Took on an SS and won !

[MMM2003]

Catching Subject Line isn't it?

True story, but it was a Impala SS 1965 maybe 1966.
I'm not an expert on those, but I looked at some pictures
for comparision.

The only thing, that doesn't seem to match was a small sign,
the guy had on his right side trunk lid. It said 390.
I thought they all came with .327's

Here goes the story:

Saturday evening. Beautiful day, driving home on Madison main cruising street. I see a red SS in my rearview mirror. The guys is weaving thru traffic to catch up to me.
He pulls up along side and rev's his engine and sprints forward.
We get to a red light.

I roll down my window and tell him I like his car.
He says: "Nice wheels you have on your Marquis !!"

I say: "Yeah, thanks !" I tell him that I really like the 1995/96 Impala SS and looked for one for a while, but then I saw this (MM) and had to get it.

He replies: Yeah, they don't make them like the '96 SS anymore. He want's to know if I got an V8 in there.

I say: I sure do ! As the light turns green. I leave my left foot on the brake to give him a bit of wheel spin. Than we take off.

He was behind 1/2 a car length right away and I kept pulling away. At 65, I slow down and he pulls up next to me. Giving me the open mouth with a smile and thumbs up.

What a rush ! The MM brings out the kid in me. Maybe I should have told him, which V8 I have, but than it would have only been half the fun.

[CRUZTAKER]

SS=396?? No??

[MMM2003]

Could have been a .396.

Not sure of the last digit. I'm not up to speed, on the engine sizes available, back then. Thought the 3rd digit was a "0", could have easily been a 6.

Sure sounded like a hell of an engine, the guy had.

[BlackHole]

390 was FOMOCO the 396 was GM's biggest for the Imp. But with a little engine swap a 427 Rat could also be put in there.

[01 Interceptor]

Well, actually the 427 was the biggest they put in the classic Impala's from the factory. It's pretty rare, and maybe only the '66 model year that I know for sure.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by 01 Interceptor
Well, actually the 427 was the biggest they put in the classic Impala's from the factory. It's pretty rare, and maybe only the '66 model year that I know for sure.


The 427s were used as the biggest Impala SS engines from 1966 to 1969, in various states of tune from mild to wild.

The 396 was introduced in 1965 as a brand new big block Chevy V8, intended as a replacement for the old "W"-style 348/409 big block (the 409 of Beach Boys fame). It was available in the Caprice for 1965, I'm sure, but I'm not sure 100% about Impala availability. It was also available in the Corvette at 425 hp (gross), 375hp in the Caprice (and possibly Impala) and a short run of Chevelles code-named Z16 (which were NOT Chevelle SSs, by the way) also at 375hp (gross).

Semi-hemi heads due to the spread-out nature of the valves. That's why they called that engine the Rat motor... when you popped the valve covers, it looked like a porcupine. Good job demolishing him, MMM2003!!

[MMM2003]

Thanks 3TA.

It sure was fun to see the disbelief in his face. By the sound of his engine and the way he was reving it, I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into.

I guess engine roar isn't everything. HHEHEHE !!

[SSMOKEM]

I had the L72 (427/425hp) in my 68 Impala with the M22 tranny, so I know they were available. :)

[Wags]

Just if anyone wants to know, there were 7 available V8's for the Impala in '65. The base 283, 2 327's, 2 396's (325hp amd 425hp), and 2 409's. This was the last year for the 409's. They were replaced mid-year by the 396's. 427's were available for the Impala starting in '66.

Wags

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by Wags
2 396's (325hp amd 425hp)

Okay, my bad then. The Caprice and Impala 396s must have been the 325hp jobs, but you did forget the 375hp Z16 Chevelle. Essentially the same motor as the 425hp 396 in the Vette, many have wondered just why the 50 hp difference. I have an article at home on the Z16, I can look through it for details if interested.

[Wags]

TripleTransAm,

Nope, did not forget the Z16. That was a special build of Chevelle's with that 396 engine (solid lifter, higher comp., and larger cam). I would die to have a REAL Z16 (there are many clones). There is supposed to be ONE Z16 convertable out there somewhere, but no real proof if it's fact. I saw two coupes when I was teching in cars at a national Chevelle show. But, in the Impala's in '65, there was the 325hp with hyd. lifers, so you could order air on it. No air from factory on the solid lifter engines (cooling problems, same with the LS6 in '70). The Vette's (in those days) always got the highest hp rating, except for the LS6 in the '70 Chevelles. By the way, I really like your collection of TA's! Nice cars.

