396 with a 454 crank
 

Has anyone here used a 396 block with a 454 crank and 702 bb heads as I was given all these parts and was thinking of a big block c3 project.

im not 100% sure but i dont think they make the pistons or rods to make it work right..

the only prob i see here is the prob with the 366 and that is to hot of cylinders..

I think that would get you a 421 Chevy engine. Hmmm... The Pontiac folks might be miffed. :rolleyes:

Lotsa grinding required!
 

The con rods will hit the bottom of the bores. The 396 was never clearance'd for the 4" stroke. The 396 was internal ballanced, external on the 454. You can come up with a Piston/rod combo that will work. But why? I'd sell the the block and start with 454 block. Or you could find a 3.76" stroke crank and build a 396. Problem with 4.094 bore is the small bore will shroud the intake valve, power will be limited... but somebody is looking for that 396 block! What year is it? If its a 65 or 66 it will have a grooved cam bearing/rear cam journal. Oiling is differrent on the early Mark IV's:o

agreed there

Can the 396 blocks be bored to 4.25 for a 427 cu displacement? .. if yes then that may be a better option.

Kieth Black makes a piston #361 to use for this application,434 cubes.Check the KB website they should give any info for clearence issues also.

Even if it sonic checks, there's still a ton of grinding for rod clearance.
Find someone rebuilding a muscle car and sell the block to them, then pick up a generic 454 block and build 'er.

some, not all the 396 blocks can be bored for 427 .....:cheers:
what is the casting #?

Building this combo would just be a waste of good money to prove that you could build this combo, when you could more easily build a bigger and simpler motor that will definitely make more power.

:iagree:

Thanks for all your help
I'll check with my engine shop to see if I can swap something and I'll get the casting #

That is a total NO! .060 over bore was max which is 4.154 With sonic testing some blocks went .090 over. 4.185 was the uper limit even with the blocks stamped with either Heavy duty or Super duty. The 396 were always kind of considered as garbage along with it's 402 ci bigger brother. When the 427 came out it was king and the late 60's you had around 500 ci stroker motors in racing

Why not just build up the 396 with modern components. It will make good HP/torque and it's still a big block. But, if you want a big cubic inch motor, start with a 454 or an aftermarket BIG block.

It's an unusal combo for sure. CK Popular Hotrodding sometime over the last couple of years. They had a Nova in there with that combo with some compression that ran well. As mentioned, for the trouble it's a lot easier to build a 454...blocks don't cost that much used.

JIM

I agree with the others, swap the block for a 454. Heck, post the numbers in "for sale" and offer to swap for a decent 454 block and then you would be all set. BB are expensive enough as it is to build, you don't want to waste your cash on a morphodite like that!

Hans

There are a number of them that will take a fair amount of over bore. Sonic teast is a must and the ability to off set bore will help also. If your shop can't or won't off set bore it will only be able to be bored to the min. thickness of the thinest part of the cylinder wall.

This all started since my engine shop (friend) has the block, heads and crank and basically is giving me the parts and probably the machine work as well, although I'm not the type to take something for nothing so we'll be trading labor for sure. He has been in the business for over thirty years building race engines as well as mild rebuilds but is semi retired now. He has done some strange stroker combos and said we would need custom pistons and rods. If I can find a 396 crank or a 454 block I agree that would be best. This race shop is the local drag racers hang out (I'm the youngest at 50ish) so I'll start asking around but most of these guys are blue oval guys.

If a cast 396 crank would help you, I hvae one you can have if you pay the shipping. $100 and I'll turn it for you.

Thanks Indian creek much appreciated! I'll see if I can find a 454 block first as it is after all about " more power"! I do however want to do a big block since in all the years I have been around cars I have never had a big block of any brand.