Thread: 396

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As the owner of a Crate ZZ502/502, I highly recommend them. If you can sell your current engine, and put the extra 5k towards it, you will be a very happy man. This thing hauls a$$, and it's new, with all new parts, and a warranty. comes complete with everything except an air cleaner. Just bolt it up, and hang on

sounds like a similar setup as we're running right now, a 1969 JH, that's a camaro 396 SHPE, edelbrock intake, with a holley 850 double pumper, and just recently dropped in a new MSD ignition coil and distributer. anyways, what I was just gonna suggest, was that you check your timing advance settings, and carb portings, float adjustments etc etc. i'd only assume a dramatic difference in feel before/after you had all that tuned. right now, we're running a 11.5 compression ratio and nothing too much for an exhaust after the headers .... I'd be interested in your Dyno test results... gotta get this bad boy in to dyno soon as well since all of the part replacement and upgrading we've been doing.

actually, i'd have to double check, but there may be 4.11s in the back end here too, not for long tho, wanna get that 4.88 12 bolt back in there real soon. I think the last time it was checked it was running 410~430 hp with this setup. and this is in a beast too, 56 Chevy 2 Door Sedan. if you had some tuning and tweaking done, running all that in a 70 nova? wow, there's a huge weight difference there.

New to club hot rod, Have been running these short short motors for a number of years now. and could give you a few pointers on really making these little motors scream. If your still interested in reaching your 600 hp level and able to retain your streetability let me know. Been running a all cast bottom end 10.25-1 motor in our bracket car for over 7 years now 9.90's @ 134 MPH on alcky or 10.60's on gas at 126.

Bob

love to hear about it

We've found great results running these short stroke motors in our bracket cars. coupled with high stall converters the HP level will be as high if not higher than the bigger motors from 454 to the 482 ci level. we're buzzing these things to 7400 all with stock cast iron bottom ends and two bolt mains. Over the past 7 years I replaced the bearings once and if it had not been for already having the motor on the stand after looking at the first rod and main I would have just bolted it back together and let her rip.
We have inserted a light weight JE piston in one of the Motors with a .250 long rod to bring the piston weight down and raised the RPM to 7800.
Oval port heads!!!!!!! Open chamber over closed if you have them we've seen a 30 HP gain with the open chamber over the closed even with the compression ratio drop with the swap.
Look at the little things. when you fisrt unload a new motor combinition you have no idea what to expect. One case is where we had installed a new 396 combo in a 80 camaro and first time out 8.30's is all she went thru the 1/8 mile NO signs of a problem left the line clean EGT showed 1320 degree temp on gas. but with careful tuning the same combinition turned into a solid 6.80's or 10.90's car.

I agree that the old 396's are getting scarce. I had one in my 55 Chevy in high school (70) and it was a 67 model. If that motor is tuned right it will put out tons of torque with little modifications. A highrise with one of the new style carbs (Demon is good) and a good set of headers should give a 17 year old all the power he can handle. I wouldn't get hung up on the dyno thing, this car won't handle 600 hp anyway without major drivetrain mods. Remember your dealing with a car that is 35 years old. If you do the minor mods, make it sound good, and do a restoration, you will be able to sell this car for big bucks. Then you'll have plenty on beer/pizza money. What are you doing drinking at 17 anyway? Maybe you should save that money for bail and fines. Sorry, don't mean to preach here either, just looking out for ya.

Don't get in a hurry and think it though, your on the right track by visiting speedshop and picking there brains. One thing I have learn in the last 50 years is to research, research, research before you change the car. Lay out a plan and stay with it.

Good luck and keep us posted, OK?

Havent posted recently and thought id fill you guys in. since that first post i put a set of traction bars in, and am running a set of cheater slicks; obviously a huge difference in it hooking up. I added a tci ratchet floor shifter to the TH400, and a shift kit, and noticed a nice change.

It has a 3000 rpm converter and 4:10's and now being able to hook up and not hop and spin make a huge difference.

this car is really coming together nicely
O, and i brought it to my first show! It was really something seeing people so interested in this car. anyway thanks for all the advice