Hello All,

Does anyone have an idea of what a running 396 out of a 1965 Corvette would be worth? I think it had the oval port heads. This would be a 396 with the original everything (block, heads, intake, carb, valves etc.)

I may be wrong on thus, but wasn't that the first year for the Mark IV big block??

No oval port heads on 65 396 Vette engine They are all L78 with rect. port heads on a 65 Vette.

Actually this was the engine in my first 1969 Camaro. I sold that car in 1994 but I kept some of the other stuff off it until 2000 when it was thrown out (don't ask). I can't remember the exact heads on it. I know they were cast iron heads. I bought that engine for $200 from a friend of mine. This was in the spring of 1991. If I recall correctly he stated at the time his uncle was replacing the 396 in his 1965 or '66 'Vette and did not know if the engine ran or not. I said for $200, I'll buy it (I was looking to replace the SBC with a 427 but I said ok a 396 will do). I had it rebuilt with a new cam, pistons, etc. The only thing wrong they found was a bent rod. The engine was remarkably clean. Since you can't compress liquid, (bent rod) that probably explains why I got an extra cylinder head with it.

One of my best friends even to this day said I should never sell that car because that engine even in late 1994 was probably worth more than the whole car. Looks like he was right. I think this thing would be worth huge money today. 8 grand, 10 grand maybe or more? The sad part is that car today could have put my first grader through college when he's old enough.

Maybe one day I'll find the car on e-bay. I know the full VIN, tag date etc. Oh well. Live and learn.

I would check what they are going for on ebay to get an idea but I think you are pretty close

'65 was the only production year a cu. in. 396 was offered in Corvette; which would make one all-that-much-more rare (perhaps more-so to a Corvette collector/restorer).
no idea on what one would be worth; guess that would arbitrate like anything else: how bad the buyer wanted it, and how much the seller could get :yes:
(EDIT) in '62, Corvette offered a 327 cu in displacement "396", but wasn't a BB.