Thread: Advice?? 396 for a 427???

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I have a 68 Chevelle (real 138) SS396 convertible. I picked it up with a 69 427 in it. The Body's about 85% and I am considering having it redone. This engine runs great and is tight but I would rather have an original motor in it. My mechanic mentioned that the 427 is great engine from a 69 corvette. Would I embarass myself if I put out a query about a trade? Is one more valuable than the other? Should I keep what I have? Thnks

What possible advantage would you achieve by switching to a 396? From a restoration point of view, the numbers won't match anyway.

Order some re-pop 396 decals for the motor and call it good.

From a strictly finiancial standpoint the car is more valuabe with the original (numbers matching engine in it), followed by those with a documented factory replacement block).

Once the original engine is gone, it really doesn't matter whats in there the car is generally worth less. If thats the case, it boils down to the bigger the better.

It's already there, It runs good. ...................427.

I like both the 396 and 427. If I was starting from scratch I would go with the 396. But you already have the 427 and it is not going to change the value of the car unless you find the 396 that came in the car from the factory. Just any other 396 would have the same value as the 427.

I would keep the 427, and make it look like a 396, like techinspecter said. If its going to be wrong you might as well be wrong faster. carlg