Alright, I know this is not third gen related....but now that I no longer own a third gen and still have engine questions I think I should turn to you guys. I am looking into buying a engine for my 1962 Chevy truck. I would like at least 400 hp so I can have fun on friday and saturday nights with all the fords in town. Anyways....I am looking for a already built engine of any size for under 3500 bucks. I stumbled upon these two engines and was hoping that you guys could tell me which one you would choose if you were in my shoes. Any and all help is appreciated....

Chevy 383
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY...spagenameZWDVW

Chevy 396
CHEVY / BBC 1968/69-396 COMPLETE STREET RACE MOTOR

 

Id get the 383, big block aint worth the weight for just 13 cubes more. Plus it looks like it was probably beat on

 

If you've got that kind of cheddar I would just talk to an engine builder and get a long block built like I did.

Then you know it's brand new and save money in the process.

Plus it would be local so I would check around your area Tom!

 

some other folks I have talked to have said that the 396 looks to be built a little too much for my street truck. They have said there is a good chance it will beat up my rear end and other parts, also the compression ratio is a little high for pump gas. I will probobly be going with the 383.....but man that 396 sure is tempting

 

Looks like it sold already.

Doh!

 

your talking about the 383? The guy that sells those actually owns a shop. I have been watching his ebay store for a while now. As soon as he sells one he puts another one up for sale. He has like 5 or 6 engine combos that he constantly makes, as soon as one sells he puts another one that is exactly the same up for sale. Have no fear, the same deal will be back!!!

 

Awesome.

Do you know where he is located? I think if I had that kind of 'cheddar' as Vin puts it, I would certainly check out what is available in the vicinity for warranty purposes and stuff. It sure would be cool to see that motor in box waiting for me when I got home from work though.

 

the guy with the 383 is located in arizona. I am definatley going to check out some local shops now that you guys bring that up. I am still not done investigating the 396 as well. I made a apt. to check it out this week.

 

I can build you a killer sbc

 

just dont use cardboard for head gaskets.

 

If you can afford the BBC over the SBC, just do it.

You can not compare cube vs. cube when talking BC vs SBC.

BBC heads just way out perfrom SBC heads, hands down, no questions asked.

You can go much milder in a BBC than a SBC and yeild better results, more torque, more HP with less cam and compression.

You add a few pounds...but you're talking truck anyway.

 

You can if the motors already built, sure starting from a bare block go ahead and get the bbc...if its already built hes not getting different heads/blah/blah

 

 

No blah-blah-blah, just reality.

Don't get defensive because you've built a stout small block. Same money spent on a BBC would put you a 1/2 second ahead.

 

Then you havent priced BBC parts compare some sbc afr heads to some bbc afr heads just to name one important part on a motor. I havent really checked anything else (sept for the heads, when i decided which route to take) and that was enough for me. Then to put a bbc into a 3rd gen you have firewall issues, headers that arent nearly big enough for what id want out of a bbc, hell i dont have sbc headers in the size i want.

Im not getting defensive at all (kinda hard to say with the post above) no sh*t you can get more power out of a bbc, no doubt about it, actually thats gonna be my next motor. Just wasnt cost efficient at the time, especially trying to put one into a 3rd gen. yes he has a truck, but hes also not building the motor hes buying a pre assembled one. First the sbc is new...the bbc isnt. If you were to build a bbc no tard would even consider building a 396 now adays unless hes got some cube limit hes gotta stay in. So ill stick to what im saying, out of those PRE BUILD MOTORS, get the sbc.

 

oh cool i got dibs on the 412

 

haha it aint happening anytime soon hopefully

 

I agree with cost, if you're comparing aftermarket parts. Thing is, you don't need to use aftermarket heads with a Big Block. Many factory castings out there that will keep up and surpass high dollar aftermarket SBC heads.

 

HES NOT BUILDING A BBC OR SBC HES BUYING A COMPLETE ONE!!!!!

 

I know that, but you brought up:

"Then you havent priced BBC parts compare some sbc afr heads to some bbc afr heads just to name one important part on a motor."

So what part of ther conversation do you want to jump to next?

Engine paint?

 

you brought it up

 

Are you on medication?

What part of " If you can afford a BBC go for it"...is me "bringing it up". I was talking about the link he posted, and you spoke about aftermarket parts.

 

why do i have to quote exactly what you say

so you're telling him he can get much better bbc heads, with a smaller cam and less compression even tho hes buying a pre built bbc, and im talking about parts?

 

If you are done slapping the yourself upside your head, I can speak slowly, if you can listen.

Do I need to re phrase the entire post for you?

Let me summarize, then I'll wait for you to misconstrue whatever it is that seems to be running through your mind.


Poster:

Which of these motors are better?

My reply:

If you can get ther BBC, do it.

You reply:

Parts this and parts that.

My reply...yadda...yadda..yadda..

He has a truck, '62 as he mentioned, you babbled on about how a BBC was tough to stick into a 3rd gen, then you try to tell me I'm off topic?

WTF?

Now if you'd really like to strary off topic I can go there, but geesh, what the heck are you getting at?

His choice was BBC or SBC, and the engines he listed.

BBC is the better choice for a TRUCK, albeit maybe the engine he showed was more than needed, thing is he has so much more to work with, even with it being a 396/402.

I didn't say "go out and get better heads", I don't kow where you got that from.

What I said, plain and simple is:

Even factory BBC heads can out perform aftermarket SBC heads.

This was in response to your "'Yeah, but if you have to go buy ..."

That's all, plain and simple.

If you really think you can go a SBC route and be better off ( dollar for dollar) than going BBC, you'll come out on the short end just about every time.

(OT now)

Thing is, pick up a no-nothing 454, put jobber rebuild parts in it, early 70's/late 60's cast iron closed chamber heads, mild cam, 9.5/10-1 CR, and you're sitting at 450/475 HP, probably 500/550ft/lbs of torque. Cool thing is you don't need to spin it past 5000/5500 to get there. Also, you won't even notice it's idling.

All for no-name, no aftermarket stuff. It'll hold up as long as the factory LS5/LS6/LS7 blocks of the day.

So what else can we discuss?

 

K lets start over

You would take that bbc (exactly how it sat [ dont think the link works anymore] over that sbc exactly how it sat? Am i right for thinking that?

 

I just farted.

 

I just set my iroc on fire.

 

Speaking of red Camaros on fire.
I was coming home from work on 50 the other day and there was a firetruck & cop blocking one lane of my exit (Watt) and a red Camaro was on the side of the road, front half of the engine bay burned.
I was hella rubber-necking to see if it was somebody I knew.

 

No. That BBC had way more cam needed for a truck, but that's an easy fix, especially since the engine is on a stand.

The upside is for $150 bucks you're back in good buisiness. IIRC, CR was 10:1 on the engine, so losing to .600+ lift cam and 300+ duration wouldn't be tough.

PLus, the future potential of running the BBC far outweighs the potential of a SBC.

I wouldn't even be belaborng the point if it was gong into a '82-'92 F-body, especially in Ca., but an early '60's Pickup, no question.

Then I'm partial I guess, since I have an LS5 in my '57 3100