[Jimmy P]

I have a 69 396 just built sitting on a stand. I have a Muncie 4 speed and a 3.55 rear gear. It's the original engine and I don't have to use it. I'm considering alternatives.

Current configuration:

Steel crank
Forged 10.5:1 pistons
063 closed chamber heads with moderate porting
VooDoo 268 flat tappet cam
Comp steel rollers
Factory 375/396 intake
Ceramic headers
Holley 780

I am looking at:

1. Up-grading the camshaft to a roller
2. Stroking it with a 4.00" crank
3. Making a 427 with a 454 block & pistons
4. Building a 496 and using my existing heads
5. Store it on a stand and build a 6.0 liter LS motor with Carb & Edelbrock ignition

What would be the best choice for a fun car to drive?

 

[FourEightyNine]

Keep the 396 and just add a vc jr intake, and big solid roller. Then wind her to the moon

 

[Jebchevelle]

I voted 427 with 454 block. I look at it like this keep the stock block original. get a block our local machine shop gets 300 for a good 2bolt 454 and 400 for a 4bolt. next get 427 pistons use your crank. get a nice solid flattappet, or a solid roller cam if its in the budget and use your heads with any intake you can fit under the hood my local builder would say get a GMPP aluminum intake for the street and under hood clearence if clearence isnt an issue get a rpm airgap or a vic jr. and have lots of fun.

 

[Kevin R]

I voted 427 from a 454 cause thats what I did.. If you want all the specs click here http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223751

It flat out rips,,,:yes: And the Brodix RR heads dont hurt either...

 

[Rob G]

Voted easy upgrade to roller cam and tweak a thing here and there.

 

[GuysMonteSS]

I voted to go to a 496,although I would use a set of aftermarket aluminum heads,Brodix RR's or AFR's.And go solid roller.
Guy

 

[Jimmy P]

So far the roller cam up-grade seems to be the most popular and easiest.

What roller cam would be the best choice?

Solid or hydraulic ?

I'm thinking if I save $ on just swapping the cam, I might have some left over for a Richmond five speed OD (I don't want to hack my floors for a TKO)

 

[bones454]

dump it in their as is and enjoy, save the money you would have spent for gas

 

[Jebchevelle]

I would go with solid roller if your gonna spin it past 6500rpm's. If your gonna keep it mostly street go hydro roller there are some guys here running hydro rollers with sticks and turning good 1/4 times without spining the engine to much. ask Aukai he runs a hydro roller and likes it alot with a 4 speed I believe. there are others running them in street mostly cars. if your just going to race it then go solid. I would talk to Mike AKA Wolfplace or chris AKA Cstraub or UDHarold they know more about cams. I got mine from Mike.

 

[LS7]

I voted 496, with 3.55 gears and a stick. The roller swap is interesting but depending on the size of the cam, clearance issues may take some of the simplicity out of that option.

 

[Bob West]

I voted 496 cuz I like cubic inches

 

[BillyGman]

Size matters....more cubes.....

 

[aukai]

I would go with solid roller if your gonna spin it past 6500rpm's. If your gonna keep it mostly street go hydro roller there are some guys here running hydro rollers with sticks and turning good 1/4 times without spining the engine to much. ask Aukai he runs a hydro roller and likes it alot with a 4 speed I believe. there are others running them in street mostly cars. if your just going to race it then go solid. I would talk to Mike AKA Wolfplace or chris AKA Cstraub or UDHarold they know more about cams. I got mine from Mike.

Sorry I'm a UDHarold SR man now. Street 454.

 

[64SS427]

I'll have to go against the grain here. I'm a BB guy, and every engine I've seen suggested is a BB, but he asked what is the most fun to drive? Think about an LS. New ones are getting 30 mpg and with a little tweaking pulling 10's. That's the way to go if you don't have to have the big valve covers when you open the hood.

Devin

 

[BillyGman]

I'll have to go against the grain here. I'm a BB guy, and every engine I've seen suggested is a BB, but he asked what is the most fun to drive? Think about an LS. New ones are getting 30 mpg and with a little tweaking pulling 10's.

Is that 10 second brackets you're talking about being done with Camaros and Vettes? Cuz if it is, you have to keep in mind that Chevelles are heavier cars in most cases. Don't get me wrong, I like the LS1/LS2/LS6 engines, but I still rather have the torque of a big block. Do the same amount of "tweaking" to a 496 sitting in a car of the same weight, and it will walk all over that LS engine on the track. Yes, the LS engines will get better gas mileage than big blocks do, but that's at a cost of less performance. So that extra gas mileage isn't for free. There are trade-offs. No right and wrongs here....just choices with trade-offs.

 

[Morin69ss396]

I had the same dilema. I shelved my 325hp 396 and built a 427 from a 454 2 bolt block (Studded). A brand new GM 396 steel crank and then added edelbrock oval heads.

 

[cstraub]

What kind of street driving. . . if you want all around power then build a 496 and have around 600#/ft to play with on the street. If you want to turn the engine and your not worried about low end then build a 7000 rpm 427. Engine combo will be determined by what you want.

 

[JC70SS]

496 roller with a Tremec TKO

 

[Guest]

My about 9.8 to 1 CR'd, Merlin2.19"/1.88" valved c/i oval port head, 496 w/ no more than a good old CC 282S solid lifter cam in it w/ a Holley Strip Dom. single plane and a 3310-2 tuned 750 and a cheap set of 1.75" dia., 4-tube, long headers should make per D2k right at 550hp at 5500 rpm and 580 t at 4500 rpm!

And now I know that I can make onna these engines again, much cheaper than the about $38 to $4,000 I have in mine so PLEASE go from here.

pdq67

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[Jimmy P]

Thanks for all the input.

An engine builder buddy of mine is suggesting aluminum heads with a solid roller for the 396.

What do ya'll think about these heads? I haven't seen them discussed too much, probably because they better suit a small 396, huh? http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stor...et/ProductDisplayPopup?storeId=10001&partNumber=350-60499&langId=-1&showValue=1