Pros and Cons: 350 vs. 396

[patmckinneyracing]

This is a funny story but results in the best advice I've ever heard from a Mustang guy.

I work with a buddy of mine at O'reillys who owns a high 12's mustang. Me and him were bullshitting and I was telling him about how I was hunting down heads and trying to upgrade the top end on my 350 to get rid of the 882 2.02/1.60 valved heads I have. The cost is gonna run me near 1500 after is all said and done.

Well that topic passes and we started talking about a friend of mine who is one of Chrysler's engine builders from back in the day. I told him how this other friend of mine has been trying to sell this Big Block 396 for a while and has been asking $2500 for it. This motor has fully built oval port heads and is making 550hp out of the box. He built it for someone else but I guess he got stiffed on it. So my mustang buddy asks me "So why the hell don't you put the 396 in instead of screwing around with a 350?"

So this has cause me to realize that for the price of getting minimal gains out of a 350, I could get a fully built 396 ready to go and any upgrades will be worth it. I may be able to talk him down to $2000 and maybe even some trade with a complete 440 I have. So what are some of the pros and cons of going with a 396 over a 350? Thanks for the input.

 

[496kid]

headers are$$$ for a big block.you can use stock mounts and trany.mostly a bolt in deal.i have a monte ss with a big block going in it.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

I've already got a 700r4 bolted in with no issues and is built to handle the ponies. I've read on a few places about the headers. Thus far, I know hookers, being the most expensive, makes them, hedman has their set, and supposedly you can make A-body headers fit with some trimming.

 

[Big block WI]

I would say the pros are many more hp/tq there's no replacement for displacement, but being a realist I would
say in your situation I would make a list of things you need to modify to get it in there first and then add a couple
Hundreds to that price for things you never thought of after that compare the pros and cons and see if it is worth it
To you.

396 pros
Torque high off idle HP.
Has stout platform for additional mods.
Can be a badass stroker.
It's a big block.

350 pros
Better daily driver gas mileage
Higher rpm HP potential
Can be stroked relatively cheap
Cheaper parts

396 cons.
Bad daily driver gas mileage
Suspension will need upgrades.
More expensive parts.

350 cons
HP walls are met fast as everyone already knows
There so common its not real unique
Need extensive machining and lots of $ to match BBC hp/tq

You could go back and fourth all day but if this were me and it wasn't my daily driver I would dive in head first and go 396 hope I helped a little. But I probably just told you stuff you already were well aware of

 

[larryo454]

headers are$$$ for a big block.you can use stock mounts and trany.mostly a bolt in deal.i have a monte ss with a big block going in it.

Headers are not BIG $$$$ hooker 2455, Summit sells them $169.95 This is what i use for years with my gbody and it is a 2" tube.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

My malibu is no longer my daily driver. As far as I know, I've read up on all the modifications needed for the big block.

The suspension is 2 inch drop spindles in the front with 5660 moog coils (s10 coils) with cargo coils rear. There is no air or heat, air box is gone, running the jeep intermediate shaft which clears up a lot of space, and I'm confident the 700r4 will hold up with no problems at all. Only concern would be the 7 5/8 rear but I've even had that professionally rebuilt with Yukon gears, etc.

The 350 is a great motor, but you're right, the power potential has been reached without dumping major cash into it.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

And larry, can you pull up a link for those. All the ones I see are over $350.

 

[496kid]

you can use 2455 hookers,but you lower a arm's need some mods done i believe.i was talking about bolt on headers.

 

[RockSS]

This is a funny story but results in the best advice I've ever heard from a Mustang guy.

I didn't know mustang guys could even have a thought...
I'm a little confused didn't you just finish building that 350? .... Anyway yea there are pro's and con's to both if your not daily driving it anymore well I like , oops sorry I ment LOVE the idea of a built BBC in a G-Body. You will need a great cooling system also if you do plan on driving it on the street. As far as the rear end yea you'll prolly blow it ... depends on how abusive you are but the 350 could pop it. Well I say if you can get a done BB for cheap I say go for it 8)

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Go 396!