Ok, I have my project car ('71 Camaro 4 speed big block car with no engine) and it's a shoestring budget car. Meaning I'll be dropping in a *running* 396 or 454. There won't be a $4000 engine rebuild, aluminum intakes or ported heads or any of that. Super cheap.

I know 396s are a bit more rare, and I have the option to pick a runner up for $1000. I also have a 454 runner on the line for $400. Numbers matching on the car is not an issue.

My question is what are the pros/cons and differences between the engines?

Thanks, guys!

 

Kinda depends on what 396 and what 454 since they both came in a number of different performance levels.
That said either is a great engine,I think 396's rev a little better being shorter stroke but 454's have boatloads of low end torque being a bigger bore and longer stroke.
I've always like the 396 & 427 engines,had both in my '69.
I've got a 454 in my truck and it's been nothing if not a hard pulling workhorse that just won't die.
You'll need a special flywheel/flexplate and harmonic balancer for the 454 since they're externally balanced but everything else is plug and play.
At $1000 vs $400 if they are both in good shape I'd probably go with the 454 assuming they are both garden variety big blocks and one or the other is not something in the realm of a special high performance engine.

 

I love the 396 or 427 too, but I agree with Y2K that based on a budget build I'd go the 454. Most 4 barrel 396 engines are rated 325 hp, but they did build them all the way to 425 hp in the Corvette version.
The 454 can be almost anything from less than 300 hp to killer LS7 that made over 450 hp.

 

Thanks you guys - the input is appreciated!

 

Something about the numder 4-5-4. Plus the cheap factor of parts.