73Ken73

I am looking at buying a 71 Monte Carlo with a 402 big block. Sounds close to a 396, I have never heard of a 402. The car looks good with no rust or bondo.

PatsLs1vette

yeah my brother has one his is bored to 408 right now.and his came out of a 71 monte carlo too.


[Modified by pats406nitrovette, 10:10 PM 11/29/2001]

GROSSPOLLUTER60

Its a 396 with a smidge bigger bore or stroke. I forget why GM did this but I'm sure it was a good reason :smash: :smash:

PatsLs1vette

same stroke just bigger bore,396 402 427 same stroke.

73 LS-4

402's are more common then you may think. A lot of the latter 396 badged cars are actually 402's starting in 69' according to one of my books on BB's, including camaros and chevelles. I beleive the 402 badged never appeared becouse of the chevrolet ban on 400+ cubes on the midsize cars prior to 1970.

:cheers:
Pat Kunz

67HEAVEN

For those of us who were hot rodders back then, we understood the reason to be that the immense popularity of the name "SS396" wasn't something that Chevrolet wanted to fool with for a mere 6 cubic inches!

Steve439

I think all "396"s were actually 402s after 1969.
A 402 is a 396 bored .030 over.

DaBo

The story that I have heard over the past several years, is that GM bought
pistons and blocks from two seperate suppliers in very large quantities.

When the shipments came in the pistons were .030 over size 396 pistons.
The blocks were standard bore 396 as in previous years.
They found that they could keep up with production by having the blocks rebored.
Supposedly they could not get standard size pistons in time to go into production.

They also already had the "396" emblems. I used to own Chevelles and this was the case in 1970. The SS396 is actually a 402 cu. in. block. My dad bought a brand new truck in 1970 that was badged as a 400 Turbo Jet.
It was a 402 Big Block.
With the Monte Carlo beginning production in 1970, I'm sure that this is the case with the cars that you are looking at.

Be carefull when buying parts, a friend of mine is restoring a 1971 GMC pick-up. He went to the local parts store for a water pump, and was sold a "Corvette only" short water pump for $175.00. In his research he has found that some vehicles were randomly built with either short or long water pumps. Of course all brackets and pulleys will only line up with the correct pump.So a long pump ( $30 ) was not an option.

Hope this helps with your Monte.

Larry B.

In '70-72 Chevy marketed their small displacement as 402's in some cars(Monte Carlo) and 396"s in others. I think they are the same engine with a slight over bore, Their is also a Big block 400 listed for some models. Very strange to say the least.


[Modified by silvervetteman, 4:41 AM 11/30/2001]

SuperFast80

In 'Rebuilding Big Block Chevy Engines', the author confirms the '396 is really a 402' story. :yesnod:

69Roadster

I had one of the 1533 big block '71 Camaros. It was badged as a SS396 but had a 402. It was all original and fully restored, RS car w/ factory yellow on the outside and green on the interior. What a combo! Sold it to buy a new convertible Z28, big mistake :(.


[Modified by 69Roadster, 8:47 AM 11/30/2001]

e3pres

Late '60's/Early '70's BBC Trucks also had a 402, but it was badged as a 400.

Tim H

Early 70 ChevelleSS had the 396,mid year they changed to 402 after the 400cid in an A body ban was lifted.
I really don't think a Camaro-Z28 ever had a 402,only 396.
And when you see a pickup with the 400 emblems around the front side marker lite and it has big block its a 402 other wise they said 396 for the big block around the side marker lite. OH yea Monte Carlos never had a 396,only a 350 or 400 small block,402 or 454 big block.
There is a bunch of that stuff running around or sitting around this area.


[Modified by Tim H, 10:26 AM 11/30/2001]

TedH

As I recall, the 396 was offered in 1965 as a 396 in both Impala/Caprice as well as the Vette. 1966 onward, offered in everything but the Vette through early 70's (1972?). By 1970, with intro of the 454, I recall that Chevelle, Camaro and Nova still referred to it as 396 while Impala and Monte Carlo tagged it the 402. Not sure when the 396 actually changed to a 402 or whether it was always 402 with 396 badging. Not sure why the different badging but suspect insurance and gov't regulations played a part.

Sleestak

My '69 Nova was a 402 even though it was badged a 396. Just a 396 with a factory .030 bore.

69Roadster

Camaro Z28s had 302s prior to 1970 and 350s later. You had to get an SS for the big block option. Here are some pics of my RS/SS396. Note the 396 badging and the 402 in the upper left corner of the engine sticker.

Tim H

There is no mention of a 402 prior to 70 in any chiltons manual.
I still think 70 1/2 is the first time it came out.
never seen a sticker in a camaro that said 402 thats pretty neat to learn.

paso

I ordered a 1970 Chevelle L78 in June of 69 didn't Get delivery of it until Dec of 69. There was a Gm strike that summer so production was late. The motor was labled 396 but was actually a 402. The statement above of GM not wanting to mess with the popularity of SS396 Is absolutly correct. :smash:

Corz

I always thought that SS396 had a better ring to it.. is 6 cubes more, oh well... maybe someday I'll put a 396 in my car... :blueangel:

67HEAVEN

Thanks, Paso. I'll take that as confirmation that dymentia hasn't settled into this old brain, yet! :cheers: