350, 396 or 454?

I own a 1978 Camaro Z28 and I'm in the beginning stages of rebuilding it. My purpose for this car is to have a drivable, somewhat economical, yet powerful street car that can also pull of good numbers on a strip. I wanna post this poll and get some opinions on engines. I love the classic 350 cuz it gives good power and great sound for small price, but I also want the bragging rights of a 454 with some major big block power. Or would a 396 be a better choice? Take into consideration these things (as I am): Sound, Power, Cost. I realize much of the sound and power comes from what I choose to do with the engine, but just give me your baseline opinions please, and I'll take other suggestions as well.

Also any suggestions for tranny's, although I'm kinda bent on a manual, possibly 5 speed.

go with a 396 small block or a 385 stroker, throw on some magnaflows, hell go with straight pipes, and stick an m21 or 22 behind it. the 4-speed is just classic muscle

396, you get the best of both worlds, big block torque and sound, and relativly good gas mileage

gotta go with the small block. so many after market parts and up grades for it. and less expensive than big block stuff. dont get me wrong my big block kicks butt. but if i had to pick right now. you can never go wrong with a small block. 

Thanks for all your opinions! Am i wrong in thinking there is a 396 small block? Or is 396 a big block? Cuz I'm drawing a blank right now, I can't think.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DoubleARon78

Thanks for all your opinions! Am i wrong in thinking there is a 396 small block? Or is 396 a big block? Cuz I'm drawing a blank right now, I can't think.

 
396 is a big block.....but there is also a 400 small block....
 
Since it was a 350 car, I'd just put it back in. No muss, no fuss....
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jeeze, i just noticed you said 396 SMALL BLOCK. i thought you said BB dude, if you do that, you're going to have a monster!!!

Yeah, like rand said if you want it easy go with the 350, otherwise I would do the 396.

Im a big fan of the ZZ4 line of engines (mine's a 350)  from GM performance parts, I LOVE the one in my 70-plenty of power, strong, buildable, great torque, reliable, and with the hooker super comp headers and delta flow muffs, sounds bad ass.

396 doesn't really have to be a big block, you can bore out a 350 to a 396 small block, its pretty outrageous but you can do it, i posted a forum about it a while back but there is kits for it, go on www.strokerkits.com and the part number is 1-40900-1, that is the kit that you would use for basically the bottom end for a 396 small block, in other words, you are boring your motor .150 over, but it is deffinetly possible to do it, i was almost talked into it, but the price was a little steep for what i could afford at the time, but i hope this was some help, personally i would do it, you get the power of a small block but the internals are as good as a big block, and it also takes some weight off the car, if your into racing, it might make a difference. good luck.

yeah, a 396 small block is available, they built one in chevy hih performance magazine a year or so ago

Although I agree with going the small block route, if you really want to have a screamer and have the cash, build a 427 big block. It has big low end torque and can rev with the small block engine, and is a lot sturdier. The 427 will put out 700 HP at the crank without any power adders, and on pump gas.
Here is the build up From Popular Hot Rodding, for the Engine Master competition. This build up tests out at 697 HP @ 6500 RPM, and 606 LB/FT of torque at 5800 RPM. At the low end of the RPM scale it developed 280 HP @ 3000 RPM, and  490 LB/FT of torque @ 3000 RPM
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tech/0704phr_chevy_big_block/index.html

383 stroker

427 kicks ass...if you have the cash. do that . even on the heads its stamped GM PERFORMANCE....

they do kick major butt, how bout thrown a 7 litre ls7 in, its work, but kickass

I sure like the 396.  That's what's in my 72.  But, big block parts are high.  You have to take that into consideration.

thanks for everyone's opinions!! i'm still undecided and i do have a lot of time to decide. I'm in college and won't get a chance to put major work into it until the end of may, so i'll use this time to think about my needs, my cashflow, and of course my wants. this car is bone bare, its only a frame and a body, so i definitely have TONS of work ahead of me. if only i could have three engines and just swap in whatever i want for the day...