Thread: New Guy with a 76 camaro!!

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Hello hotrod members, i'm new to this forum. A little about me, i owned a 93 z28, a 94 z28 and now i own a 76 Camaro. Im into the drag racing scene and this old school technology i'm not that familiar with but LT1 and LSx related im better educated. My goal for the 76 Camaro is to run mid - low 10s NA, then put a little spray to touch 9s. I have a 355 in the 76 when i bought it, it's nothing special but a cruiser motor. I got myself a 396 Big block. It's been bored .30 over so i think that makes it a 402, its been rebuilt from the previous owner but never ran, im wanting to build a motor close to 600hp NA as i can then add a little spray. I asked on nastyz28 forums and they pretty much told me i have a boat anchor and to drop it for a 454. Well i looked and looked and looked and this 396 is the only thing i can find in my area without driving 10+ hours. It's block #3955272 CE and heads #3931063. I thought i'd join a big block forum where the guru's are i think they'd be a little more supportive than bashful

Welcome to CHR The guy you need to converse with is Pat I'm sur he'll be along soon. Enjoy your stay

Welcome! Nice classic to work with. I always think of this song with the early 70's cameros and firebirds.

Welcome to CHR!!! Used to be lots of 396's running 10's na, not every engine has to be a mega inch monster. What has been done or are you planning to do to the chassis and suspension? Those old 'maro's were pretty loose and flexy without anything done to them!!! Oh yeah, pictures, we love pictures!!!!! Enjoy your time here, some very knowledgeable folks who are always willing to offer suggestions!!!

I seen one flex so much off the line the windshield poped out

Welcome to CHR! I used to have a 72 RS 396 Camaro and I popped the windshield out, and another time twisted it so bad the rh door wouldn't shut. 8hrs on a frame machine and a new rh qtr skin fixed it up. Make sure you get some good frame stiffners and put them on it if it doesn't have them already. On mine I ditched the rubber sub frame bushings and installed solid ones and installed weld in sub frame connectors. I had a sweet 396 in mine at one time. The car was running 6.90's with the 396 at the time. It's possible, these little big blocks love rpm compared to the 454's IMO.

I hazz pics!!
I joined the forum and posted right before i went to work. I work at advanced auto which is a little nice. Im also 22 so instead of going LSX i went old school, my LS friends and mustang friends bash on me for doing so, but nobody knows i have a big block im secretly buillding. My goal is solid 10s NA and that'll shut them up for awhile but anyway here are the pictures of the car it originally had a 305 in it and the previous owner stuck the 355 in it out of a caprice wagon and the big boy on the engine cradle jegs sells for $60









Heres the exhaust i stuck on the car, Summit x pipe, cutouts and kooks bullets with turndowns all 3"

I tried to post pictures but says moderator needs to review

You can always upload to a host site & paste the IMG code here.
Welcome to another Camaro owner.

I joined the forum before i went to work, I work at advanced auto. It's a little nice to be available to alot of parts and some discounts. But im only 22 and decided to go old school instead of going with an LS1 after my LT1 went through 7 optisparks and a transmission. Most of LSx friends and mustang friends bash on me for going old school, but they don't know about the 396 big block i have. I want to run solid 10s NA to put them in their place. The LS1 guys run high 11s on spray and i wanna show them up. I know about building the trans, rear end, suspension. Thats further down the road along with restoring the car, right now everything is original except the motor. It originally came with a 305 but the previous owner stuck a 350 out of a caprice wagon and made a 355 but it's a cruiser motor so it's not that exciting when the peddle is on the floor. Any way i'll try to post up some pictures again.

This is the exhaust i pulled off my 94 z28 before i sold it, Summit X pipe, cutouts and kooks bullets dumped at axle, all 3"

Welcome and glad to have you here! The mods limit posting of pics to the new guys because of spammers. Once they see your genuine, you'll be all set there.

My memory says only the very early 396 blocks were actually a 396. Cheby went to the 402 but kept the badges at 396. So maybe you have a .030 over 402? Pat & Jerry are the guys who can help you through the maze on this one. They'll be along and chime in.

If you need help in getting pics up. Flip me them in an e-mail and I'll toss'em up for you.

I tried doing it through photo bucket but I figured being new I was limited on actions. But yes the 396 I have is bored .30 over already

Sweett the pictures are up!!!!