396 Chevy combo...... - Page 2

Stocker Fan · 06-05-2007, 08:13 PM

wow, i knew you guys would come through! thanks to all who commented on my question, i appreciate all the effort. my project has lost a little steam, i was disappointed when it all didnt come together as quickly as i thought it should. but, since the 2nd week of jan, the engine is 90% done, the trans is almost completed, chassis and suspension are completed and the body shell is painted. maybe i'll be ready for the last indy open or doorslammers. still alot to go....

thanks again, guys..

wade owens
66 chevelle l/sa

Geerhead55 · 06-05-2007, 09:37 PM

Alan,, We picked up a very nice virgin "163" intake a few weeks back at a swap meet for a future 375/396 combo. I'm not familiar with the "359" intake. Could you tell us a little more about it?
Thanks for any info,,,,,,,,,,,, Danny Durham

Alan Roehrich · 06-05-2007, 09:46 PM

Danny, the "359" intake is the new GM replacement for the "163" intake, available at your local GM dealer. Well worth taking a look at.

Alan Roehrich

Bring "AA" classes to NHRA Stock Eliminator!

Adger Smith · 06-05-2007, 10:19 PM

Danny,
The intake in question is a refined intake. The one I have examined had some very needed improvement over the 163 intake. You will first notice the fuel channels below the carb run across the plenum florr instead of down the ports. I would assume it helps with raw fuel (separated fuel) and helps it re mix with air. There are a couple of others thing , but it helps to measure & compare one to the other. A good piece & priced right!

Adger Smith

Alan Roehrich · 06-05-2007, 10:22 PM

Also, the plenum wall is cut some. If you have a 69 or earlier car, you cannot run a cut plenum 163, but you can run the 359 with the shallow plenum cut. Compare the two side by side and you'll see and measure other differences.

Alan Roehrich

Bring "AA" classes to NHRA Stock Eliminator!

Geerhead55 · 06-06-2007, 12:44 AM

Thanks a lot fellas,, I appreciate the info. I'll let my buddy who is collecting the pieces for his son's 69 Camaro know about this. It makes sense to check out both intakes and go from there.
Alan and Adger,,, you guys are great! Danny Durham

FlyingW · 06-17-2007, 05:56 AM

The 396/375 hp cars that are flying and that are more than likely going to get hit with hp are us guys that run the aluminum heads. sometimes better is going to get you. like right know due to the hit we got at the begining of the year took from 375/390 hp to 375/395hp took my 69 camaro from 3485 to 3525 lbs min weight if we get bumped to 400 horse at 8.5 x 400 +170 ( aloted weight for the driver) = 3570lbs almost 100lbs. thats a tenth or they say............ but it is the best combo to run because its so fun.........

Jeremy Waibel
K&N B/SA 69 camaro
2231

Alan Roehrich · 06-17-2007, 09:24 AM

The other real advantage to the 401 aluminum head is you don't spend tons of time and money hunting virgin closed chamber cast iron heads. GM stopped producing the 291 cast iron head about 5 years ago, and the others decades before that. Some of them (the 291 heads) are still around for a decent price. But if you go hunting the others, you can pay $1K for what amounts to worn out junk, and as much as $3K+ for good stuff, and that's BEFORE you do a valve job and mill them. We may build a 396 over the winter, depending on how NHRA treats the combination this year. If some of the guys keep hammering it, and NHRA hits it hard, we'll just stick with the 427.

Alan Roehrich

Bring "AA" classes to NHRA Stock Eliminator!

Geerhead55 · 06-18-2007, 12:50 AM

We did a little researching in the pits at Seattle this weekend and had a nice conversation with Cal and Mary Ann Method who had her Nova in "A" trim for the divisional. They had a "359" intake on the car and the GMPP aluminum heads. The feeling there was that another hit might negate the advantage of the aluminum heads and they might go back to the cast iron heads. Of course many racers have built up inventories of parts over time and can change back and forth as the need arrives. I guess for racers starting out with this combo it makes sense to go out of the GMPP catalog, at least to get the new car up and going.
My 2 cents.................... Danny Durham

