Well my wife is my land yacht, sue me. She’s getting another engine. It’s a real L78 396 big block. Some factory upgrades over the regular 396 include: 780cfm Holley carb, aluminum intake manifold, square intake port heads, 2.19in intake valves, 1.72in exhaust valves, 11:1 compression, 4 bolt main block, forged steel crank, solid lifter cam. It has very few upgrades/changes, as the car itself competes in stock class at shows. We did a hotter hydraulic lifter cam for maintenance, roller rockers, headers, and lowered the compression to 10.58:1 for fuel options. It was already bored before my purchase.
My car is a real 65 Impala SS, factory 4 speed, with its original powertrain in it. When we purchased the car, it wasn’t in the greatest of shape. My father always wanted a big block in it, but at the time the 300HP 327 was enough. I decided that if anything ever happened to the original engine; there were 3 engines I’d like to replace it. This 396 being one of them. The reason being in 1965 was the only year you could get a 396 in a Corvette. They came in two flavors 375hp and 425hp. Ironically there wasn’t a nickels worth of difference in the two engines. They revved it a little more and it produced the 425hp. Well the 425hp 396 was available for a 65 Impala.
Due to the car being originally a small block car; we’re having to upgrade components to handle the big block. First is a big block transmission. The car originally has a Muncie M20, it’s getting a Muncie M21. Second, it has drums on all four wheels, and disc brakes will be added to the front. Third, are the front end suspension components. They need to be upgraded to handle the heavier big block. The car won’t be drag raced so everything will be based on stock equipment standards.
A lot of pictures were taken at the machine shop. As I receive them I’ll post them up.
I’ll update this thread as the endeavor continues.
Sent from the twilight zone…