For my 66 Chevlle SS I am going to buy a 396 for it. what is a good rebuild dor a weekend crusiser that can run on pump gas with a little bit over 350hp. this will be used with a 4-speed if that helps

 

Just go down to the Chevy parts dealer of your choice and get a 454 HO 425 hp engine. No fuss, even has a warranty, and is very affordable. Not many but the most **** will even look close enough to know that you dropped a 454 in there.

Thomas

 

396's are a lot of fun, I've had quite a few over the years. But if you are starting from scratch and it's not an original numbers type deal, then I have to agree..you might as well put together at least a 427 or a 454. You're going to spend the same for parts, might as well get the free HP.

But just to give you a couple of ideas. I had a SS396/350 HP Chevelle. It ran mid 13's with headers, a .500 lift marine cam, Q-jet and iron intake. Deep 12's with a little N2o shot. Otherwise it was a dead stock motor, cast pistons and stock heads with a T-400 and 3.31 open rear end. Just a lot of tuning.

Later I used the same motor in a 3100 lb '72 Nova. I used a Cam Dynamics hyd flat tappet cam....like .540 or so lift, stock heads again, Holley Strip Dominator, 750 DP, headers, T-400 and both 3.08 and 4.11 gears. It ran low 12's on sticky street tires and deep 11's with the spray. Same cast pistons etc.....great old motor that took a lot of beatings. Only issue we ever had was twice the little c-clips in lifters popped out and got in oil pump and killed it and bearings. Make sure if you use a hyd cam to get the "good" lifters with actual C-clips in the top..not the little round wire type.

Later used a 4 bolt 396/375 with an L-88 cam, rectangular port heads, tunnel ram and two 660 Holleys. It was in a Pro Street type '68 Nova with a 4 speed and 14x32's on the rear. Pulled wheelies great and reved past 7500 rpm all day long. Ran mid-high 10's.


But....then I also used a 427 with oval heads, small solid flat tappet, same intake and carb and home ported ovals. It ran 11.70's on street tires through the pipes in a 3600 LB '68 Camaro. High 10's on the bottle.

Later the same motor (I mean same pistons and all!) with a solid street roller, Merlin oval ports and a 5 speed with 3.36 gears ran 11.20's@123 in my Vette with perfect street manners.

I can tell you that as good as the 396 was, the 427 was a much better performer. I still have the same engine (over 20 years!) and it has survived loads of abuse.

Unless you wanted to go all out and build a 496 stroker (actually doesn't cost much these days if you look around) I'd find a 454 block and at least put together a 427.

Not sure how much $$ you want to spend, but get good lightweight pistons (not cheap hypereutectics or cast if you can avoid it), get deck height tight or at least use steel shim gaskets to tighten quench. Don't use flat tops, you need to get it to the 10-10.5 compression range even with iron heads and pump gas. Then spend some time pocket porting a good set of iron oval ports. If you use the 049 open chamber types, you'll need AT least 11.0 or maye even 12.0 type pistons to get real compression in the mid 10's. Make sure you do the math...many folks end up with 8.0 compression motors that are slugs and can't figure out why.

Forged cranks for 396/427 are easy to find. No problem there really. You can even use one from a 366 truck motor if you want to. 2 bolt mains are fine.

I always prefer solid flat tappet cams for these toys. Once you get close to that point I can help you pick one. I've used a gazzilion different ones over the years and have a good idea what will do what once you really determine the entire combo.

If you're willing to step up to a solid street roller I know a couple of killer ones that make great power and have fantastic street manners. Just cost a little more!

I think on these size motors it's hard to pass up the RPM Air Gap intakes for overall best these days.

You're going to want 1-3/4" to 1 7/8" headers most likely. You'll need a little more motor before you need 2" ones.

JIM