I'm assuming the 396 in this post was a puny 325 or 350 horse motor? the L78 396/375 h.p. motor would not get womped like this green one did? IMHO
I remember looking at a '65 4-4-2 and the seller called the 400 a small-block. Now I don't know who to believe!
The 2 different Olds 400 engines they made back in the day both were the tall deck engines so you can't even make that argument with either one of the Olds 400 engines they made back then. Unless maybe a 400 sbc was transplanted into the car? http://victorylibrary.com/mopar/m-table-c.htm
Some people don't know any better, but insist. If I was a buyer, I'd just let him have his day in the sun and use my energy in talking him down in price.
My `71 El Camino came with, and still has, it's original numbers matching 402 big block but has a 400 emblem on the front fenders. Unless I open the hood someone is always telling their buddy that it's a 400 small block, which those of us who actually know these cars know that Chevrolet never put a 400 small block in a Chevelle or El Camino. They might have after `72, I really don't know, but from that point on I never paid any attention to them because IMO they are as ugly as a mud fence. Try to explain to them while the 402 was badged as a 400 in the `71 & `72 Chevelle, it was still badged as a 396 in the Camaro. And neither of them were actually 400 cubic inches. The moral of this post: At any given car show or cruise night there will always be someone who knows more about a car than the owner does. Confused yet?
Performance. In 1970, the L34 variant of the 402 could produce 350 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 415 ft-lb. of torque at 3,400 rpm; these are identical performance ratings as the equivalent variant of the 396. That same year, the L98 variant of the 402 was rated to produce 375 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 415 ft-lb.
My room mate in the Marines bought a 68 Chevelle with the L78 396 4-spd ! That thing was an absolute monster......Scary fast
I would think a well tuned one would have hit 425. But how many were? I wonder what the specs are for a 65 396/425.
A 68 396/375 was a formidable engine. But like all things. Some were better than others. With modern machining on our old iron these cars all can fly. Love me a big block.
A 428 CJ put out around 335 net, 410+ gross. I would think a L78 would be similar, though all things being equal (i.e. stock), I think the CJ was consistently faster. The L78 was more peaky and really turned on when modified. But what do I know? I can't figure out how to tune a Quadrajet.
I drove a 427 /435 horse Corvette and it was a total monster......the Chevelle I referred too? was darn near there !....so I'm guessing the H.P. rating on the L78 was down graded for insurance to weight ratios? But what do I know? I can't tune a Quadra-jet either
Insurance wasn't such an issue in 1966 when the L78 debuted for the Chevelle. But GM had a hp/lb rule that I think was limited to 10, and the Chevelle weighed less than3750 lbs, which may explain why it wasn't advertised?
