396 Build

[68SSrag]

I am getting close to building my rat motor. I have my L88 (L89) Aluminum heads, L88 aluminum intake and the four bolt 396 block, of course. Now, if money were no object (it will be but this is a good place to start) what crank, pistons, connecting rods, bearings, rings etc. would you use to build your dream engine?

[william]

What you have described is kind of a hodge-podge of parts.

What do you want to build? A nostalgia 'resto' engine or an HP big-block?

L88 and L89 heads are not the same. All L89 heads are closed-chamber; most L88 heads are open chamber. Each requires a specific piston design and camshaft. Chevy never built an open-chamber 396; there may not be a 396 piston that will work. No matter; the L88 was a 12:1 427 and miserable on the street when you could get good gas.

If it is a resto engine, lose the L88 intake [no manifold heat]; find a '163'. Hopefully you have closed-chamber '842' heads. With a 780 carb and L78 cam it should be a pleasant street motor with decent power.

If it is an HP big block why bother with a 396? There are plenty of 454 blocks around. The parts and build-up will cost the same but the 454 will have far more power.

[sam]

I agree with William. Do a 454 if you want all the torque and power. Probably more of those (parts) out there by now. If you want to do a stock 396/375 motor that will run real strong too. Can't really just mix all that hodge podge together. Try to decide what you really are looking for.  It is really about the combination.

[68SSrag]

Sorry, Mortek refers to the 3919842 rect closed port 107cc chamber Aluminum head as L88 L89.  GM hodge-podged these onto 396's in 1967 and 1968.  GM called it an L78 or L89 depending on the aluminum or cast iron material.  Mortek lists the following heads used on L88's L89's in 1967 1968

3919840....67-69...rect..CLOSED..396, 427, 107cc chamber
3904392....67......rect..CLOSED..427, Aluminum, L88, L89, 107cc chamber
3919842....68-69...rect..CLOSED..396, 427, Aluminum L88, L89, 107cc chamber

69 L88's and ZL1's used an open chamber
3946074....69&71...rect...OPEN...'69 427 L88, ZL1, Aluminum, 118cc chamber
Open chambers were not used on 67 and 68 Camaros L89's.

I understand that a 454 could make more power but my car didn't come with a 454.  I'm trying to build the best 396 that I can using parts that went on '68 Camaros.  The only part mentioned in my above hodge podge that didn't come on a L89 Camaro is the manifold.  This is a 3919851 L88 intake from a 427 Corvette.  If there is a way to use it, I would like to.  http://www.mortec.com/bbc.htm

The question was about the bottom end.   Now, if money were no object (it will be but this is a good place to start) what crank, pistons, connecting rods, bearings, rings etc. would you use to build your dream engine?