Id really like to build a 454, but someone in town would trade me a 396 for my 350, it has low compression in one cylinder I havent seen it yet. Slightly tempting, need a rebuild. Just wondering what all you can do with a 396, how much they bore, what they bore to? Ive mostly read up on 350's and 454's...

The 396 will make less power and more importantly less torque... But still a strong motor, but probably as cheap to build your 350 as strong as the 396.

A core 454 should be under $500, and a 396 should be less. Unless that 396 also includes alot of accessories (intake, water pump, brackets for the Chevelle, pulleys), it might be better holding out for the 454 you want...

It will cost about the same to rebuild 396 or 454(maybe even a little MORE money for the 396). Most parts are the same, but more piston selection for the 454...

Since you want the 454, and you will need to buy all the extra pieces anyway (headers, water pump, intake, etc) I would hold out until you found one... Unless that 396 runs well and has the extra parts for your Chevelle...

Considering it is low on compression in one cylinder, it might need a full rebuild... Doesn't your 350 run well?

As for power, it depends on the combo... But think of this, Factory ratings of the 396/L78 in a Chevelle were 375 HP... The 454 was 450 HP, same camshaft, same exhaust, etc... Bigger size means more power. In this case 15% more, plus the 454 builds better torque down low, good for a heavy car on the street...

Theoretically, the lighter pistons of the 396 will rev higher, but realistically, the smaller bore shrouds the valves a little more...

Most 396s can be bored 0.060 over (~408 cubic inch). Some (mainly early models 65 and 66) can be bored out to 427s but this probably isn't the wisest thing to do... The early engines (65 & 66) also require a grooved camshaft (most cams can be machined to work).

I'd hold out for the 454...

Ever think of placing an add in the classifieds on this site???

pnut/Phil,


It is very tough to build a big block motor (396,427 or 454) for less than about $3000.00 (just my own experience) and even that does not get you an installed package including headers, suspension, exhaust, etc., etc.. You seem tobe looking for an economical way out, and frankly fron your posts, you may not be able to get what you want for what you might want to spend. I think you need to establish a hardline budget first. Most big block applications I have witnessed usually wind up running a minimum of around $5000.00 by the time you get the motor in car and functional.

Step back, take a hard look and what you want, what you want to have when you're done, and how much can you spend, then decide.

not sure where most of these folks are spending money at making them 3000 plus dollars to build.

i myself spent 3500 turn key on my 454 bbc and its strong enough for 126+ mph 1/4 miles. and that includes everything under the hood, belts hoses, pulleys, brackets oil, carb , intake, ignition....so on and so on.

even the weakest of 396 motors will run 14's with todays tires and convertor choices and what not.

my first 396 was built on a 800 dollar budget and that was pulling the 350 i had that was running 92 mph in the 1/4.

the 396 was rebuilt, cheap cast pistons that provided 7.7 to 1 compression with 118 cc open chambered stock heads, stock bottom end, stock low rise intake, 600 holley, cheap 25 dollars used headers, and the brackets and pulleys bought from a mid 70's 454 pick-up. the cam was a 272 crane cam. that ran 99 mph in a 3700 lbs car at 14.40's

even my most recent 396 bbc isnt much different. it runs 107+ mph in the 1/4 it was built on a budget. used 3310 carb, used rpm intake, 67 dollar cam from delta cams, stock bottom end, i think the most i paid for anything was the balancing of the bottom end which was 250 bucks. and by the time you add up everything for pulleys and brackets i have way way less then 2000 bucks in this motor. i guess the pistons was 260 bucks since i steped up to hypers instead of cast.

heck i even did a budget rebuild for a friend sold his junky 350 sb chevy took that money put towards the bbc 396 total outlay to convert his car from a sbc 350 to a 396 was 850 bucks. that even includes me rebuilding the tranny, adding a used 3000 stall and changing out the rear gears from 2.56 to 3.42......with a stock intake and open headers it ran 99 mph at 14.00 sec in the 1/4 and that was with 8.8 to 1 compression and that was the first day at the track and it wasnt dailed in yet.

IMHO i think the bbc can be built for the same kind of money as a sbc but have more power and torque if you are willing to shop and find parts. the stock bottom ends is more then enough to handle most street power and they only need a good cleaning and a regrind.

heck i was running 150 hp nitrous shot on my stock bottom end 396 that was unbalanced and had cast pistons for over 6 years and never had the oil pan off. and on the bottle it was running low 12's and with out nitrous i was shifting at 6500 rpms.

even when i stepped up the hp on another 396 motor it had a stock bottom end. 375 hp 396 replacement pistons from trw , closed chambered heads (11.7 to 1 compression). victor jr intake, 850 holley, and a ZL-1 cam 262/273 @ .050 it was dipping in the 10's with 150 hp nitrous on the motor it was running 115 mph.

back when i had the 350 in my car once i installed the "low performance" 396 motor it was just plain faster and i never looked back. no aftermarket heads are needed to build a bbc for the street just because the stock heads with some backyard porting and bigger valves are stong enough for 10 second zone. and thats even using oval ports.

so your looking at 350 to bbc rebuilds there really isnt much difference. machining cost is the same. for either. no need to beef up the bottom end on a bbc. stock parts are good. heads are a big saver because they are good. so at the worst maybe the pistons and bearing are going to cast more but not much. see what im saying. to make the same kinda hp as bbc you would have spend that extra dough for better heads on the 350 and maybe beef up the bottom end some so you can spin it up.

the way i see it if your creative enough you can have awe appeal of the bbc under the hood for the same kind of maney and be farther ahead in the game with hp and torque.

just my views guys from building all kinds of street combos over the last 14 years or so, so dont slam me to hard.

