I bought a '65 C20 with a 283 V8 and a power-glide new. I had trouble with the engine while it was still under warrantee, by the time the engine had 49 k on it the heads were shot. I was considering re-powering the truck with a 327, while looking at the new '68 chevy truck line I noted that a 396, 400 turbo option was available. I went to the local Chevy dealer to check out the C20 with a 396 engine.
A very close look at the '68 chassis revealed that it was very similar to my '65, a plan was set in motion to re-power my '65 with a 396.
I was able to pick up a complete '68 325 HP 396 with 2,300 miles on it from a wrecked Impala. A low mileage 400 turbo trans was secured, I then went to the local Chevy dealer and ordered the 396 frame and motor mounts along with the trans mount.
The engine did not want to sit correctly in the chassis with the factory 396 mount pads, a torque restraining feature built into the mount made the rubber/metal mount to thick. I ended up using earlier mounts for a 327 V8 with 5/16" cable restraints. to over come the torque of the engine. I got the idea from GM, they started to offer a retro for the truck motor mounts due to breakage of the rubber portion of the mount.
Stating in '66 GM offered the 400 trans in their trucks as an option. I ordered the 400 trans shift detent/switch and column selector.
I had to move the trans mount back to allow for the longer 400 trans, and I had to have the drive shaft shortened.
I had a four row radiator made for the truck. The original shroud would not fit so I went to the local wrecking yard to secure a shroud that would fit. I harvested a metal shroud out of a Pontiac, I modified the shroud to fit my truck. My truck had after-market AC so I had to secure a compressor mount that would fit the 396 and work with my system.
I was going to use a stock GM truck exhaust system, however GM could not come up with all of the pieces so I had to have a system built for the truck using the stock manifolds.
I used the truck for eighteen years, over 80 k with no problems, the man I sold the truck to still has it, I just saw him driving it last week. I have tried to buy the truck back many times, the owner won't sell it. Wm.
