I just bought a 69ss396 car w/the built in
tachometer(has a 5,500 rpm redline)
This car also came w/factory a/c. I know the
engine's deck has been shaved and don't have
codes on the block. I was told by the last owner
that he was told that it was the original motor. Is this a 350 hp car or 325 hp ?
anybody know how I could check w/o a build
sheet ? thanks

In '69, the 396 came in 3 different versions, the 325 horsepower, the 350 horsepower and the 375 horsepower. Since you stated this car came with air conditioning, that rules out the 375 hi-po version as this engine used a solid lifter cam and wasn't available with A/C. It should be the 325 horsepower 396 most likely OR the 350 horsepower engine (I'm not sure if the 350 hp was available with the A/C option).

Joe


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It is a well known scientific fact: put 5 lab rats in a white room, in one corner put a late model Ford Mustang 5.0, in the other corner place a piece of cheese carved in the shape of a Chevy Chevelle. The rats will choose the Chevelle 99.95% of the time.

[This message has been edited by Coppertop (edited 06-09-2000).]

Yes you could get A/C with the 350hp version.The major differences was the 325hp had a closed air cleaner and the 350 had the open element.They had different cam specs,timing,and arguabley most had the NC8 chambered exhaust systems standard.Very hard to tell if the motor was redone any these parts were missing

Thanks for the info.yes,this engine has oval
port heads and it has exhaust manifolds. I
probably need to pull the valve covers & check codes on the heads. The 5,500 rpm tach
doesn't appear to have been added or replaced.
Some previous owner wanted to hot rod this car, not restore to originality.thanks,brian