'69 396 2-barrel

[Chipper Chapman]

Heads are a regular oval port, but they don't have your typical 396 closed chamber, thus giving the 265hp a lower compression as well. They were likely the first of the open/semi open style. I saw a pair once and the chamber resembles that of the 71-72 820 and 292 heads, unshrouded a bunch around the exhaust valve. 14.92 weight break for a 2 door biscayne means you could get one of these up as far M-N/S lol

[Bench Racer]

1969 396 with 2 Barrel Carb
Max Brake Horsepower - 265 @ 4800 rpm
Max Torque - 400 @ 2800 rpm
Stroke - 3.76
Bore - 4.094
Compression - 9.00
I found this info on the web. Don't look like this combo would like a very loose converter.
I asume the 2GC on these would flow in the 450cfm range?? Anyone know what the RPM range would be for this kind of engine? Don Jackson

[Bill Bogues]

I have one of these engines I used to run in a old pickup truck I had. Gobs of low rpm torque. I swear the engine would run at 200 rpm. You couldn't lug it down. I used to drive it up the driveway in high gear at 10 mph and it wouldn't jump or anything. It.s the same shortblock as a 325 with a 109cc head to lower the compression. Still have it for future use. I think it would be a good combo in stock as long as you had something big enough to haul it and the big car that goes with it around.

[Bench Racer]

I'm playing Paramedic with the vampires this month, rotate a month of 12 hr days then a month of 12 hour nights. It kinda slow so I got time to kill on the web. I was looking at the 69 Chevy 2 bbl combos and it looks like the 396 got a smaller carb than the 350. If the numbers I found on the web (along with my elementary fraction skills) are correct it looks like the 350 got a 435cfm carb, and the 396 got a 423cfm piece. Don Jackson

[Chad Rhodes]

My dad bought one of those engines many years ago for $50. Not sure if he still has the heads but the cast crank was not drilled for a pilot bushing and was 4lbs lighter than any other 396/427 cast crank

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Bench Racer

I'm playing Paramedic with the vampires this month, rotate a month of 12 hr days then a month of 12 hour nights. It kinda slow so I got time to kill on the web. I was looking at the 69 Chevy 2 bbl combos and it looks like the 396 got a smaller carb than the 350. If the numbers I found on the web (along with my elementary fraction skills) are correct it looks like the 350 got a 435cfm carb, and the 396 got a 423cfm piece. Don Jackson

Correct, and not a very good combo..
Look at the 77 400 4 bbl Pontiac @ 260 hp ,and tell me which you'd rather have in a big car,... station wagon.

You'd be better off with a 427/335 in a big 69 Chevy

[Rory McNeil]

If anybody in the Northwest felt the urge to build such a combo, I was at the Monroe Swap Meet in Monroe WA yesterday, and I saw a 69 396 2 barrel intake, carb and air cleaner assembly there for 50 bucks. It may still be there today.

[Dan Fahey]

I am in the middle of a full restoration of my 1969 Impala.
Raced for decades the chassis needed a lot of repair and updated the frame. Got it all powder coated. Body has been rebuilt removing rust.
Just need a new hood. May have to sell it.

The 396/265 2v is doable combination.
Car works well with the 350/255/275 combo.
Natural L car and move up to K or with weight to M.
The 350/250/245 2v is a better combo than the 396.
That combo is a N,O,P depending on weight.

D