VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1965-1970 1969 Impala Convertable w/396

A friend recently bought a 1969 Impala Convertable with 396 engine. The engine is presently equipped with an Edlebrock four barrel intake and Holly carb. He is interested in returning the engine back to stock. All of my research shows that the 1969 passenger w/396 was only available with a 2 barrel. Is this correct or am I missing something. My books show that the 69 Nova, Chevelle and Camaro was available with the 4 barrel.

DD

My 1969 Impala 350 came from the factory with a 4-barrel.

The 396 installed in full size Chevrolets,was a 265hp engine with the 2 barrel carb from the factory.Many owners have modified that engine by adding a 4 barrel carb and manifold.The old 2 barrel manifolds show up on ebay from time to time.It sure would be nice to see pictures of the car.....tell your friend good luck with it!!

Here is a 1969 Impala Convertible with a 396 and 42,000 miles. It also has a 4-barrel carburetor.

http://hoveymotorcars.com/specialtycars.html

Hi Guys,
Dave you are correct.In '69 the 396 offered in the full size was a 2bbl motor only.The 350 in 69 for full size was the 255 or 300hp 4 bbl.I have yet to see any 350 2bbl for 69 full size.The 2bbl V-8 was the 327 235hp.If one wanted a big block 4bbl they had to step up to the 427 family.
Also 1969 was the last year for the 327 and 396 in the B cars.
I owned 2 69 Impala's in the past with the 396 2bbl single exhaust,and on both cars I put on 4bbl and dual exhaust :) I have a feeling most enthusiasts did. Jim

Hi there Jim,I think I read somewhere that the 265hp 396 in the full size Chevrolets were a lower compression engine that allowed the owner to run regular gas.Do you still have one of your 70 Impalas?
I finally parted ways with my 69,although I don't miss it too much....


Have a safe and Happy Holiday!!!

Dave

The low compression 2 barrel 265 HP 396 was an option for 1969 only. It turned out to be kind of a dud.
In 1970 it was replaced with the 400 C.I small block, low compression reg fuel engine and was a big improvement power wise but still rather thirsty. I had several of those engines. The 1971 version however was de-tuned and lost a lot of power.

Hi Dave,
Sold my 15k mile 70 show car to a gentleman from Georgia last year.I kept the unrestored original 70,mainly because I'm not afraid to drive it<g>.I miss the other 70,though.Sold the trailer and 'Burban as well.Only two more college educations to go!I liked your '69.The color combo was cool. Happy Holidays!
Jim

Hi Gene,
I agree.The '70 400 small block was a better engine.I had one as well.
Brad and I may take a ride up to one of your region's winter meetings! Take care,Jim

Hi Guys,
Thanks to every one who replyed, just wanted to make sure I wasn't giving out bad information. If one decided to stay with a stock 4 bbl. manifold I guess pt.#3957996 would be the manifold of choice since it is listed for use on all 78 & 79 models w/396.

DD

DD,
That casting # sounds like a '70 or later number.A 68-69 396/325hp number would be 3931067 or 3883948. Jim

Jim,
#3957996 is the part# (not casting, I know some times they are the same) that is listed in my 62-75 parts book for model years 68-69 w/396 engine.

Thanks again,
DD

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

My bad DD.I thought it was a casting number.Take care,Jim

As I mentioned in an earlier post, our '69 Impala Sport Coupe came from the factory with a 4-barrel carburetor, which would be correct since it has a 350 engine. However, according to the engine code the car is supposed to have a 2-barrel carburetor. What's up with that?

Also, our 1970 Impala has a 350 engine, but it has a 2-barrel carburetor. Is that correct for a 1970 350 engine?

The 350 w/2bbl & 350 w/4bbl were both available in 1970.

DD

In 1970 the base V-8 was a 350, low compression, 2 bbl. 250 HP
The next option for a small block was a 400, low comp, 2 bbl, 265 HP
The next option was a 350, high compression, 4 bbl, 300 HP

In 1969 the base was a 327, 2 BBl, low comp ,235 HP
next option was a 350, 2 bbl, low comp, 250 HP...engine codes for auto. trans would be HJ, HY, iA....I don't remember that engine
Next was the same engine with a 4 bbl and 255 HP....had a wagon demo. with that engine
Next was that engine with high compression and larger intake valves, 300 HP.

If I was DD, I would be very confused by these answers.

Let's summarize - for 1969 only - since that is what he is asking for (1970 is a whole different subject).

The basic answer to the original question is: if it has a 396, that was available from the factory only with a 2 BBL carburetor. It would not have been available with a 4 BBL on a 396.

A big block that had a factory 4 BBL would only be the 427.



And then, to really spell out the avaialbe power trains, kind of beside the point of the actual question, the total line-up of engines avaiable in 1969 for the FULL SIZED CARS (other models are a whole different availability) were:

(1) (Base V8) the 327 with 2 BBL (235 HP, 9.0:1 compression ratio, regular gas)

(2) the 350 with 2 BBL (255 HP, 9.0:1 compression ratio, regular gas)

(3) the 350 with 4 BBL (300 HP, 10.25:1 compression ratio, premium gas)

(4) the 396 with 2 BBL (265 HP, 9.0:1 compression ratio, regular gas) THIS IS THE ENGINE IN QUESTION

(5) the 427 with 4 BBL (335 HP, 10.25:1 compression ratio, premium gas)

(6) the 427 with 4 BBL (390 HP, 10.25:1 compression ratio, cam, etc, premium gas)

(7) and of course the 250 Straight 6 (155 HP) was still avaiable as a base engine, but not in Caprice, Impala Custom Coupe, or convertible. In these models, you got the base 327 as a base engine.

Hope this helps to clarify.

Yep, that is what it says in the book......but our '69 Impala came from the factory with the 255 HP engine and a 4 BBL carburetor.

Well, JYD, this is a whiole different topic. I was concerned that the original poster was getting answers about different years, different models, small block and big block all mixed together, etc.

Did you buy this '69 new, and positively know this?

What is the compression ratio? Is the fuel line 5/16" or 3/8"?

Point being that of course it would have been (and still is) a very simple thing to take off a 2 BBL manifold, and put on a 4 BBL manifold and quadrajet and air cleaner, etc.

The original air cleaner decal says 255 HP. I would have to check the fuel line again but I believe that it is a 3/8" if I remember correctly. The car also has power steering and manual brakes.

My info shows the 1969 350 2 bbl had 250 HP. Engine code was HI, HL, HF, HD, HJ, HM,IL, IM and IN.

The 1969 350 reg fuel 4 bbl had 255 HP. That engine code was HT, HU, IA, HV, IW, IX, IY, and IZ.

I had a 1969 Impala wagon Demo. with the 350, 4 Bbl, reg. fuel engine. That was the last car I had with Power Glide transmission.

Now the thread veered off the track again.

Yes, the full sized car in 1969 had the 396 low compression and a T.H. 400 transmission and a 2.56 axle ratio and was the only 396 available in a full sized car.
The 396 was supposed to be a high torque, high fuel milage, regular fuel high speed combination. Made for interstate highway travel.