Thread: Quest for 10s 396/402 Big Block build (Big Block Guru's welcome)

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Im not sure whether i should post this in the engine department or drag racing but here it goes. I have a 76 Camaro that originally had a 305 in it. The previous owner stuck a 350 in it and made it into a 355. It's a nice little cruiser motor nothing too special. I was on a search for a long time for a 454 Big block and found nothing for awhile and stumbled upon a 396 Big block. So i traded him my 400 small block for his 396 Big block. The big block is #3955272 bored .30 (402 i think) and has heads #3931063 on it right now. I will slowly begin breaking it down and buying parts for it starting tax season. I've been told that the 396 is a turd and will not see mid solid 10s NA and i should get a 454. Well now that i've been told no i do what i naturally do and want to prove them wrong. I also have some LS1 fbody friends, LT1 friends and mustang friends bashing on me for going old school and i want to show them up aswell. I know LT1's and LS1's pretty well im just new to the Big blocks and Gen 1 stuff but im willing to learn. But i want to push that big block i have as close to 600hp as i can. If i get 550 i wont cry im sure 500 is enough to reach 10s. I already know i have to build the trans, rear, and suspension but i wanted to start with the motor. Im looking for a set of aftermarket heads for that motor and oval port seems to be the way to go from chevy performance articles i've read. I was looking at a few Brodix, Dart, and Trickflow heads. AFR is nice but 2K is out of my wallet, those other brands are around the $900 range. So if any guru's wanna help me build this car to achieve 10s? step in and lend a hand. Also this will be more of a race car, this thing will see the street maybe once or twice a week or month depending on how the govt is with gas prices

do you think you couls sell the 396 to a restorer and then get a nother block????????

Anyway, as you plan your parts---think about lightening it up as you go---get alum heads , manifold, waterpump, etc--------

Is your block a four bolt main?????????

you did post on here about this ? a 396/402 can be built to run i know i can . made a long post on this hit the wrong button . your not going to find a alum head made in the usa for 900. aset not going to happen . you need to watch the head size . the 396 will somewhat will want more RPM the block and most gm lower end parts can take way more then 500 hp is like falling off a stump . the 396 is more weight but a stronger engine then a 400 sbc . 454 still can be had i have a shop full of them coast of cores for good block s has gone up some the cost of building the 396 is going to be about the same as a 454 that why many have not used the smaller bore engine

I've looked for a 454 in my area for awhile but couldn't find anything close. I found a few that i have to drive out of state to reach but i'd spend more in gas to go pick it up. The motor is a 2 bolt main. I planned to make it a 4 bolt main.

These heads on summitracing i was looking at, their brodix aluminum and in the $900 range but wasn't sure if they were any good Brodix Cylinder Heads Race-Rite Oval Port Cylinder Heads for Big Block Chevy 2061001 - SummitRacing.com

Originally Posted by Bigblock76fbody

I've looked for a 454 in my area for awhile but couldn't find anything close. I found a few that i have to drive out of state to reach but i'd spend more in gas to go pick it up. The motor is a 2 bolt main. I planned to make it a 4 bolt main.

These heads on summitracing i was looking at, their brodix aluminum and in the $900 range but wasn't sure if they were any good Brodix Cylinder Heads Race-Rite Oval Port Cylinder Heads for Big Block Chevy 2061001 - SummitRacing.com

That price is for one head.....

Originally Posted by Bigblock76fbody

I've looked for a 454 in my area for awhile but couldn't find anything close. I found a few that i have to drive out of state to reach but i'd spend more in gas to go pick it up. The motor is a 2 bolt main. I planned to make it a 4 bolt main.

These heads on summitracing i was looking at, their brodix aluminum and in the $900 range but wasn't sure if they were any good Brodix Cylinder Heads Race-Rite Oval Port Cylinder Heads for Big Block Chevy 2061001 - SummitRacing.com

you will never make the power were you think you will need the 4 bolt caps a real wast of money . but i do them for selling point and for guys that think they need them . very few that really need a 4 bolt cap but if so then were looking at better caps and a better block like a big m darts or pro block were there more iron were the stock block will move a bbc block is not a small block caps are bigger and so are the bolts bbc are 1/2 sbc are 7/16 . been building bbc for 30+ years now i never see a two bolt cap fail from not having two more bolts . were you will see the added bolts is far past 650 hp

That price for one? Geez I feel dumb.

But pat, any advice on what I can/should do to push this 396bbc past the 500hp mark? I'm sure that's plenty to run 10s

So pat, what kindve advice should I do to get this 396 bbc past the 500hp mark NA. I'm sure that's plenty of power to get into the 10s

start with a good block with good machine work .set of small runner port afr heads can get the smaller head chamber .use a pistons with the lest amount of dome you want to be at around 12to1 cr or more solid roller around @050 268/272 660/660 108.cam good valve train nice oil pan intake single plane team G a 850 cfm . would work .stuff some gear out back 456 . 3800 +stall this is off the top of my head real numbers can be fine tune in is for parts numbers and limit on self pistons have just look up part numbers i think this should do hi 670 hp at 6500+rpm

So I should stay away from the brodix heads and trick flow heads I was looking at? Ill look for oval port afr heads

Originally Posted by Bigblock76fbody

So I should stay away from the brodix heads and trick flow heads I was looking at? Ill look for oval port afr heads

think about how much money you want to spend on this ??? then check out who has a small chamber head that is why i said AFR they have a very nice head trick flow my be ok i can say never had a set in my hands .i still would go with the line up of AFR .dart .profile brodix .getting it right chamber cc will help getting past 9.5 cr if this is going to be max race engine i would want to be at better then 10to1 . here are some pistons to look at wisceo pto39h3 11.8 at 104 cc and pto39h6 both same dome just bore size and a forged piston . KB 9949 this is a 4023 alloy and would use a stock 366/427 3.760 crank and would be 11.3 cr with a 112 cc head or a KB 361 thats a hyper 390 alloy and used a 4.000 crank that can be over 427 has to do with what bore you end up at and is 11.1 CR with a small chamber head 95cc that may limt your head pick for chamber size to find so any thing more out there in a stocking shelf piston any thing more you are looking at custom pistons could be in your future and thats about $ 950+ a set at that point use a 4.000 crank you get more CID and will help build some CR .this is why many do not play with the 396/402 power can be made some pistons are not out there like the bigger bore engine when all said and done the 454 block start looking good. with a 454 and what crank/parts you end up with can yield a 427 to 511 with a stock block. tell them it a 396 they will never know trust me on this.. it been done

I think the afr is a 115 or 116 ill post up a link when I get to a computer. And sticking a 454 crank in there would be a 427? I didn't think I could make it that much. I've been told a 418 is pushing it. The previous owner already bored it .30 over but I'm not sure of the bottom end what it consists of. Im in no rush to build it so I want the best and do it right the first time

afr can be smaller107 cc as casted and cc 112 you need them to be less the 112 if you want any cr you can put a 4.250 crank in one but pistons need to be customs and block work would be need for room

So am I better off wjth the 4.00 crank or shoving a 454 crank in there? I'm not sure what's in it now

a 454 crank is 4.00----I think that in a 396 block you have a lot to grind away for rod clearance
Pistons for a BBC type head in a 396 bore size will be custom for any different stroke---
I suggest you find a different block for a starting point -----------