Thread: 454 crank in a 396

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Can someone tell me how this is done. Just curious on how you would offset the .24 stroke difference, and what you would have to do to the pistons. Thanks.

all the bottom ends are the same but the 454 having more room for the bigger stroke so the 454 crank will fit BUT you will have to do some grinding to get things to clear . on the pistons you may cut the tops of the pistons down or buy customs less you have done some stroker and have all the parts and have a machine shop i would pass it would be as much to do as a 468and for not much more a496

Thanks Pat, I wish I knew as much about bbc's as you have forgotten about them . I'd be smarter than most!

Originally Posted by jimmyjeep

Thanks Pat, I wish I knew as much about bbc's as you have forgotten about them . I'd be smarter than most!

WOW thanks. i was going to do one, i have built 4.750 crank 632CID alot or 4.250 cranks engines 489/496- 540/565. and some 4.3/8 512/580 and 4.500 526/572 have all the machines to build one and make it all fit i was thinking it would be fun and you can get the 396/402 blocks cheap some times but there is not much resale in that and the time and money you could do a 454 /496 so i did not do one

yup, since getting the word on how the chevy bb world works, I have decided to take the 396 I have, warm it slightly, put it in the wife's car for her hotrod, and go git a 454 and have at it fer me! Thanks your site is great. I hope the site members appreciate having you and tech and the rest of the knowledgable "seniors" here. See ya when I find a block. p.s. take a gander at my truck, its at the site in my signature. Its my 1st 500 hp motor.

I also wish I could remember half of what Pat M has forgotten!
In any event What I Found is that 396/402 blocks are dirt cheap, original cranks are usually in need of resizing and such sooooooo, They have 454 armasteel cranks brand new for about 275.00 and KB #361 Pistons are supposed to be the correct pin height to build a 433 bbc, granted it wont be the cheapest but, actually if you shop it around the only trick stuff is the pistons I dont know exactly how much but a set of forged 396 pistons are around 250 so an additional 150 for these can probably be coughed up,
It wont be an RPM monster but just think of that torque!!
Has anybody here built one yet? Lemme know!!

well you could use them pistons #361 and a 454 cast crank and use the 454 damper and fly wheel .I have some 454 cast cranks there are not to hard to find now every one wants 4.250 cranks .or buy a steel forged imported crank and are about 460. add 50 for shipping . but some of the steel ones need a H type bearing and you may get away with the 396 damper and fly wheel and go internal and i do not now how much the KB pistons are but speed pros are #H552cp are$240. cast steel crank 4.250 are $260 so if you have the 396/402 block and you want one ???with a 4.000 arm in it then do one but in the long run a 454 in stock form bored out .030 get you past your 396/402 by 30 some CID and the parts need for the 496 are about the same as the 396/402

Thanks for the advice Pat!, lemme get this straight? the H552cp pistons are set up for the 396/402 bore size but with the lower pin height location to run the 4.000 crank stroke?, cause if thats so Im there! as far as your crank stash goes pm me if you have something reasonably priced, only problem is yellow freight cause Im in miami csi town and you are in bbbbrrrrrrrrr!!! MI.

ps Pat the real reason I will do the mini rat thing is that both blocks are fresh 030 o/s with all machining done and have been store in excellent shape for over a decade by uncle Frank! if you havent guessed they are free!!
so Unless a real 454 falls outta the sky well you know what I mean

Originally Posted by sleeve396

Thanks for the advice Pat!, lemme get this straight? the H552cp pistons are set up for the 396/402 bore size but with the lower pin height location to run the 4.000 crank stroke?, cause if thats so Im there! as far as your crank stash goes pm me if you have something reasonably priced, only problem is yellow freight cause Im in miami csi town and you are in bbbbrrrrrrrrr!!! MI.

no them pistons are for a 496 just saying that it is not to bad to build a 496. i did not know KB made pistons for a 396/402 -4000 crank build and on the crank i can sell you one cast gm and ups will ship it .yellow is a bit hi