jbmid

Could anyone please give me an idea of what the value of a 1965 396ci 425hp low mileage complete engine would be? Where one might be found etc? Thanks

Grey Ghost

Pick up a copy of Hemmings or check their webpage. That is almost the best place to find parts to build the engine or find one ready to go.

Mag Red Man

jb, I've only seen one ever advertised, and I think the guy wanted $8k or something.

Your most likely to build the motor ala cart, block here, heads there, etc.

I would guess to build an actual IF motor (Corvette 962 block, not Chevelle 962 block) etc. would run up to $5k.

396 RAT

When you say complete, do you mean carb? intake? exhaust?
ignition? those items alone are over $5000.00
Alun rad, fan, it will go on and on.
You might have more fun building a NOM with the same or more
HP for 1/4 of the cost. The stupid fuel filter is over $200.00 :eek:
And as Mag Red Man has stated, if you do attempt this
it will most likely be pieced together. If your lucky you might find a short block, or if your real lucky you might find a long block.
(Then there's the dates to deal with):rolleyes:
Interesting proposition though, tell us about the car?
For the record though, I would build a nom ground pounder
and have it apear origional, air cleaner, etc......

jbmid

Thanks to all for the replies. Actually, I have this engine. I was looking for the value of same and/or someone who had one to compare notes.

PRESENT CAR: I currently have the engine in a 55 Chev Bel Air 2 Dr. I purchased the 55 way back in the 60's with 85k on it. It is still close to that.
It has a 57 Olds rear end with 373:1 gears I think. It has brand new front fenders from GM and the bumpers are rechromed. There is no rust on the car, but the side chrome needs to be installed as well as carpeting etc.
The engine was installed in the car in 1968 when I bought a new Roadrunner. I blueprinted it prior to installation and had one of the top engine builders do the machining. He made the comment about how long it took as he had never seen metal that hard. They must have used really good stuff in the early ones. Other than the installation of a Holly 3bbl carb and a 375 HP cam ( I have the original of both ), the engine is completely stock. It probably only has a few hundred miles on it since the blueprint.

HISTORY: I purchased the engine in a 65 Chev Impala SS, white/white from the largest Chevrolet dealer in the Quad Cities, IL area. I believe they announced availability in Feb. They had one on quota for April and I got it. It was ordered with a close ratio 4 speed, which I also still have, and 331:1 gears and posi. A 331, a close ratio 4 speed and a high revving engine just didn't hack it off the line so a 410:1 gear was soon installed. For some reason, this engine was an extremely strong performer. I only raced one other Impala 425hp and beat him handily. Also no problem with GTO's, 442's and even Hemi's after the gear was installed, even though the Impala scaled at over 4200 pounds. I removed the engine ( big mistake, but back then who knew? ) at 32k miles, blueprinted it and installed it in my 55 in 1968. It has been stored since. I traded in a 63 Vette for the 65. I should have bought the engine in another Vette. Boo Hoo. I guess the Impala was more fun though as it was a sleeper and easier to find competition, but it soon gained a reputation. Fun times. Now everyone sticks a fortune in those pea-in-a-can imports. They can run well though, but give me the brute power of a big block any time.

BTW, as is obvious, this engine was not only used in the Vette in 65, but also the Impala and a detuned 375 HP version was produced in the Chevelle that year.

Mag Red Man

jb, very interesting story. I've read a few articles about 425 mills in 65 Impalas. I'm curious about the pad stamp numbers...is it an "IF" (Corvette 396) motor, or stamped some other code? When was the engine built?

Also, how come you changed to the 375 horse cam?

garagedweller2

yea, WHY? Oh BTW Mag Red- nice car, did you sell it yet? (i've said that so many times :lol: )

Vetterodder

Mag Red Man, I don't know the codes but I do know that that the 396/425 became available in the full size Chevies at the same time as the Corvette. The exhaust manifolds were different but I don't know if the transister ignition was part of that package. A very few (less than 20?) `65 Chevelle's (Z16?) were built with 396's that were identical to the 425's except for a hydraulic cam. I "think' that this was the same cam that was subsequenty used in 360/350 hp 396's and 390/400 hp 427's but I'm not certain. To my knowledge, the 375hp L78 (as used in `66 and later Chevelles, Camaros, and Novas) and the 425hp L78's were the same engine except for exhaust manifolds and ignition. Unless we're talking about that hydraullic cam, the 375hp cam and the 425hp cam are the same cam. This same engine became the L72 with no other changes than a larger bore to 427ci. `67 and later versions used the same cam but it's rear journal was no longer notched for oiling.

Dyna

I think you're talking $7-8k if it is healthy and all original with matching date codes. Probably $4k if it is a lesser motor.

Dyna