Pulling the Engine Uncovered a BIG Surprise in my 1969 Chevy Chevelle SS 396!! 

45k is to much if you plan to breakdown. Also, it looks like a Malibu SS Clone. Because of the badges are incorrect. But hey! It’s your money. Ha

A wise man once said, " If it ain't broke, don't fix it" Lol, But your absolutely correct 💯, Liked

Randy you're so right I did a few Chevelle's the one I had the most fun with with a 71 real SS I took it out of the junkyard without a motor and transmission in 1999 I paid $2,200 for it and had it 95% complete I still wish I had the car today my out-of-pocket was $9,500 it was a 402 with a 400 built transmission end suspension work done to the rear so now I'm in the hunt again looking for another one I'm trying to get a roller but you can find a decent one for 25,000 just not matching numbers of course and your car is an air-conditioned this is what makes it so valuable with the color match outstanding fined and you will never lose any money

Leave the thing as genuine as you can.. I keep my classics genuine. And they just keep going up in value ..

If i remember i think the engine is bored out. Leave the heads alone. Maybe bored out too 409? Love this chevelle can’t wait for you and Mike too get this classic running again! Gonna be a great power tour! Randy you got a great deal on the chevelle don’t let anybody tell you different!

Roxy is so enjoying your air conditioning. Great video and I am looking forward to more.

Loved this video and loved the Chevelle. My first Chevelle was a 1969 Chevelle in 1973. My last was a 1970 Chevelle SS 454 in 2018 - 2022 so I am very fond of the Chevelle. Thanks Holly and thanks Michael from Santa’s Workshop for keeping Randy on the right track. Randy, you will increase subscribers if you stick to these Classic cars.

Use a harmonic balance puller. A 3 jaw might just pull the outside ring off. I did it before.

What a nice jourmey inside a GM engine, thanks Randy!!!

Yup, Randy, I’m working on my 454 right now. I bought the heavy duty engine stand to be on the safe side. That’s a nice Chevelle you’re working on. I’m looking forward to the next vid.

I'm really glad to see you put the factory wheels back on it.

I would’ve tested cold dry compression and read the plugs for any indications of wear. If anything indicates wear I would’ve done a leak down test then decided whether to tear into motor or not. The older I get the more I’m inclined to leave things alone until they really need fixing.

Call me weird, but I love this channel whether your wrenching, or doing a walk around. Thank you

From what i found 3931063 heads are 68-69 396, 402 or 427 chevy heads oval port closed chamber 101cc. So id imagine theyre probably original to the car. Replacing that engine stand was a smart move. Great video cant wait to see the next.

That's the best year Chevelle she's a beautiful car well worth whatever you have to put into it.. This gal will only continue to gain in value no ifs ands or buts.

Man Santa is right leave the heads just the way they are. Love it Randy it's just like mine just different color got to love a 69 Chevrolet. Good luck it's nice 4 shur

396, my favorite engine. I just love those big fat valve covers!

Bout to pull a BBC to rebuild over the summer and I was thinking about trying to get away with the cheap engine stand cuz its technically under 750. Thanks for the lesson Randy, gonna think of that extra $100 as toe & motor insurance

Hey Randy! I see you got my hat! Looks good on your bench! Lol. Thanks for the awesome content! Love your channel!

this is going to be absolutely killer

Do a leakdown and compression check. If good leave it as is. JMO. Beautiful car!

So jealous, Big Block Chevelle or Viper? .... Big Block Chevelle or Viper? ... Damn you live a charmed life Randy with all these difficult life decisions. 😳 Don't go NOS, you got an awesome old school build the Holly EFI conversion along with all the other existing upgrades makes it incredible just the way it is.

While your timing cover is off I would check the number on the camshaft. That of course that means removing the timing gear but by the sound of that idle that camshaft is more of a 2500 to 6500 RPM range (even the lowest performance 396 can stand 6500 occasionally) and if so I would put an intake on to match that camshaft RPM range. Then you would make good and safe power to the 6k to 6300 range. A 100 horse nitrous kit doesn't require forged pistons as long as you don't overuse it.

You still need to support the front of that engine while it is on any stand.

The 1969 Chevy Chevelle SS was a dream come true!

