Them 396's are dinosaurs BUT they are good.
I had one in a nova a owed a while back, it would scream and lasted a long time before a (stock) rod finally gave out.
I ran 11 to 1's forged pistons, small 108cc closed chamber peanut port heads, 305 magnum cam, team G, 750 holley, Turbo 400, 411 gears - ran 7.40's 1/8 shifting @ 5500rpm.
I also had a small adjustable Nitrous plate on it which made it really come alive, a 125 pill shaved off about four tenths spraying just off the line.
Now if I had to do it all over again I would up the compression to around 13 to 1, slap on some open chamber heads, a faily large roller cam, 1050 dominator, powerglide, 513 gears.
Should be a 6 second car easily.