I have a friend with a 1968 Chevelle SS396. He was owned this car since the early ’70’s. It never occured to him the car would be worth a fortune someday, he just loves his car, and it’s 100% original too. Which makes it an ideal collectors car. He calls me a week or so ago and told me he was looking for crate engines for sale, and who sold 100% factory new ones.
He called the right guy. I mean I’m a walking talking big block Chevy information factory. The particular 396 cubic inch engine in his model was the closest thing to full race version as Chevy could get away with in 1968. The L-78 engines produced more than the advertised 375 horsepower, built with 11:1 compression ratio (107 octane gas), forged aluminum pistons, aluminum high-rise intake manifold, steel crankshaft, solid lifter cam, rectangular (“square”) port closed chamber heads, and four-bolt main caps.
For all of the folks running around in modern ”go fast” muscle cars, you ain’t seen nothing yet if you don’t try a SS386 with the L-78 tire burning big block in it. It’s is an experience you should not pass up. I owned a 1966 Vette with the L-72 427 cubic inch version of the L-78 396, which was advertised at 425 horsepower. A transmission breaking tire wearing monster.
Back to the subject. Of course I know where he can buy a 396 Chevy crate engine for sale, at an affordable price. Basically we decided a new short block was the way to go. Parts like the intake manifold, exhaust manifolds, oil pan, carburetor, and front timing cover are components that get swapped from old short block to ‘new’ short block.
A new crate engine was located, still packaged in a wooden crate from the factory. It was packed in some sort of greasy substance to prevent any corrosion or rust. I think it is called ”cosmoline”. The military coats all sorts of things with cosmoline. Like guns, equipment, machinery, vehicles and other things that may be in storage for a while, yet need to be in instant usable condition upon opening and cleaning.
He is an accomplished mechanic, so he does not need my help putting it in his car. He called me when his new crate engine arrived and we got really excited opening it and wiping it down. What a beauty.
When I went over a week later to see and hear and get a ride in his car. Just being in the newly running engines presence was awesome, almost a religious experience, we both agreed that new crate engines sound like music to the ears. He told me that GotEngines.com was a pure enjoyment to deal with. He was more floored by the excellent service than the price. He got a heck of a price though, but he knows shopping for the right engine is more than about price only. Call us at 1-941-269-8284.