Pros and Cons: 350 vs. 396

[RITTER]

Is this the same Mustang guy that you have been wanting to race :?: Did it ever happen :?:

Go with the 396 and give him your 350 for partial trade. You will need the 440 for the Roadrunner, won't you :?:

 

[JBreu]

Go 396!

X2------------ that's one hell of a deal Pat!! Some day I'd like to throw a 468 in my Monte 🙂

 

[patmckinneyracing]

This is not the same mustang kid I'm preparing to take down. He is back up in san marcos where I go to school, this other mustang kid I actually work with. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

As for the cooling system, I have a 3 core radiator with the Mark VIII/Thunderbird electric fan. The 350 can barely get up to 160 with the fan on.

Yes I just finished this 350 without having to do any major mods. Only big things I did was a forged 1182 stock crank, knock off air gap intake, and the lunati cam with matching valvetrain. I'm at the point of replacing the heads, but the cost to gain minimal power via racing compression and head size just doesn't justify the costs to me. With a big block, its a drop in deal and I can make real power without squeezing every little ounce of power out of it at the cost of crazy amounts of cash. For the cost and recommendation of AFR heads, I can get a complete 396 ready to go.

When I first bought the roadrunner, yes I went out and snagged the 440 cause I knew exactly where it was in an RV out at the pick n pull. The roadrunner is getting a stock restoration, and I have a spare 383 block so I can save the numbers matching block. So I'm no longer going to use the 440 in my roadrunner. The point to the malibu was getting all the customization out of my system so I won't do it to the roadrunner.

As for the rear end, I'm confident it will hold without major issues. If I can get the motor and stop messing with the sbc, then I can put all upgrades towards the rear end. It is fully built and has put up to the abuse I've given it. What I do need is a differential girdle cover on that bad boy.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Alright gentlemen, I've made my decision. After looking at the 396 specs, small bore near the size of a 350 sbc combined with a long stroke, it is a torque motor but just isn't big on horsepower. So I will not be going after the 396.

At the same time, I've decided that I will be keeping the heads I have since swapping heads would give minimal gains due to cubic inch restrictions. Later on down the road, after the roadrunner restoration, a 383 stroker sbc may be in the works as a better means of making power. But it won't be happening this summer.

After talking further with my buddy, he has a 477 stroker, 440 with a big stroke crank (chrysler), I thought about putting that in for the roadrunner. But after much thought on that topic, I want to keep that car stock or better stock appearance. Stock appearance being a 400 big block chrysler, identical to the 383 that it has, with a 440 crank in it which strokes it to a 451 and gives it the manners of a street hemi.

 

[kornball426]

Dude it's got the shortest stroke of any of the GM big blocks and the same stroke as a 383 chevy, as well as all the Chrysler BB's if you think they're good I don't see why a 396 isn't... Not to mention stock BBC heads are better than stock RB chrysler heads, and SBC heads.

And you can get 550hp you said for 2500 bucks... Unless the dude is a scam artist or something... Damn dude I'm sorry but I'd buy it I think that's a mistake.

Also, if you put a RB crank in a B block then you're really talking about long stroke and short rods, you'd be better off just boring out a 440 they have a 4.32 in bore vs. the 400's 4.34 it's not that big of a difference.

 

[Phoenyx]

I'm voting for the 396. 550HP for $2500, can't go wrong. 😀

 

[CHRIS.O]

If it really has 550hp then your passing up a great deal. Is this new? I see you said a friend has it who built it for someone. I am assuming that someone never came and got it. I would buy it either way, you could easily sell it for more than what you got into it.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

My buddy and some of his friends (guys in there 60's) had planned on putting it into a 1966 chevelle but it never happened.

The plan was to make 550hp. It doesn't have the rockers or camshaft and may not have the oil pan. So there is some money that needs to be spent. As for the 2500, I would have to make payments to the guy throughout the summer as I don't have it just lying around. This motor just isn't as complete as I thought it was.

I've got a complete 440 here at the house that isn't going to be used on the roadrunner, so maybe later on it'll find its way into the malibu. Right now, I think I just need to enjoy what I have and start on the roadrunner. Possibly spend the money on the EZ EFI kit.

 

[kornball426]

Put the 440 in the Road Runner you won't regret it. It's better than a 400 with a 383/440/426 crank in it. 8)

I've got my eye on a 66 Charger right now, there's no doubt if I get it a 440 is going in it... Or maybe 413 because I know a guy with a 63 New Yorker with a 413 might bore it out to 426 and call it a 426 Max Wedge. 8)

 

[silent_orchestra]

440 + Malibu = YUM! ........... I've got a "clutchflite" 727 under the bench that would be perfect for a worked over 440....