Why no L35 in 1970? - Page 4

442w30 · #31 11-02-2006, 05:39 PM

Paul, I agree 100%.

**PeteLeathersac** · #32 11-02-2006, 05:53 PM

Yes on these thoughts and again GM went through what they called their 'Engine deproliferation program' before 1970 production, deleting as many similar applications as possible and cutting their suffix totals by maybe as much as half? .

I'll look for this info also know I've read something on the 402 bore reason before too...I'm thinking it was maybe 15-20 years back in one of Preve's columns in All Chevy mag? .

~ Pete

**Xplantdad** · #33 11-02-2006, 09:58 PM

From what I remember reading...it was to control emissions...Plus If I'm not mistaken...didn't the compression ratio drop to 8:5 to 1?

nuch_ss396 · #34 11-04-2006, 03:08 AM

I think I have it. Back in the day, everybody was boring-out
their 396 to +.030 to gain performance, so I guess GM just
decided to save them the trouble of buying new pistons.

**Salvatore** · #35 11-04-2006, 04:17 AM

Don't laugh Steve. That is what we said all along in the old days. We bored the 283 out to 301 so we all figured Chevy started doing it for us when they came out with the 302.

ohhawk · #36 11-04-2006, 05:28 AM

"As it was, the leftover "396" identification on the fenders was incorrect anyway since the '70 Super Sport's standard Mk IV big-block in truth displaced the 402ci thanks to a minimal overbore first done very late in the 1969 model run. Not wanting to confuse a good thing, Chevy officials continued to advertise the '70 SS Chevelle as a 396, and all mentions of standard power listed the "396 Turbo-Jet", as did the air cleaner decal under an SS's hood. Scrambling the picture even more was the new 330hp LS3 402ci big-block, which Chevrolet labeled a 400. Not to be confused with the equally new, correctly identified 400ci small-block--a siamesed cylinder evolution of the famed Chevy V-8 that first appeared beneath the "Hot One's" hood in 1955--the LS3 Turbo-Jet 400 was available on all V-8 Chevelle models except SS 396s, the first time a big-block was offered by Chevrolet in an A-body without SS equipment."

....quote from Chevelle 1964-1972 Muscle Car History book

Sounds to me like the short answer to the original poster's question is MARKETING.