opinion needed

[nikitalea]

hello im 16 and i am in the process of buying a 69 camaro from my uncles friend. im not on a large budget but i want a car that is fast but also able to keep the engine bay clean and showable. I also want to be able to drive it and not let it sit in the garage, i also want to get decent gas mileage, and keep it streetable. i am hoping to make like 600 hp. i have 3 different options. I can build up the stock 350. i can drop in my uncles 396 or 454 which i can get for really cheap or free.

if u can leave some of ur opinions about the motor choice and what other parts i should top it of with i would greatly apperciate it

[c6z06]

What I think, is that if you can buy one of the other motors, I would get the 396 for Streetability, Daily performance, and Show quality. The 396 is a fairly Rare motor and whats nice about it is that it is a classic 1969 SS motor the 396 Big Block. Back in the day when that was equipped in the Camaro, it was a freaking Monster! If you dont feel its fast enough, id say upgrade the intake a little bit, biger carb and intake manifold, add a free flowing True Dual exhaust to it, and some gears, and be done with it. I wouldnt add the blower to the 396, because of its rarity (if thats a word) and its size, forged internals will cost ALOT. Also many blowers on big block motors dont produce the same PSI and may not be as effective as w/ a smaller motor. The 454 is far form a street friendly motor, although very powerful.

Now for the good part, and more in the direction you wanted to hear. Sicne you can Purchase, or be Given an extra motor, build up the stock 350ci for the racing season. Forged internals, a very stout cam and head package, larger or multiple carbs, exhaust and add the blower to it. Lower the compression to about a 9:1 or so, get a cam that has a higher exhaust duration w/ a .550+ lift. This will allow the PSI from the supercharger to take full effect increasing the air-flow through the engine. The reason for the higher exhaust is since there will be such a large amount of Air entering it, the exhaust is probably not going to be sufficient enough and get rid of all of it, this will help take all that air and send it right out getting the full effect of the Blower.

So 396 for street/show and blown 350 for Race/Show. You can also create a tame system for daily driving the blown 350 but that may be very difficult.

[Euclid]

I agree with 02ws6.. One of my good friends just got done with his 68 with the 396.. Rather sweet motor.. And his is daily driven, Without a/c and leather seats for our hot texas summers. :banghead: I believe he has headers, cam, Intake mani and some ignition goodies.. Plenty fast for daily

[SilverGhost]

I would suggest going with the 454. I have owned several 396 ci big blocks and would say you are wasting your money by building them. Any improvements you make to the engine, would benefit the bigger cubic inch motor as well. My last 396 made 600 hp. I cracked two blocks. The 454, in my opinion, will be very streetable. On the other hand, I know of several 396 big blocks that I can get my hands on cheap....they just aren't desirable. Email me at rkoskows@twcny.rr.com for the info on the internals of my old motor.

As far as looking original, you can't tell by looking...tell everyone it is a 396 or a 427.

Good luck!

[Mr.Attitude]

im with rkoz, id always go with the bigger cubes. you want streetability? dont put the throttle all the way down. and no need for a crazy cam. 454 is also pimp for braggin rights, if the 454 would cost the same as the 396, definitly go with the 454.

[Euclid]

Thats gonna be alotta gas...

[SilverGhost]

454 most likely won't use any more fuel than the 396. I currently have a 540 ci engine and it uses the same amount of fuel to run as the 396 BBC I had.

[Euclid]

hmm.... Well I guess i really have no room to talk .. since i never had neither of those engines..

[obseSSed]

Put a ls1 in it, I just had to say it!

[99huggerorangez]

You can't go wrong with more cubes. I rode in a 68 or 69 Camaro I forget which with the 350 and just exhaust work as far as I know that thing was a pig. I wasn't impressed at all. 454 all the way IMO.

[Euclid]

Put a ls1 in it, I just had to say it!
hell just go with a ls7