-99).]

From the "How to Hot Rod BB Chevys" book by H.P. Books, they state the following:

It's no secret 396/402 blocks can be safely bored to 427/454 size of 4.251 inches (.060 over). Bore sizes larger than this in any of these blocks can be accomplished - at your own risk (added with emphasis).

I also read somewhere that the 4 bolt main blocks may have been cast with thicker walls, but am not sure.

John Walker

I've had several 402's taken to .060 but with 2 bolt main blocks I had one crack a cylinder wall where it was very thin. I think you could have the block sonic tested to determine any core shift and how much you could bore it out. We've destroked a couple of 454's with 3.76 cranks with excellent results. I would worry about clearancing the rods if you go to a 4" stroke on a 396/402 block. Does anyone know if that would be a problem?? Sounds like an interesting project.