Around 210 horsepower.
In 1996, Chevrolet’s half-ton pickup lineup featured a 5.7-liter (350 cubic inches) V8 as the core gasoline engine for the 1500 series. The horsepower figure cited for most 1996 1500 models with this engine is SAE net horsepower of about 210 hp, with torque around 330 lb-ft. While exact numbers can vary slightly due to drivetrain, exhaust, and emissions equipment, the standard factory rating for stock trucks using the 350 V8 remains approximately 210 hp.
Context: the 350 V8 in the 1996 1500
The "350" designation refers to the 5.7-liter V8 engine that powered many 1996 C/K 1500 pickups. This engine typically used throttle-body injection and delivered roughly 210 horsepower and about 330 lb-ft of torque in most configurations. Those figures are the commonly cited baseline for stock, unmodified trucks from that model year.
Key specifications
Note: the following figures reflect stock, factory-rated performance for the common 1996 1500 with the 5.7L V8.
- Horsepower: 210 hp (SAE net)
- Torque: 330 lb-ft
- Displacement: 5.7 L (350 cu in)
- Configuration: V8, overhead valve, throttle-body injection
In practice, a few factors can influence the measured horsepower on a given truck—emissions equipment, exhaust configuration, drivetrain (2WD vs. 4WD), and any factory-tuner variations. The stock figure of 210 hp remains the standard baseline for the 1996 1500 with the 350 V8.
Summary
Bottom line: a 1996 Chevy 1500 equipped with the 350 cubic inch V8 typically delivers about 210 horsepower, with torque around 330 lb-ft. This rating reflects the era’s SAE net standard and is the most commonly cited figure for stock, unmodified trucks from that year.