From the sound of what's left, I think I have a best solution for you! Get a 454 bare block, then put your 396 crank and rods in it, but with 427 pistons! The end resut is a 427 engine that doesn't use the external balancing, and will have a little more power than a 396, yet retain the nostalgia of a 427, and save you a ton of money.
Just have your crank turned, rods resized, and use all your present parts on the new bare block! Cheap!

 

Thanks for the input. Since I can salvage the crank, I've decided to build a 427 using a 454 block. Plan to use Aluminum heads and a roller cam. Yes it's outside my budget but what the hell, it's Xmas :-)

 

Sounds like a good plan.

 

Same engine I am building for mine now.... Pulling my 502 out and gonna put a 427 in too. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

is it just me or do all 396 just blow up when they go. My dad used to have a 67 c20 with the 396 i went after about 75,000. he just bought a 68 c20 that only had 50,000 on it and the engine went on the 2 hour drive back home from getting it. And that's just my families experience. I have heard lots of horror stories about 396's from the factory going, never one thats been rebuilt or a crate engine though.

 

I would go with the 427 if it was me, They are just bold and tough