Always loved the 69' Chevelle, but since it's not original, put in a 502 crate motor & dress it up like a 396, install BLACK interior with a BLACK vinyl top & add a BLACK side stripe, with staggered BFG white lettered radials & walaahh !!

Forgot to mention this in my post from yesterday my grandpa always use to say this as well you get what you pay for

If it were me and I was that far into it, with the engine out I'd go ahead and pull the heads while I was at it, if for nothing more but curiosity to see what the cylinder bores looked like, and to see if or how much it had been bored. Those big block heads are pretty heavy lifting up and over a fender if you ever have to do it later.

Leave well enough alone. It ran fine coming from Calif. to home it is fine. 😎

Gives you a great feeling doesn't Randy? With a little help from Santa Mike. Can't wait to hear it roar to life when it's done. Good luck buddy. 😎👍

there is absolutely no reason to touch those cylinder heads! that engine is a pretty fresh rebuild and it was running fine.

If it's fifty years old and it's out on a stand anyway and you have the parts and the original parts are 50 years old I might want to do it. Unless it's been rebuilt recently even then.

Lovin the videos on the Chevelle Randy! Keep the content comin!

My first Chevelle was a 1969

DD Speed Shop is running a 57 Bel air with a LS motor

I LOVE that car too.

Yes yes yes, change harmonic balance and front seal.

Love your videos. Long means Dragon in Chinese with are very important in Chinese legends.

That moter is gorgeous inside so you have a winner

Hey Randy, love your channel. I have checked out other channels for copart walk arounds, and i have to hand it to you. You are pretty good at it. I was wondering what happened to the walk around videos? Hope to see some soon. Oh yeah, and if you come across some park avenues from 1988-1990, can you show them. Thanks man

I really love these auto auction rebuild videos

have fun at power tour next week man

I have a 70 ss 396 and I love it !

Leave well enough alone if ain’t broke don’t fix it my dad said that too.

Randy at the ford focus is an imereal this can come off gives a better look

Shout out to Holley?! U mean shout out to Roxy 🐶! 😂

Good Video Randy Good Helper Michael Good Classic Chevelle always look forward to seeing the Chevelle

Great looking engine. Thanks for the borescope tour. I don't think you need to touch the Head Gaskets. This is the type of content I like to see you produce. I still think you should of gone with a 5 or 6 speed tranny for the Power Cruise - especially with Gas at almost $10 per US Gallon in some parts of the states. The Holley Sniper kit will help you a bit on the MPG but you'll still be crying at the pumps too often!

My grandpa my he Rest In Peace side the same thing as yours if it’s not broken don’t fix it.

Looks like the cylinders have been honed 🤔

Leave the heads alone. Why possibly create a problem you don’t have.

The engine looks beautiful. You got a well made car and engine for the Power Tour.

Hey whatever happened to your battery buddy. Haven't seen him on in a while.

This video better get a lotta likes and views 🤘🏽🔥

Not a fan of the white sets.. But it does go good with the paint.. tbh.. Like the videos.. Looking to see the h1 as well the older one.. Keep the good work up

Make sure you get your cylinder numbers right before you put her back together. 1-3-5-7 are on the driver’s side front to back. 2-4-6-8 are on the passenger side. I didn’t see which cylinder you had at top dead center… but you can’t use Ford cylinder numbering on a BBC 396…

Really enjoying this content. Already a beast...will be utterly awesome once done

Watching this makes me miss my 69 SS. My biggest problem I had is with the starter. Took awhile but figured it out. Fun car to work on. Mine was white with red stripes, red interior. The Copart videos are good but I prefer this type of content more so

What's the over/under on how long Randy will have this car? We all know he's going to sell it.

See some scratches on cyl walls Saw a pit in top of cyl wall on one cyl First on you showed Many “396” engines in 70 were actually 400s from factory Had a new 69 Caprice 427, very nice Could have had entire engine apart in the time you messed around Course you get to tear it down later when it fails I would never not tear down a engine that old before running it for more that a minute Good luck

If it’s been bored out, it should tell you on piston tops how much. My 402 was bored 30 thousandths, which would make it a 406

you got a good deal on that car. somebody did a quality restoration on the car. I would have just fixed the couple of bugs that it had and left it alone. if gas wasn't so damn expensive I wouldn't even put the fuel injection on it. you will get better gas mileage with the fuel injection.

