anyone read this article, what a JOKE, they say all you need is $5,000.00 who's BUDGET is that, heck you could buy a new ZZ502 for that. funny how they lost the real definition of "budget"

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1970 SS396 AKA 454/4spd
My Chev-Hell Page (http://hometown.aol.com/jnkb2cool/home.html)
Member #783
Ft.Worth, Tx
Big Block Chevy.net (http://www.bigblockchevy.net)
proud owner of this site

Chev-Hell, I've got you back on this one. The budget build up to the corporate sponsers is much different then a "budget build up" to us. Wackin 5k out of my bumm is not easy. And I would go with the 502 if i had the money... Warrenty!!

JJ

I say, I had to take a double look at that number 5,000$ get real.I got maybe 1,200-1,300$ in my 396 and that included a 0/0 forged triffed GM crank ,hyper kit- TRW, moly etc. from speedomotive, roller rockers,all parts new except cam & crank.Hand wash, balance[balancer to pressureplate]and short block assy.390$. Heads and rods were redone when I bought the engine for 400$ Granted this was 1988, but 5 grand today still a joke.And my 1,200$ 396 is just as strong as the day I droped it in! ----------------------------------------- Brett
'67
SS369 clone

I just finished a total rebuild of a 396 and the machine work alone was $1000. I used all ARP bolts, 292 ovalport heads with some porting and a three angle valve job, forged pistons, Compcams xe268 cam, Edelbrock RPM intake, Holly 4160 vac secondary, roller rockers. The total cost was $2750 not counting incidentals like oilpan, rtv and the like, and this price was using some favors and used parts.
Bob

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1966 malibu/396/400

From the other side.....
I am glad to see for once that they are being more realistic in thier prices. Nothing worse than having to deal with the customer that has just read a "how to rebuild your 454 for $500" type article. Then they think we are trying to rip them off when they hear the truth. I just glanced at the article in question as I am not a big 396 fan.....guess I will have to finish reading it to see what they did to come up with 5K !

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Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md

1971 Heavy Chevy - original owner
Team Chevelle #100

$$5000.00?! BUDGET??? LMAOF!!! If thats what they call a budget, Im building my 396 on welfare!!! I thought i was only one who thought that was high.CHP did an article in the nov 99 issue ( 7 Best Engine Combos) and that made 480hp peak.I was thinking about using this one as a blueprint for mine and figured it to be around 3000.00 on the high side...BUDGET MY A$$!

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Speedster-T/C#980 1968 SS396/325 CHEVELLE

I guess the cost as gone up since I had my BB built.I also used ARP rod bolts and forged pistons. The block also was bored .030 over to clean up the cylinders.Wash, balance, bore and assy. [including cam and timming set] of short block was under 390$ [I know heads can eat up labor] this was from a reputable machine shop in Madison WI. But hey your still almost 2,500 under the super chevy 5,000$ 396, that 2,500 could go a long ways or very short depending how you spend it!------------Brett
'67
SS396
clone

It makes much more sense to buy a crate 454 for $4300 and spend the remaining $700 on a carb, oil pan, and flywheel to retrofit it to a Chevelle. 425 smooth hp, 500 lb/ft of torque down low, and a warranty. Also no machine shop roulette wheel. I'd like to see them do a true budget rebuild of a 396 (the most common big block) for $2000, with stock oval port heads, 9.0-1 CR, flat tappet hydraulic cam, stock rockers, etc., and see what that dynos. Preferably start with stock intake and Qjet with mild cam and progress to Performer RPM intake with 750 vac sec Holley and more cam. Then compare numbers and costs.

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von '69 300 Dlx SS TC #15 ACES #1575

[This message has been edited by von (edited 12-12-2000).]

Did you guys see my post last week about the red 56 Chev with 2x4 carbs that was in the latest Super Chevy? I'm telling you these guys have lost touch with reality. And It's not just us here at TC who are expressing more and more dissatisfaction with SC. I hear comments from other sources. Sure, other magazines make some errors, typos and such, but not nearly like SC. Plus, in almost every issue of Hot Rod, they have comments about mistakes that they have made in past issues. Hot Rod at least admits to their mistakes and tries to correct them in the next issue. On the other hand, Terry Cole (editor of SC) just flat refuses to accept that they do anything incorrect at SC!

When I built the 402 for my son's 71 while he was in the Navy, the grand total was around $2500 and that included almost everything imaginable, including a fair amount of head work.
Like everyone says, for $5K I'd go for the 502.

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Tom Parsons

I have not seen the article, but it sounds like the only mistake was in refering to it as a "budget" build-up.

It may not make any financial sense to build a 396, when it costs more than a new 454 (with warranty), but at least they were truthfull about the costs!!

My feeling on "editors" is that they have indead lost sight of what the readership can spend on their cars.

If the article did nothing other than show that purchasing a new 454 may be the financial way to go, then it was worth the cost of the magazine.

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Wes. Vann
Technical Reference section
Gold Member #5


[This message has been edited by Wes V (edited 12-12-2000).]

Well guys, all things are relative. To some people 5 grand is a drop in the bucket. It always becomes very obvious where you stand when you hear someone make a statement like that. Just remember, if you have the money, you don't need comon sense. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif

I think they wanted to convey the fact that you can get 500 hp out of a 396, without going to a 454. But you can get 500 hp out of a 283 if you spend enough and make it radical enough. 500 hp could have been attained much easier and cheaper with a 454 but I think they just wanted to show what COULD be done with a 396. Sounds like they're not done yet either since they mentioned nitrous for it in the future. I would like to see them go for 450 hp out of a 396, on a tight budget. Something on the order of BB Mike's.

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von '69 300 Dlx SS TC #15 ACES #1575

Was that the latest (January) issue?

I'd like to pick it up and find out how $5k is budget!!!

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"I been chasing a madman for 700 miles."
-Smokey and the Bandit

Sean Thomas
TC Member #907
Sean's Garage (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/gorbe1.jpg)
70 Chevelle SS 396/350 hp
71 Chevelle SS (clone) 400/450 hp

Gorbe, it is in the February issue, not Janruary.

I think you are all mislead, I think there was a typo in the magazines header. I believe it was meant to read 396 500hp build up on a $5000 budget, rather than 396 500hp budget build up. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Steve R.

Hey, Von right on, i'd like to see them do a 450hp version too on a "tight"budget, ($4000) to them http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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1970 SS396 AKA 454/4spd
My Chev-Hell Page (http://hometown.aol.com/jnkb2cool/home.html)
Member #783
Ft.Worth, Tx
Big Block Chevy.net (http://www.bigblockchevy.net)
proud owner of this site