ok. do kno if any of the dealers put 396s in any 79 camaros??
cuz the seller I bought mine from says its a 305 but its stamped 396

 

I don't know about the numbers, but a 305 is a small block, and a 396 is a big block, and they look entirely different. Aside from the obvious size difference, look at he exhaust manifold. In the small block the 2 center ports are siamesed, while the ports on a big block are evenly spaced.

 

The 396 has not been built since 1969 in 1970 they called it a 396 but it was actually a 402 which is a .030 over 396. Two fast ways to tell BBC from SBc other then shere size the exhaust ports are evenly spaced on BB and the center 2 on SBC are close together ,and there is a hose going from the water pumpon BBC that is not on a SBC . These are just dwn and dirty ways to ID both engines till you get to fully grasp the art of engine swaps

 

The 396 Is Probably Casting Numbers. Sick

 

Hey Sick,
I am loking at your avatar. That looks like a blown Chrysler Hemi you are showing. What sort of Chevy guy are you? LOL. Well, if it means anything, two of my most enjoyable cars had blown Hemis.