correct, the 396 block is good and the 454 block has damage on the bottom of #6 and #7, almost have the rest of it taken apart but the cam is in several pieces and i'm not real hopeful on the 454 but the crank seems to be in good condition... gonna check and see if i have the clearance to basically bore the 396 block into a 454 thanks for the replies
We bored a 69 396 block 1/8" to build a 427 put it in a new super gas car back in 75 made one run with it and it didn't sound right, started it up again brought the revs up to about 4 grand and hydrauliced the motor. You MAY be able to do it but if it blows can you absorb the cost. Pat
The pencil trick...I was not joking. Pull the center freeze plug on one side of both blocks. Stick a pencil between the water jackets around the cylinders. It should fit in the 396 block, but not in the 454. That should tell you something about how safe it is to bore a 396 out to 4.25"
I ve been reading the October 2010 issue of CarCraft and they have an article that covers some issues I think you would run across. http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_1010_396_big_block_chevy_stroker_build/index.html In the article the are building a stock appearing 396 they use a 4.250 stroker 454 crank (496 with .060 overbore) and end up using a mix of parts 400 SB pistons special length rods decking the block and even put some hardblock in the bottoms of the jackets to reinforce where they clearenced the block for the crank. In the end thay had 461ci. I think they easiest thing to do is just get another 454 block if yours is unsuable, for a couple hundred bucks like 1320/150 said. Would also have potential for more power than the 396.
The Jalopy Journal
