1969 396 2 barrel engine is it worth anything?

A friend of mine is trying to sell me a 396 and a turbo 400 out of an impala. The motor is complete 2 barrel carb to pan and has the original turbo 400 with it. Is it worth any thing never heard of a big block with a 2 barrel. I looked on ebay and could not find any stock 2 barrel intakes. Only thing I could find on line is this.

L-66 1969, 396/265HP, 2-bolt block, steel crank, cast pistons, closed chamber oval port heads, hydraulic cam, compression: 9.0:1, 2 barrel carb, cast intake

Is it worth any thing or should I keep looking?


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It`s worth whatever anyone will give you for it. However, the question on big blocks is common, why spend money on a 396 when you can build a 454 for the same price?

It could well be worth something to a restorer as I think it was only offered 1 year.As far as build up same as any other 396.

Yes, 396-402 two bbl full size cars were produced in 69 and 70.
I owned one of those beasts back in the day. What a TURD!!!!!! Parted it out when the front end parts got loose.

If you can get the engine/trans combo for a good price. Grab it. The intake, cam, exhaust are normally replaced on a Hot Rod rebuild anyway.

Yes, easy to make that into a 400hp/450ftlb 402cid (+0.030 396) with a cam, intake, carb, and header swap. However, as stated above, why build a 396 when you can build a 454 for the same price?

I built a 396 as a spare engine for my 454. Had it sitting under the work bench so I used it. It is now a 413cid. It works OK as a spare but is down on power and gets 1 mpg worst as compared to my 454.