ajrothm

Finally got our exhaust system built and uncorked the 396.
Stock Vette manifolds feeding 2.5" mandrel bent head pipes, going to 3.5" (2.5" ID) Classic Chambered side pipes, stock 2.75" stainless tips..

Sounds much better letting it breathe..

Straub Tech HYD roller, 237/245*, .620/.556 Lift, 109 lsa. Pulls clean to 6600...

427Hotrod

Sure does sound sweet!! Great car!

JIM

Z06FEVER

Excellent! Sounds like the cam that Straub sent me. I am very happy with my roller setup. The engine pulls great!

Bad Bird

I remember that you were disappointed in the power of that 396 build in the past. How does the car compare now to before?

StraubTech

Very nice. Did you get the ignition and carb stuff taken care on the engine?

StraubTech

Rich, very nice!!! How easy does it start? How quick does it rev?

Z06FEVER

Chris,
It starts very easy and revs quick! Best cam I have ever had, thanks for everything!

Rich

StraubTech

That 229/241 works very well for this OEM headed BBC. Everyone seems to love the mid-range punch!

ajrothm

Yes.. I believe so.. We experimented with several different TI coils and even had an HEI in it for a short test.

We ended up rebuilding the TI distributor with a new mag/pick up, as well as using the TI coil off of our 66', which always worked great. 3 different repro TI coils would act up on the 65' 396.

The carb is a 68' #3124 restored by Eric at Vintage Muscle cars. The secondaries seem to open pretty well on this one. All in all, the car runs much better all around.

StraubTech

So you feel if we were back on the dyno we would hit the goal or be damn close to it?

ajrothm

I haven't ran it hard with the new pipes yet, I'm expecting it to make s big difference over the stock side pipes which are only 1 5/8" ID cores. These are true 2.5" mandrel bent head pipes into 2.5" ID core classic chambered pipes... I would expect 40-50hp more..


As for the disappointing dyno numbers. I now have a 780cfm carb vs a 650, got the ignition issue sorted I think... Also I reset valves after it was in the car and found one that was WAY loose...like zero preload. I'm thinking when the builder adjusted the valves, he must have adjusted that one slightly on the lobe. I set them all to 3/4 turn and the car ran much better. Valve train is much quieter as well.

Power wise, I'd just be guessing at this number but, I'd say it's an honest 450-460 crank hp, no accessories, thru stock manifolds. With headers probably 480-490hp.

In the car as it is, I'd guess it's a 350-360 rwhp. Nothing killer but should keep up with new 5.0s.

Danish Shark

229/241 sounds like the one I got for my 489 with Brodix RR-O heads?
I sure hope it can idle a lot smoother than that

Z06FEVER

It does do that, comes alive in the upper 2's and pulls until I let off the gas. It really feels like it never stops pulling. Great power with GM rectangle port heads!

StraubTech

Stroke/CID tames any cam. The bigger the engine the more mild the cam is sir.

ajrothm

What size engine? Sounds very similar to ours for sure. No doubt the square ports on our little 408 are definitely high rpm oriented...Sucker starts to shriek around 5500... I shift it at 6300 or so usually..

No doubt our 963 intake is an HP killer...the 3 hole plenum is terrible.. I wish it was a 163 from the 66-67s.

Z06FEVER

I am running a 454 .030 over with the GM l88 Zl1 intake. I am also shifting at 6300 right now. I think it has more in it but I am making great power at that shift point. Your engine sounds great in the video. Our cams are real similar. Is that intake you have using two holes on one side for the carb barrels and the other side is open?

TheSkunkWorks

I think I've found a new ambient sound to add to my white noise app.

ajrothm

Here is the #963 intake





Definitely not good for HP... The #163 was a much better intake. Ofcourse the L88/ZL1 was probably the best factory intakes.

We were doing the stock/restoration thing so...Its what I was stuck with, just like stuck with the stock exhaust manifolds.

forvicjr

I want to change cams in my BB, 496 with 781 heads and big tube full lenth headers. Wonder if this would be a good choice? Runnin a comp magnum roller now, smallish at 510 lift. Idles like a caddy and drives me nuts. I want some decent idle and more hp too! Where do I place my order?? Lol

learje

Great to see another baby rat w a Straub roller! sounds great! (and familiar). mine, w an airgap and headers pulls hard from 2500or so as far as ive been brave enough to rev it...about 6500. seems like it would keep on goin. lookin fwd to your testing and tuning, ive still got a bunch to finish on mine when im done w the TA replacement.

forvicjr call Mr Straub, he will set you up, and he is always there to help