In those years when power was down so much from previous years I think there were two ways to deal with the power shortage... one was to order the biggest possible engine even if you weren’t a performance guy because you wanted at least safe and comfortable power for highways etc or the opposite way of looking was to give up and get the smallest engine possible since they were all slow anyhow.
I recall many friends who fell on either side of the thought process.
The 400 2bbl in 76 was standard on the base Bonneville (the 400 4bbl was standard on the Brougham). The 2bbl was rated 170 horse, the 4bbl was 185 and the 455 (4bbl) was 200.
With the high weight and long legged axle ratios of these cars 170 horse was iffy but just pulling the Cat and installing duals would give you an easy 20 horse
__________________
My Break Away Squad
1969 Fbird (Base, 350 & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA Hardtops)
1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr Hardtop and a Cvt)
1969 LeMans Safari 2 seat Wagon
1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 Hardtops & Judge Hardtop)
1969 Catalina (3 Cvt’s & a 2dr hardtop)
1969 Ventura 2 Seat Wagon
1969 Executive 4dr Sedan
1969 Bonnie Cvt
1969 Bonnie 3 Seat Wagon (2 of them)
1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr Hardtop & Cvt)
1969 Grand Prix SJ (2 of them)
1969 2+2 2dr Hardtop (Canadian model)
|