396 cubic inch / 325 horsepower motor wanted

[Mr. Chevy]

I am posting this ad for a friend. He has a 1969 Camaro Pace Car, real one, that is currently a non numbers 350 cubic inch and was originally a small block car. He wants to make it a big block car and is looking for a January or February of 1969 dated 396/325 horse motor. He prefers the motor to be complete but not necessarily rebuilt already.

Thanks... Rich

[markjohnson]

Why not enlighten him to upgrade all the way up to a 396-375 HP if he's gonna step it up? Ever drive a 396-325HP? It's not something to get very excited over. Just being honest.

[3macs1]

Ever drive a 396-325HP? It's not something to get very excited over. Just being honest.

[/ QUOTE ]
You must have never drove one that was built and tuned properly. A oval port 396 compared to any small block is a eye opening experience if it is set up right. A 375 Hp is a pain to run on the street compared to a oval port.

[Keith Tedford]

The main problem with the L35 engines is the mild cam that won't let them breathe. It really chokes them up and they aren't making any real power past 4500. I had a '66 Beaumont with the L34 and L78 cam. Sure woke that engine up. Our L78 with headers would be lucky to run much better than mid 13s. It needs a lot more cam to take advangate of the big ports. It wouldn't take much to make the L34-L35 engines run mid 13s. The oval port engines seem to be better on gas at the same time. There is an article around about 3 Harrell tuned 1968 Chevy IIs. The stock L78 ran mid 14s. The Tuned one ran mid 13s. The L72 ran low 12s. My experience was roughly the same. The rectangular port heads need a lot of air flow and unshrouded valves (bigger bore)to be effective. In fact, with a little work and some good bolt on parts, the 350 could be running mid 13s as well. Although we have one, I've never been overly impressed by the power output of the "factory stock" L78. As far as driveability on the street, ours is fine. Just some of my experiences over the years.

[3macs1]

Agree Keith.We always ran the zl-1 cam set up on the square ports and that really wakes them up.The 375 Hp on the street will run fine if you know how to set it up and don't mind setting solid lifters, playing with holleys, changing plugs and adjusting timing pending the gas you can get. Most guys at least when I worked on these engines wanted nothing to do with that vs set up a oval port with the quad and it is good for many miles.

[Mr. Chevy]

Quote: Why not enlighten him to upgrade all the way up to a 396-375 HP if he's gonna step it up? Ever drive a 396-325HP? It's not something to get very excited over. Just being honest.

Mark, I asked him the same thing, why not go for the GUSTO?? But he wants to keep it lower horse.. Hey, to each is own.. I think any big block is cool!!

Rich

[3macs1]

To each is own for sure
Baby's first ride home in a small block

Same baby going home in a big block

Kind of looks like a site member but I am not sure who.

[SS427]

Oh yeah!!! To funny!! Couldn't have said it any better myself.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Your friend can build a real strong hydraulic 396 that will look just like a 325hp unit. With some good head work on a set of 290's(assuming he is using original style heads to retain compression), an aftermarket cam, performance built distributor and QJ, and good exhaust system he should be all set.

wilma

[WILMASBOYL78]

There was a great article on a BB rebuild in the 2005 Annual of Musclecar Review magazine. They worked on a 66 396/360hp engine...very straight forward with some mild performance upgrades. The key elements to the good power they made was in the larger 2.19/1.88 valves, mild pocket porting and the Crane Power Max H-272 cam...this combined with a garden variety Edelbrock manifold and 750 Holley did the trick. The engine made 384hp at 5,300rpm and peak torque was 456 at 3,500rpm. I have tried to locate this article on line but there is no website for the magazine(how old school )..if someone wants a copy just send me a PM and I will send one. These upgrades would work well on a stock appearing 396/325 setup...

wilma