[john gnapp]

i want to build a motor for weekends and once in a while down the quater at raceway park. to start with i have a 396 block bored 30 over 2 bolt main 3969854. steel crank i want to reuse the crank, rods and pistons and new rings,bearingsand seals. car is a four speed and has 373 gears. what i need is a combonation from were im starting from. i need cam heads manifold and carb .im not looking for numbers matching parts . just some tips from all the motor heads out there.

 

[norvalwilhelm]

I know this is not what you want to hear but I wouldn't build a 396. Other then forced air there is no substitute for displacement.
You could easily build a 454 to outproform that 396. To start with the 454 has at least 50 horse on an identical 396.
Go for a 496. It is simple to build , a cheap stroker crank for about $300 will stand up to what you want and with a mild cam it can put out 600 horse and still be totally street friendly.
You do NOT need a 4 bolt block, a simple 2 bolt 454 is a good starting point, use stock 3/8th rods, buy stroker pistons, they cost the same as normal pistons, hyper are good, a nice street came, ported oval heads and you are in the 550 horse range with a torque monster.
Nothing you can do to that 396 would touch it.
A small block 406 is just as good as that 396
Sorry

 

[bracketchev1221]

What pistons are in it now. That wll dictate what size chamber heads will be needed. But in any case there is no reason why you can't make 450 hp and drive it regularly.

 

[Rmchevelle]

i want to build a motor for weekends and once in a while down the quater at raceway park. to start with i have a 396 block bored 30 over 2 bolt main 3969854. steel crank i want to reuse the crank, rods and pistons and new rings,bearingsand seals. car is a four speed and has 373 gears. what i need is a combonation from were im starting from. i need cam heads manifold and carb .im not looking for numbers matching parts . just some tips from all the motor heads out there.

A few 396 combos in this thread: http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157285