06-05-2007, 09:46 PM	#13
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,106 Likes: 1,564 Liked 1,789 Times in 408 Posts	Danny, the "359" intake is the new GM replacement for the "163" intake, available at your local GM dealer. Well worth taking a look at. Alan Roehrich Bring "AA" classes to NHRA Stock Eliminator! __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

06-05-2007, 10:19 PM	#14
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Danny, The intake in question is a refined intake. The one I have examined had some very needed improvement over the 163 intake. You will first notice the fuel channels below the carb run across the plenum florr instead of down the ports. I would assume it helps with raw fuel (separated fuel) and helps it re mix with air. There are a couple of others thing , but it helps to measure & compare one to the other. A good piece & priced right! Adger Smith __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

06-05-2007, 10:22 PM	#15
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,106 Likes: 1,564 Liked 1,789 Times in 408 Posts	Also, the plenum wall is cut some. If you have a 69 or earlier car, you cannot run a cut plenum 163, but you can run the 359 with the shallow plenum cut. Compare the two side by side and you'll see and measure other differences. Alan Roehrich Bring "AA" classes to NHRA Stock Eliminator! __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

06-17-2007, 09:24 AM	#18
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,106 Likes: 1,564 Liked 1,789 Times in 408 Posts	The other real advantage to the 401 aluminum head is you don't spend tons of time and money hunting virgin closed chamber cast iron heads. GM stopped producing the 291 cast iron head about 5 years ago, and the others decades before that. Some of them (the 291 heads) are still around for a decent price. But if you go hunting the others, you can pay $1K for what amounts to worn out junk, and as much as $3K+ for good stuff, and that's BEFORE you do a valve job and mill them. We may build a 396 over the winter, depending on how NHRA treats the combination this year. If some of the guys keep hammering it, and NHRA hits it hard, we'll just stick with the 427. Alan Roehrich Bring "AA" classes to NHRA Stock Eliminator! __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

06-05-2007, 08:13 PM	#11
Stocker Fan Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 11 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	wow, i knew you guys would come through! thanks to all who commented on my question, i appreciate all the effort. my project has lost a little steam, i was disappointed when it all didnt come together as quickly as i thought it should. but, since the 2nd week of jan, the engine is 90% done, the trans is almost completed, chassis and suspension are completed and the body shell is painted. maybe i'll be ready for the last indy open or doorslammers. still alot to go.... thanks again, guys.. wade owens 66 chevelle l/sa

06-05-2007, 09:37 PM	#12
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Alan,, We picked up a very nice virgin "163" intake a few weeks back at a swap meet for a future 375/396 combo. I'm not familiar with the "359" intake. Could you tell us a little more about it? Thanks for any info,,,,,,,,,,,, Danny Durham

06-06-2007, 12:44 AM	#16
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Thanks a lot fellas,, I appreciate the info. I'll let my buddy who is collecting the pieces for his son's 69 Camaro know about this. It makes sense to check out both intakes and go from there. Alan and Adger,,, you guys are great! Danny Durham

06-17-2007, 05:56 AM	#17
FlyingW Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Frostproof, Fl. Posts: 450 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	The 396/375 hp cars that are flying and that are more than likely going to get hit with hp are us guys that run the aluminum heads. sometimes better is going to get you. like right know due to the hit we got at the begining of the year took from 375/390 hp to 375/395hp took my 69 camaro from 3485 to 3525 lbs min weight if we get bumped to 400 horse at 8.5 x 400 +170 ( aloted weight for the driver) = 3570lbs almost 100lbs. thats a tenth or they say............ but it is the best combo to run because its so fun......... Jeremy Waibel K&N B/SA 69 camaro 2231

06-18-2007, 12:50 AM	#19
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	We did a little researching in the pits at Seattle this weekend and had a nice conversation with Cal and Mary Ann Method who had her Nova in "A" trim for the divisional. They had a "359" intake on the car and the GMPP aluminum heads. The feeling there was that another hit might negate the advantage of the aluminum heads and they might go back to the cast iron heads. Of course many racers have built up inventories of parts over time and can change back and forth as the need arrives. I guess for racers starting out with this combo it makes sense to go out of the GMPP catalog, at least to get the new car up and going. My 2 cents.................... Danny Durham