i have the chance to buy a 396, but in not sure if i should hold out for a 454? its going in a street 69 chevelle with a 4 speed & a 355 gear. pump gas is a must!! i was a small block guy for a while, but im tired of seeing the back of all the big block cars!!:noway: so what is your opinion? thanks guys! killer web site!!:D

i have the chance to buy a 396, but in not sure if i should hold out for a 454? its going in a street 69 chevelle with a 4 speed & a 355 gear. pump gas is a must!! i was a small block guy for a while, but im tired of seeing the back of all the big block cars!!:noway: so what is your opinion? thanks guys! killer web site!!:DI would wait for the 454.:D

Even a smogger 454 with a bit of a cam and intake setup will run low 13s to high 12s. Our son had a ton of fun with his 454 and had less than $1500 tied up in the whole swap. The extra cubic inches and torque are always nice and the gas mileage difference isn't all that great.

There's no replacement for displacement.

I vote 396 but i like RPM,s and you have 355 gears..so TQ wins let it be a 454...Or tweak the sbc it is an sbc isn't it...You can run 13 flat with some head porting a so so cam and 10.3 or so compression..pretty easy, and put the spank on some BBC's

I'll go against the grain here, and say go for the 396. You can have some serious fun with it, and always get a stroker kit from places like Speed-o-Motive. You'll wind up with around 434ci.

If the 396 is a deal $$ I'd go for it especially in a street car. A nice running 396 should get in the 13's with no problem. If you feel the need for more speed then wait for a bigger engine.....not saying a 396 won't go fast just that more cubes makes it easier.......

396's are fun I just ran mine at the track the other day and it pulled a 13.3, but with my new 454 it should be around a 12.5

I just went through what you are experiencing! I had a 402 in my 66' and couldn't decide if I should stroke it out or just buy a 454 and sell my old engine.

I bought one of Mark's (Mike1321) stroked 454's and LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm glad I listened to fellow TC'ers here and got the 454. Ultimatley you need to follow your pocket book, but if all things are equal, I'd get the 454 and also call Mark (Vortecpro).

Tod:thumbsup:

It depends what the numbers are on the 396. If it's a matching motor for the year of the car, get it.

But if it's just for power, go 454.

If I owned a car with a 396 I wouldnt be in a hurry to change it..they are great motors.
If I had cash and was looking for a big block for my car,it would be a 454

I had a 400 sb and went for a 454 BB. I love it. You need to watch the wallet. The conversion can get expensive. Check out my Sig.

i think im gonna hold out for a 454, but im also gonna see what kinda deal i can get on this 396, (in true pack rat fashion) ;)

I'm a BB guy, but I'll tell you not to bother with the 396. You can build a 400 SB for way cheaper for the same power, and dismiss the 150 lb weight penalty. If you're gonna go BB, go for the cubes. 454s are relatively cheap when they come in trucks. Go 496 if it needs a rebuild.

My 2 cents

Devin

IF you're going to hold out for a 454, and IF you plan to do a rebuild when you get it, buy a stroker crank to make it a 496. The added expense of the crank, compared to the total cost of a rebuild, will be neglidgeable.
The added power from the 496 will be VERY significant!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

Gas mileage????????
That shouldn't even be considered in the equation if you're wanting to build a BB car. And if gas mileage is a consideration, then I'd suggest you're considering a BB for the wrong reason. ;)

go with the extra cubes, need less stall, better driver around town, less gear to get it moving, more vacuum.

Go 454 no need for less cubes with the same weight,yeah you could build a small block that can outrun the bbcs with more converter lots ofgearing and lots of compression.bbc will be more reliable at a a given power level vs the small block go for displacement.