Wags

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by Wags
I would die to have a REAL Z16 (there are many clones).

The 1965 body style doesn't do it for me, just my humble personal opinion. As far as Chevelles go, I begin liking the 1966-1967 look much more, but my all-time favorite is the 1968-1969 body style... and I'm just plain fed up of the TONS of 1970 Chevelle SSs I see at every car show! (Like, were ALL the Chevelles built in 1970 equipped with 454 LS6s??? :rolleyes: )

I have a particular affinity for the 1968-1969 Canadian-only Pontiac Beaumont... a rebadged Chevelle which was built alongside the Chevelle for Canadian sales only. Everything is Chevy except for front end (split grille motif), rear end, and some minor styling details. Even the powertrain is pure Chevy. From a distance you'd swear it's a Chevelle but up close you notice the Pontiac luxury details.

[BlackHole]

Kind of like the 1 of only 50 69 1/2 Daytona's made for the Canadian market. Yes Canada had 50 of them but only a handful remain I think less than 5. Thats another Canadian market car that not a lot of people know. Most recite the 503 for US but overlook the 50 sent North.:(

[grzellmer]

As an "Ex-Chevy" guy, (Yes, I have come over to the Dark side of the force. Seems Vader killed the guy over at GM responsible for rear drive sedans.) I have owned 4 different '69 Chevy's. The last was a Carpice with a 427/390 hp motor. As someone mentioned, the 'Vette was king of the hill with the 425 hp solid version that year.

It is difficult to tell a 396 versus a 427 by looking at the motor as the block is the same. (Punching out a 396 yields a 427.) The only real way to tell what the block started out as is to read the casting code off it.

[Wags]

TTT,

I'll try to post some pics of my '68 SS. I agree with you about so many '70's out there, all "real" LS6 cars, with factory air. If I get the machine back that has all of my pics on it (friend using it to do some work for me), I'll post this weekend.

grzellmer,

I'm still a die-hard Chevy guy (let the beatings begin), but I'm slowly turning to the dark side (even some of my Chevy buddies are admitting that the Marauder is the best game in town for the 4dr market). It's hard to change after 40+ yrs., but I am trying.......the MM does make it easier though!

Wags

[lyonsd]

Originally posted by grzellmer
As an "Ex-Chevy" guy, (Yes, I have come over to the Dark side of the force.

Excellent. Tell us about your Buick. Is it a GN? T-Type? WE4? Etc..?


Originally posted by Wags
I'm still a die-hard Chevy guy (let the beatings begin), but I'm slowly turning to the dark side

I was a Ford guy when I joined the Dark Side. I wasn't really planning on getting a GN, but I saw the ad in the paper for it, went to see it, and bought it. But I still have my Mustang.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by Wags
(even some of my Chevy buddies are admitting that the Marauder is the best game in town for the 4dr market).


Umm... it's the ONLY game in town! (okay, I guess I should quantify that by adding it's the best RWD 4dr game in town).

Heck, I haven't had this much full-sized RWD fun in over 10 years. Back then I had a blast with my '85 Parisienne, great handler (top suspension option) and a pretty gutsy little 305 4Bbl (the Canadian non-ECM'ed cars were MUCH better runners than the US ECM'ed cars, we only got ECM'ed 305 4Bbl motors starting in 1987). In regular driving, things started sounding "nice" (ie. growl from the motor) briefly just before the 2-3 upshift, when the secondaries were *just* starting to open at 2000 RPM.

The MM on the other hand... wow, it's that same familiar growl but ALL THE TIME and in 95% of the acceleration scenarios including regular driving!!! And the suspension... yep, just like the Parisienne (perhaps the old Pontiac was a bit stiffer-riding, which I kind of like).

Where the Parisienne was all plush velour and chrome trim inside, the MM is a subdued dark and sombre leather cockpit (the console is a nice touch). And the radio is just plain miles ahead of the old relic from my past. I do miss the star-motif'ed hood ornament, though. :-)

And once I get some revised transmission programming (whether through the Ford upgraded s/w or a chip), the fun should increase accordingly! :P

Now, where else can I get this kind of product on the market today???
< insert echoing sound of crickets in an empty field here >