QUESTION AND ANSWER:
Is this complete, ready to install? Did you rebuild it yourself? Miles since rebuild? Thanks!
ANSWER FROM ENGINE SHOP/BUILDER:
Please read the listing completely or dial me up for a conversation. I think the problem with this engine is that the price is too cheap so people cannot comprehend the 4-6 weeks spent in the machine shop doing all the machine work, balancing, assembly work and blueprinting that is 40hr work week x even 4 weeks is 160hrs labor. Now at shop rate $50-$100 per hour that is minimum $8000 labor + cost of parts. Just the block for an old rusted 4-bolt #962 that likely has a host of issues are $3,000-$5000 and the #858 heads are $1500 to $2000 each for just rusted cores that may or may not be any good.... I digress. This is a $20,000 engine on sale for $12,500. I am 25+ plus year experienced engine builder. The block was torque plate honed by my 69 year old father and his assistant. I valve jobbed and machined the heads and assembled the heads with new springs and hardened locks and new stainless valves. I installed the valve train and heads and intake an other parts to the motor. Along with validated oil pressure, setting valves, and making sure all 16 lifters are oiling all the valve springs correctly. The engine has ZERO miles. Please look at the build sheet on the listing. Shows the engine assembly specs clearances, etc. All new rings and bearings, new NOS Traco special solid cam. New genuine GM stellite face hardened lifters. New springs, valves, retainers. New true roller timing chain gear set. New M77 Melling HV oil pump. All new seal and gaskets. Moly rings. Poly locks on new long slot rocker arms. I could go on an on... Its likely too good of a motor at too low of a price. Very few can understand it correctly.....And its STANDARD BORE with GM part numbered forged 425hp pistons in it!!! Jerry SAG Performance Group
WOW-425HP 396 refurbished engine with GM part number dome forged L78 pistons. #3855962 FACTORY 4-BOLT MAIN block, VERY RARE #3673858 Rect port special HIPO heads. Look up the block part number and head part numbers. People sell the blocks for around $3000 or more (BEFORE refubishment) and the heads for around $4000 per pair! Block is stamped with IF suffix code that comes back in Corvette book code for 1966 Corvette 425hp. MAKE OFFER!
NOTE: Valve covers can be painted orange no charge if you want that to be technically more correct for 1965 Corvette L78 425hp application.
Approximately 4 weeks full time work to restore and refubish this engine back to look like it would have when it came off GM's assembly line in 1960's. This is 40hrs x 4 weeks or 160hrs shop rate at $100 per hour machine shop rate $15,000 labor + parts. Willing to sell for less to move the engine... VERY SPECIAL NOS Traco solid lifter camshaft installed. Look of Traco--very special deal...
These engines ship with the valves set, ready to install!! Major over-hauling and refurbished with torque plate honing of cylinders in standard bore! Using hand selected factory 4-bolt main hi-po engine blocks. New rings and bearings. New true roller double row timing sets. New cam and lifters with ONLY Genuine GM hardened face lifters used! New melling oil pump with steel pinned drive shaft. These are awesome high performance engine combinations perfect for your Corvette, Camaro, or other high performance Chevrolet muscle car! Blueprint sheet for this engine below.
Ships with the special TRACO grind flat tappet camshaft similar to the 425hp L78 solid mechanical flat tappet 242/254 duration @.050 112 LSA .561/.581 lift made by Engle cam for Traco. Installed brand new out of the box NOS!
1965 396 L78 Corvette Blueprint Sheet (Rebuilt ~ Balanced &
BluePrinted in 2025)
Main Bearing
clearance .0025
.002 rod bearing
clearance
Genuine GM #6223
forged crankshaft .030/.030
SA Gear True roller
double row timing set
Hastings Plasma Moly
Ring Set
Forged Pistons GM
#3881456 DOME L78 425HP 11.0:1
2350 Bobweight
digitally balanced
Special Order NOS
TRACO Road Race Camshaft (Made Custom for TRACO SCCA race team
Cam Specs .561/.580
112 LSA 242/254 @ .050 (.569/.587exh lift with 1.72 ratio)
.330 Int .341 Exh
lobe (Before Rocker Ratio)
Cold Lash .020/.024
Genuine GM Solid
Flat Tappet Lifters (With Fused on Stellite Hardened Wafer Face)
Piston to Valve
Clearance >.150 Int >.100 Exh
Rod Side Clearance
.018
Piston to wall .005
+/-
ring gap .024
top/.022 2nd, > .020 oil expander
Bore 4.097 +/-
Piston 4.092 +/-
Crankshaft forged
#6223 3.766 stroke GM
.030/.030~Digitally
Balanced in 2025 On Winona Van Norman Balance Machine
Engine Block GM
Casting Number 3855962 (Special High Performance 4-BOLT MAIN)
STAMPED T0520IF)
Engine Block
Standard Bore (Torque Plate Honed in 2025 w/ 3rd Sunnen
Stone JHU818 for Moly Ring RA Finish)
Heads GM Rectangular
Port (1965 Casting Date) Used originally on 425-450hp Corvette C2)
# 3873858
2.190/1.880 21-4N
Stainless valves with Bronze valve Guides (Manley/Engine Pro valves)
Undercut Stems,
Hardened Tip, One Piece Forging, Hard Chrome Plated Stems
Premium True Dual
Valve Spring Duplicate of GM#14097002 w/ 1.270” Coil Bind
Metal Clad High Temp
Positive Valve Seals
Hardened Locks and
Heat Treated 4140 Chrome Moly Steel Retainers (10 degree Super Lock)
1.900 Installed
Height, 115 psi Seat pressure 335psi at full lift 1.310-1.330”
Bronze Valve Guide
Clearance .00175 Intake/ .00225 Exhaust
Long Slot ZL1/L88
style Rocker Arms 1.72 Ratio, Machined Extra oil Gulls
Engine Pro HP 7/16
Rocker Studs 8740 Chrome Moly Rated to 190,000 psi tensile strength
Elgin HP Poly Locks
Melling M77 oil pump
with steel pinned driveshaft
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: BEING SOLD AS A RESTORATION ENGINE, A MIX OF GM, AFTERMARKET, AND REPRODUCTION PARTS. NO PARTS ARE BEING REPRESENTED AS "ORIGINAL" OR BORN TO YOUR CAR. NO WARRANTY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.