I just finished a .060 402 build,made 470hp N/A and ran 11.12@118 in the customers 70 velle.
Thats with 10.1 CR small roller cam and too big a cylinder head(990 GM).

i'd keep the 350 until i could afford a 454. what all does the 350 have for parts? i had about $1200 in my last 355 and it ran 8.50's in the 1/8mi at 3760lbs. seriously doubt that i could scrounge up a big block of any kind for that money and have forged pistons and a balanced rotating assembly. some of us are alot better "connected" than others, and if you compare used big block parts to new small block parts the bbc can be built for close to the same. but there are TONS more used small block parts out there than used big block parts, so that's a 2 way street. i once had a 400sbc that i only had $400 invested, and it ran 8.20's in my 71 chevelle. added a used nitrous system i picked up for $150 and it ran 7.50's in the 1/8mi. i don't think just anybody can get these deals to be realistic about it. i've been fortunate enough to be friends with ALOT of racers from drag racers, circle trackers, truck pullers, and mud boggers, that's the reason i got things so cheap. shoot a buddy of mine even owns a machine shop.

$3000 for a well prepared bbc sounds about right for my area. By the time you have the core purchases, machine work, new parts, accesories, I can see it easily.

BUT. I bought a '68 Nova 6 banger, PG car for $800. Then I got a running, even compression 402 for $400 and a good used TH400 for $50. Now I have a 402 powered 68 Nova that cost me $1900 including every belt, hose, tire, exhaust piece, bolt, switch everything. How fast is it? Don't know really....a lot faster than my 72 Nova 350sb/350tranny car I'll tell ya that, not even close to as fast as my SportsmanII headed, Comp cammed, 2.5" exhausted 383 powered 68 Nova SS however. Cost wise the 402 car and the 72 cost about the same to build. The 383 Nova SS cost me about $3400 for the engine alone.

Now, having said all that. I won't be building another performance small block. The cost to build a 450hp small block that I would be comfortable driving is at least the same money as a 450hp big block. And I really like the look of a big block nestled between my fenders!

Check my sig. As others have said, its all what you want to do for power/E.T. When I got my car it had a tired '67 325hp/396 motor in it. I rebuilt what I had. Rebuild parts/machine work are all the same regardless of what big block you choose. Yes, the baby rat makes power!!
Good Luck. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I built my 454 for $2500,and that included a $300 454 core and $125 for closed chamber heads.I assembled it myself,so tack on an extra $300 for assembly if you have the machine shop do it.
It's actually the most money I ever spent on an engine :D
Good running used motors are out there too,which can be excellent foundations or total drop in's..I have a garage full of turn key,good running big blocks (including a 396 that ran mid 12's and an Olds 455 with 5K on a rebuild that I paid $400 for,complete)

See my site. All this has been done with a 396 + .030. New best at my local track with my new 8" converter should put me in the low 7.20's at a good track. My local track is at 2500 ft elevation where as my listed best was a run at a track that is about 800 ft. elevation and mineshaft air conditions.

Something to consider for good street motor with 396 block......... alot of the " original" guys I know with 396's stuff a 454 crank in the 396 makes a 434 I believe.... very nice package, yes some grinding here and there but not a big deal if you need pistons then cost will be the same no mater what you do and you should be able to find a decent 454 cast crank .... my original "numbers " L34 396 needs a crank so thats the way I will go when I freshen it up.

Sori don't know the exact details but
If you interested and no one here knows the details I can ask my engine builder for the exact info as he has done alot of these for the "original " crowd
FWIW Bill

Speed O Motive offers the the 434 kit for the 396

Speed O Motive. graemlins/sad.gif

I work for a performance auto store so I can get a pretty slammin' deal on parts. Ive found a couple complete/ builders for $300-500 one includes a 400 tranny, not sure the shape of it, but eh, it comes with! $100 for a bore and honing here in town, probably .30 over, new pistons, stock rebuilt heads, some good headers, edlebrock carb (as always) dist, alt, pulley kit, I think I can build a strong happy 468-496 for under $1300. Slam me if im wrong :rolleyes: :D

Wow!!! Lots of really great ideas here!!! My best friend wants to trade his 454 for my 388. He was trying to install the 454 in his '61 Chevy truck (long bed) but the engine bay is too small. He tried hammering the firewall up so the distributor would fit, but he gave up. I'd love to trade him, but I don't have the spare cash to get the little things that the 454 needs so that I can slap it in my Velle and have it running. But the way you guys talk about find low buck parts here and there gets my blood/juices going....I think I may have to call him up and see if he still wants to trade :D

I looked into that 434 deal again just recently. According to S-O-M ( Icalled them) and Keith Black, there is quite a bit of grinding needed unless you go with a stroker clearanced rod - like an H-Beam, or so I was told. When I finally get the GenVI motor together and installed I might do the 402 to a 434 just to see how it all works out. Want to drop the baby rat in a lite wt car down the road - something like a glass body Willy's maybe.