1965 Impala BBC Stocker Update

[impstocker]

This is what my 396/325 motor looks like after sitting in a shed behind my brothers house in South Carolina for a bunch of years. Now in Jimi Vignogna's shop. Block is junk, cracked deck from water left in with freezing temps plus cylinders rusty. Will use rotating assembly in new block. Heads good.

Will Lamprecht 65 Impala I/SA in progress.

[impstocker]

I haven't posted any updates on the car car so here are some pics and where I am at. Being financially challenged I knew it was going to be a slower build. As of now I need:

1) Motor - took my 396/325 motor apart, block turned out to be junk with crack but rotating assembly is OK so I got another block which is at Vignogna Performance to be machined. Engine in car is a bare block 454 and heads just to mock up.
I also need a Distributor and want to go with a Holley 600 for this year so need manifold and carb.

2) Driveshaft - the one I had in my 68 is too short plus slip yoke was for the Jerico

3) Front tires - I have some but are older and have some dry rot, don't want to trust that.

Car is all wired with MSD 7AL-2 up on inside firewall passenger side. 2 step wired off a brake pressure switch. Turbo 350 installed with a strut bar I fabricated to clamp back half and have a 4500 stall converter. 4:88's in car now, but have a set of 4:56's . We will see.
Plus i need to cover seats and some other minor details.

I am going to try lettering car myself with gold leaf. I dob't want vinyl on car, want to keep nostalgia theme.

I really can't wait to go racing!
GO YANKEES!

Will Lamprecht 65 Impala I/SA 396/325 Div 1

[Dwight Southerland]

Don't give up!! You have done so much at this point and it is a worthy work you are doing. Good job!

[GTOMayhem]

Looks great! Got to love a red interior.

Rick Thomason
GTOMayhem

[impstocker]

My new 396 Big Block Chevy block being decked at Vignogna Performance First aligned hone, now decked to minimum NHRA specs to keep compression up. Will be bored and honed starting tommorow, .060 to fit the CP pistons. NHRA accepted. Vignogna Performance did my first 396/325 BBC Stock Eliminator motor pushing my 4100 lb 68 Impala to 11.70 This motor will use that rotating assembly and same heads and Bullit Cam.

[impstocker]

Finished boring the 396 Stock Eliminator motor by Vignogna Performance by James Vignogna Jim Aligned Honed, decked now bored, heading for the final honing on the Sunnen.

[Dwight Southerland]

Did you fill the block? What casting number? Did you sonic test the block?
I have a database of 396 blocks and their characteristics.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by impstocker

Finished boring the 396 Stock Eliminator motor by Vignogna Performance by James Vignogna Jim Aligned Honed, decked now bored, heading for the final honing on the Sunnen.

So you guys calculated the exact amount to deck the block?

[impstocker]

Answers to last 2 post.

Dwight the block was not filled but passed sonic testing. I don't have casting # om me but know it is a 1965-1966 block. Has ungrooved rear cam journal, we will groove the cam I have. Also have canister type oil filter, will get adapter for spin on.

Mark yes we did. Basically cam up with same deck height the original 396 had. I will be using the rotating assembly from that motor too.
Will

[Dwight Southerland]

Will - Probably a 961 block. I have found those to be mostly good. At least they don't have the core tilt I have found in a lot of the '67-'69 blocks. Good luck!