| Mr. P-Body |
05-27-2005 05:52 AM |
Just to set things straight, there is no such thing as a '71 396. '69 was the last year for a true 396. The '70-'72 Chevelles marked "SS396" are a model, not an engine size, unlike previous years.
The smaller BBC in '71 was a 402. It's basically a .030" over 396, with one VERY IMPORTANT difference. The crankshaft in a 396 is a good forging (same part number as 366 and 427). The 402 has a cast crank. Unlike Pontiacs, the cast Chevy crank is not up to serious performance. 402 also shared heads with 454, and they aren't the "good" ones. They have the larger oval intake ports, which isn';t a bad thing. But they also have HUGE chambers, with a urine-impoverished shape, especially behind the exhaust valve. The better oval port heads are from the '68-'69 "open chamber" engines.
I agree. Put a 400 Pontiac in it. It will STOMP that 402 if properly done. It usually takes a bigger BBC to beat a Pontiac in street trim, unless "high performance" BBC parts are used, and that makes for woefull drivability and low-speed performance.
|