Great video !! Thankyou Randy :)

U need to hold on to it Randy I love that car to plz don't sale it

Wooo finally the vid iv been waiting for

$40k is a good deal for that… a real ss chevelle 396? It’s worth it. Your money will not be wasted.

Leave Well enough alone and don't mess with the head gaskets

check the valve guide #8 intake

If you know what you're doing redo all the gaskets if not pray and Hope the the clicking noise is not major either way it'll be good content Santa's workshop was worried about the car never running again 🤣 👍 I would do a compression test on all the cylinders just my opinion

Happy to see Roxy doing well!

Randy, you have an awesome shop there, like that. Thanks for the video. Take care.

If it was mine I would keep the car to as close to original as possible. Plenty of Chevelles to do the resto mod thing on. No I definetpy would not tear that engine down. I have a 66 396 engine that has never been apart since new and still runs great.

Beautiful car I’d would never have pulled the engine in a car I paid 43000 thousand dollars for a ,compression test and vacuum gauge would tell you how healthy your engine was rear main and front main could been done in the car especially since the first gear synchronizer in trans was junk cause you stated in your first video it was jumping out off first gear .sow you had too remove transmission anyway I’m old school mechanic and have built and restored many old cars with proper tools you can tune carb too run just as good as fuel injection.I have ford Torino with big block and 600 Edelbrock carb and it starts and runs excellent.I wouldn’t pay big dollars for a car then proceed too do major work on it but that’s me .I think these classics are way over priced now and thats just because they are commodity being traded back and forth each time driving the price up .15 years ago you probably could have gotten that car for about 20,000 .again beautiful car enjoy 👍

Hello Randy and Mike aka Santa's Workshop. What have you found out about the motor.

He is right don't mess with those heads you will wish you didn't that moter is fine now if you mess with it just asking for trouble keeping on keeping on with out the heads

Yup..leave it alone if it runs good...but on the other hand it's old and responds differently than new junk lol use something better than fel pro though

the really good heads say HI-PERF

love it Randy, looking forward to it running and sounding superb 👌

Replace gaskets better to be safe than sorry

So proud you put the factory wheels and BFG's on it. I've had a 69 SS 396 4spd hard top and a 69 SS 396 4spd Elco both midnight blue. I now have a 72 442 455 4spd 342 posi ram air wing car I've had it 32 years

it has squared port heads on it and pop up pistions and it bin Balinese

DANG,SON. YOU NEED A LONGER CHAIN TO LIFT THE ENG.. LOL

You’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to do with that kind of car it wouldn’t be fun if you didn’t have to work on it that’s part of having a hot rod it’s called playing with it enjoy buddy

I agree with Santa, I’d leave the heads on.

your ss has a/c so it is suppose to have 350hp bbc how ever the heads are for a L34 engine used on 69 and 70 vehicles 396/427ci. dig some more into it and see if the previous owner upgraded the engine build with the right parts to get 375hp it is a 402 ci engine just rounded down to the 396.

If it ain't broke, DON'T TOUCH!

33:47 what is that around the valve can’t tell if it’s a chipped valve seat or just some kinda debris.

i would do head gaskets the minute you put engine back in will blow a head gasket.

I wouldn't touch it they've been sealed for years. Most likely a good set of head gaskets they used, I'd leave it alone

Randy who is Holly I know you’re on about the Halle carbs in a lot but isn’t the person who owns Ollie the company isn’t his daughter named Holly

I remember when you were telling funny Uber driver stories.

60k on a numbers matching clean oe car i could see but all the mods takes away from value normally. But who knows nowadays

Weld a kicker on engine stand between vertical bar and horizontal legs please….

Put seal joints seals at 5 an 10 o'clock no leak that way. Good going guys

The next video will be brought to you by super clean 😂

You gonna have it done in time to take it on the power tour? I believe that’s next week or this weekend right?

Heads are feuly 202s maybe

Give you a dollar for the focus

Time for snap gouges, micrometers then you will know if over bored know now sleep good know for certain Joe

I know your not doing it,but after seeing the valves and pistons,I would for sure do head gaskets,and valve job,and clean them pistons off.You have it all out in the open,and after looking things over,I believe it would greatly benefit from the work