Another theory is that engines over 400 cu in had to meet a different, more liberal, emission standard for 1970. To further confuse the issue, when installed in an SS it was still called a 396 SS, but when installed in a Malibu it was a 400 (big block) type.
On 12/19/05, NimbusNine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Chevy decided to overbore the blocks .030 resulting in a 402 motor beginning
in 1970. As far as I know, there is no difference in casting numbers and
I've never heard of a JC code. Of course, I am often wrong about this
stuff...
Personally, I think they overbored to clean up castings that were not up to
snuff or they had some other motivation having to do with spending less
money...maybe they got a killer deal on 402 pistons or something. That is
usually the kind of thing that motivated them.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Hnat" < [EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <chevelle-list@chevelles.net>
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 2:12 PM
Subject: [Chevelle-list] (no subject)
Would like to know about 396 vs. 402 big block
motors........why the jump to 402 cu. In. from 396 cu.in. and about when the
change took place. I also have heard / read to tell the difference between
the motors the 396 has a two letter code ( ie JC ) and the 402 has a three
letter code ( ie CDE ) .
Thanks,
Pete Hnat
'69 Chevelle SS
--
Rick Schaefer
72 TPI El Camino
