Where to find a 396

[Astro-Balls]

My neighbor is looking for a 396 for his truck, Are they still making blocks so he can build one up? Any quality suppliers out there or should he just buy a used block and build it up?

[68Gold/white]

I see 396/402'a here from time to time. You have to be a paying member to sell or post want to buy ads here, no biggee....

Get registered and post a want to buy ad here. I think a lot of folks don't post engines here, they are too heavy to ship, and LS mania is still the deal, nobody wants an old school small block or big block, they gotta gotta have an LS. I know how to make the old engines hum, I'll let someone else use my allotment of LS stuff...
My 67 has a 406 small block waiting for it, already built. My 68 Golden will get the 396 back in it, when that day comes...

[Ptjsk]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

I see 396/402'a here from time to time. You have to be a paying member to sell or post want to buy ads here, no biggee....

Get registered and post a want to buy ad here. I think a lot of folks don't post engines here, they are too heavy to ship, and LS mania is still the deal, nobody wants an old school small block or big block, they gotta gotta have an LS. I know how to make the old engines hum, I'll let someone else use my allotment of LS stuff...
My 67 has a 406 small block waiting for it, already built. My 68 Golden will get the 396 back in it, when that day comes...

Awesome! Another individual who is not on the LS train! I know they're fairly cheap, and good horsepower, but I just can't get past opening the hood and not viewing an old school original type motor.

Pat

[j_cst_10]

I have one for sale in the parts section of this site.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...30#post8598630

[MARKDTN]

I don't think new 396 blocks have been available for some time now. Assuming you already have all the BB accessories and exhaust manifolds? All that stuff adds up fast $$.

I would do a whole lot of things before I built a 396 that was not original to the truck. First choice would be LS. Do you want to drive and enjoy it or is it a show truck? Second choice would be a 350 with Tuned-Port fuel injection. If you just have to have a carbed big block, then get a 454 crate motor. You can hardly build a motor right for what a crate costs-especially if you pay a machine shop to build it-and you get a warranty. And a 454 looks the same as a 396 from the outside and everything will bolt right up.

Good luck.

[Astro-Balls]

I'm not about to put an LS engine in my truck, Nothing wrong with the factory 396.
I'll put a 454 in it and dress it up to look like the 396 before I go to an LS..
Just like it Old School I guess.

[Livingstonm]

Originally Posted by Astro-Balls

I'm not about to put an LS engine in my truck, Nothing wrong with the factory 396.
I'll put a 454 in it and dress it up to look like the 396 before I go to an LS..
Just like it Old School I guess.

Atta boy! Ls motors are cool but the dude with the 396 has got his **** together in my book

[68Gold/white]

I don't hate the LS situation. It's like 1954 all over again (yes, 1954, hot rodders were looking high and low in salvage yards for newly wrecked Chevy's for the engines...)

You don't see anyone looking for one of the boat anchor triton engines. Theres so many versions of the hemi......I don't even want to talk about those, those folks need to stay in the closet.....

Most folks have NEVER ridden in a vehicle with an old school engine that was even close to built or tuned properly, I HAVE!!!

[midniteblues]

If i was to build a dd a ls would be my choice.
I already had a 454 so why not use it for that "full" look under the hood.
Then stash the oe 283 for a later build one day ill get back too it.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

I don't hate the LS situation. It's like 1954 all over again (yes, 1954, hot rodders were looking high and low in salvage yards for newly wrecked Chevy's for the engines...)

You don't see anyone looking for one of the boat anchor triton engines. Theres so many versions of the hemi......I don't even want to talk about those, those folks need to stay in the closet.....

Most folks have NEVER ridden in a vehicle with an old school engine that was even close to built or tuned properly, I HAVE!!!

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqagqWxRiersfP329gwgvGA

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

I don't hate the LS situation. It's like 1954 all over again (yes, 1954, hot rodders were looking high and low in salvage yards for newly wrecked Chevy's for the engines...)

You don't see anyone looking for one of the boat anchor triton engines. Theres so many versions of the hemi......I don't even want to talk about those, those folks need to stay in the closet.....

Most folks have NEVER ridden in a vehicle with an old school engine that was even close to built or tuned properly, I HAVE!!!

https://youtu.be/v38aeIYnwCI

Can't seem to get it to show here without the link

[weim55]

To find a usable long block core 396 to rebuild isn’t too difficult these days. Almost nobody wants them. The last time I needed one I placed a wanted ad on craigslist and picked up a decent core to rebuild for $300. It’s a whole different ball game if you’re looking for one that has all of the accessories and small parts for an actual engine swap. If that’s what he’s looking for that’s a very difficult find and could get very expensive in a hurry. On top of that big blocks are not cheap to rebuild.

The 396 that jcst10 is selling Might seem expensive at $1200 for a builder but you start adding up all the time and effort into finding all those small parts that actually go to one of our trucks it’s worth every penny.

Steve weim55 Colorado

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

I see 396/402'a here from time to time. You have to be a paying member to sell or post want to buy ads here, no biggee....

Get registered and post a want to buy ad here. I think a lot of folks don't post engines here, they are too heavy to ship, and LS mania is still the deal, nobody wants an old school small block or big block, they gotta gotta have an LS. I know how to make the old engines hum, I'll let someone else use my allotment of LS stuff...
My 67 has a 406 small block waiting for it, already built. My 68 Golden will get the 396 back in it, when that day comes...

So your 406 small block is it a sb 400 with a .30 over bore.. If so what else have you done to the engine. I picked up a sb 400 and a good friend of me is going to do a .30 bore rebuild it with some HP parts so it has about 400 horsepower. I too like the look of ld school when you lift up the hood.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

Good luck and bring lots of cash

[j_cst_10]

Hey don’t forget mine comes with TH400 and 72 BBC engine mounts!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Ironangel]

Originally Posted by Astro-Balls

My neighbor is looking for a 396 for his truck, Are they still making blocks so he can build one up? Any quality suppliers out there or should he just buy a used block and build it up?

You'd be money and power ahead to find a 454. Same everything on the outside with lots more power and torque than the 396 or 402. I just blew up a 1969 L34 396, so I picked up a 454 for $150, stuck the 396 crank in it and made a 427 out of the 454 using the same heads and intake that was on the 396...Unless you go aftermarket heads or find some factory closed chambered heads the 396/402 motors made little more power than a good running 350. That's not the case with a stock 454..."If your going to go, go BIG" "just sayin"

[Boog]

Good engines aren't cheap and cheap engines aren't good as they say. I don't really care for the term "old school" but I guess that's what I am as I like and have long wanted a 396. Not enough to start from scratch to find and build one now but if one complete was within reach I just might grab it. I like a 4 barrel carb and no fancy stuff. "old tech" might be a better term. What do you think?

[Astro-Balls]

How about Old Mech..?

[Jcfcamaro]

I have a 69 gmc with a 396/400 turbo numbers matching truck with factory air, power steering, ect. It's all there but the body is totally rusted out or dented in the other areas. It's on the Kansas city and Omaha Ne craigslist. It would probably cost alot to ship though.

[palallin]

Originally Posted by j_cst_10

Hey don’t forget mine comes with TH400 and 72 BBC engine mounts!
Posted via Mobile Device

It's a great deal! I wish I could take advantage of it.