'65 SS

Z-11Guy

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
Will get to my '65 SS this summer (rust around the rear window like usual). Still debating on drive train, would love a '65 340 HP '09, though for cost sake I have 2 options:
327 300 HP & powerglide or a 1966 396 325 HP with turbo 400 out of a '66 Caprice parts car.

In all reality I owned a few 396 325 HP big chevy's and was never really that impressed. I was more thrilled with the 275 HP & 300HP 327's than anything! We will see I guess, also what are your guys thoughts on the 1970-72 400 SBC 4 bolt main motors? I have a '70 Impala custom coupe (daily summer driver) I thought of dropping to mate with a 700R4 trans. Plan to do a route 66 road trip with it from California to New Mexico and back up through Seattle.
65 149.JPG 65 145.JPG e6e2307898d44734eb48c63e3a8c298c.jpg 00W0W_9mDr4Grci2d_600x450.jpg 65 146.JPG
 

LMBRJQ 60

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 4
Is it black interior?
Will be a nice car, not sure what way i would go on power plant but cheapest and what you have on hand are usually the best options

Steve
 

models916

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 7
I remember seeing the Orchid color on a new 65 SS back in the day. Black interior and 4 speed/396. I tried like Hell to get Dad to buy one.
 

Don Jacks

Well Seasoned Member
Supporting Member 3
A 400 sb engine,equipped with 98-later Vortec heads,single 4bbl carb,small tube headers,268 Extreme Energy,or simular Lunati flat tappet cam.Hypertecnic "D"cup pistons to keep the compression down to 9 1/2-10-1,5.7 in rods,will get you in the 375 hp,450 plus ft.lbs range.Do not waste time and/or money on the weaker,more crack prone 70-72 block! For some reason,people who've never built one seem to think that 4 bolt mains =stronger,therefore worth more of your hard earned money.This is NOT the case when it comes to these engines.They made a lot more of the 73-80 engines,making them eaiser to find.
 

Fathead Racing

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 7
You can build a 396 for power and reliability but you have to really pay attention to the heads and valve train. On the other hand for the fun and reliability factor there is no replacement for the small block engine. If your going to travel and just plain have fun with the car a trouble free and proven small block would be my choice.
 

1961BelAir427

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 3
Yes for the long road trip you have planned, I would go with the 327 (but I'd probably put that TH400 behind it versus the PG). Then when your long haul is over you could always swap the big block in later. We once had an Evening Orchid '65 SS. Had black dash/carpet/lower door panels/console. Everything else in the interior was white vinyl. Sounds like it wouldn't look good that way, but it did. It was a 327 car, but had a '66 396/325 in it just like you mentioned. I put a 327 back in it and put the 396 in my '61. Sold the '65 after that. That was my first big block and my first engine swap. It had a slight nock that I suspect was a wristpin....and was very shortly replaced with a 468.
 

DonSSDD

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
There is a model car kit on Kijiji here of an Orchid 65 SS with 396, its an old kit, not sure how old.

I drove a 67 Biscayne ex RCMP about 69 or 70. It would lay rubber with both rear tires about 4 or 5 car lengths and I had it up over 130. I thought it worked pretty good.

Don
 

63impalass409

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
My 65 340hp 409 4 speed lays rubber better than my dual quad 63 409 but then again the 63 has a posi and the 65 has just a one wheel peeler but I sure love driving the 65 more
 
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