I have a 69 SS 396 convert (clone). I have found out that the block is actually a 400 and the heads are 396. The reason I found this out is when I had to replace the tranny I purchased an internally balanced fly wheel and had a little balance issue. Currently I'm having some trouble with one of my rods. From what I'm being told the rod has worn a groove in the side and is ticking and letting oil get down into the cylinder. The ticking is getting louder and I'm afraid I may cause more damage if I don't get it fixed?
Hear is the dilema. Is the engine worth rebuilding or should I look to spend some more $ on a new motor? I believe I know the answer, but wanted to get some feedback from the experts. I would love to have it rebuilt tight, but I'm not sure what I should expect as far as cost?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Chris

 

Do you have a big block or a smallblock? A 400 is a smallblock, a 396 is a bigblock. A 402 is a bored out 396 both big blocks. Big block head do not interchange with a small block. I am not understanding the rod issue is it a connecting rod or something in the head? A picture of the engine will help.

 

as griff has said, those two engines don't interchange. a 402 isbasically the same asa 396. my 396 started as a 402 (and now it's a 408)

your rod issue is making no sense to me either. I think you are definitely confused on this issue, or someone is blowing smoke up your *** and just wants to make somemoney off of you

if you have some "ticking" that is gettinglouder, it is quite possible that it is just a rocker arm that is backingoff and that's a 5 minute fix

also, why did you have to buy a new flywheel when you bought the new tranny? that doesn't sound right either?

 

Creck, why don't you give us your block casting #, that will answer at least one question. The # is located on top of the block, driver's side, near the bellhousing.

 

This is great! Really, I wanted to get to the bottom of all of this.
I had a powerglide tranny that was starting to give me fits so I swapped it out for TH 350. When I bought the TCI Tranny from Barnett Performance (ATL) they suggested that I change out the flywheel that was internally balanced and a boss hog converter. I was told that a 396 was internally balanced.
OK, I learning, my block # is 3999289 and from what I've found out it's a 71-79 454 block, with 396 heads?
From what the mechanic told me the push rod in the #7 cylinder has worn out the side of the valve guide? That shouldn't tick, should it?

I asked the mechanic to check the rocker arms and he said they were fine? Is there an easy way to check this?

Two problems I'm trying to solve
1-The tick that's getting louder
2-Oil consumption and exhaust fumes. The fumes are blueish/ grey.

I really appreciate the feedback.

[IMG]local://upfiles/12024/6E44708F0BCA45CB925A3A6792A61973.jpg[/IMG]

 

here is a picture of the motor. Any suggestions on what to do with the carb. Rebuild or buy a new one? Again thanks for the advice.

[IMG]local://upfiles/12024/CA3D5DCF82AB4D988DAC1EA4D4BE9FD3.jpg[/IMG]

 

As you probably figured out the 454 is externally balanced. The balance issue can distroy the main bearings. The oil consumption could be due to a valve guide.The problem I see is that you really dont know what you have as far as the engine construction it could be a solid lifter cam ticking. My suggestion is take the car to a shop that builds performance engines...