Stock 70 Chevy 396 375 hp questions
 

I am looking for some history on a stock 70 Chevy 396 375 hp engine. I don't know any thing about Chevy's since I am a Pontiac guy. What's the red line on this engine? Torque? CR? Is this considered a torque engine like Pontiac 400? What is the flow rate of the stock heads?

Thanks,
BT :)

1970 396 is actually a 402. 375 hp version is a four bolt block with valve reliefs in the upper cylinder. Heads for 70 are 454 closed chamber. Rectangle port with 2.19 intake and 1.88 exhaust.. These are the rpm version of a big block, stock solid lifter cam will rev to 6500+. 11 to 1 compression. Flat low rise intake manifold. The same as the 70 Corvette. These engines originally had distributors that were modified to have vac advance only in high gear. The Holley carbs, tho the same specs as a 3310- 780 carb were rated for emissions as 450 cfm..

.....and when coupled with a 4 speed or TH400 and some 3.73 gears will plant your butt firmly in your seat if you get it hooked up. The original '65 Vette and Z/15 Chevelle version was rated at 425HP, same intake, cam, compression and very similar heads. GM dropped the HP ratings for NHRA factoring and insurance reasons. A bone stock '69 Chevelle SS with the 375HP, 4 speed and 3.73's would blitz the stock tires in 4th gear at 45 MPH...... I done it. :evil:

I have a *****************************

Ben, the mods want all parts for sale in the Classified section. Thanks and welcome aboard.

Yep, we have free classifieds.

I had one oem in a 67 SS Camaro with rock crusher 4 speed and 3.73's.

It's essentially the same engine as the 425 hp 427 only with a smaller bore.
Same heads, cam, crank, rods, etc etc.

A heck of a nice hot street motor in totally stock trim. Totally driveable
on a daily basis, nice lope to the idle, super throttle response at nearly any
rpm, and even acceptable gas mileage considering. Even tho the hi perf
454's have more torque, I'd take one of these or a 425hp 427 any day.

Very streetable and good performing cam for it's day. Engine would rev
7,000 with no problem, altho that's on the down side of the hp peak
so shifting at 6,500 or so kicks the rpms down closer to the high side
of the torque peak which gives better acceleration response.

IF it's in good shape, I wouldn't get too excited about doing anything
inside the motor. Good long tube equal length headers with a good
system behind it, maybe an aluminum flywheel for a stick if you've got
decent gears and/or a relatively light car, or a 2600 or so stall for an auto,
altho without lockup that wouldn't be the best for a daily driver. Or you
could check into a built 200-4R from Bowtie Overdrives, then you can
run decent gears and overdrive and a lockup converter.

I happened to be able to work a swap for an L-88 open plenum dual plane
intake and one of the old 950cfm 3bbl Holley's. With some tuning on the carb,
that really seemed to boost it in the higher rpm ranges.

Wow, this brings back memories. The L78 396 was a great motor. I remember, back in the day, this motor was looked down upon, because of the 427's and the 454's. This motor definately rocks. I had a 1970 SS396 Camaro with a muncie m21, 4.10 gears and no power steering. As a kid in high school, I raced it a lot. Only lost two races, one was to a 1969 L88 Corvette and second was to a 1969 Plymouth GTX 440 six pack. Of course back then the 5 mpg I would get out of it was not so bad at 39 cents per gallon of 103 pump octane. :D