Trying to decipher a few things for my buddy on his 70 Chevelle. We dont have a build sheet for the car but there are things that have the correct SS options like Fuel Lines, Suspension BB Steering Shaft, and of course the more visual things like the hood, dash, etc. The dash appears to be a swap out (but not sure if from sweep to SS or idiot lights to full gauges), however the F-41 suspension, BB steering Shaft, Fuel lines appear to be "original" to the car or if swapped out definitely not recently

So today we pulled the numbers from the rear axle and it shows as a CKD rear which I see is: 2.73 ~ 12-bolt (L48/350-4 & LS3/402). Now we believe this is the original rear ... so any chance this car could of been an SS Optioned 70 with that rear? I'm a little fuzzy on the LS3/402 .. appears to be a small block 400 with a 4 barrel?

If this car is a non-SS but maybe the LS3 are there any tips on things we should look for? Were these special ordered cars? One thing we are scratching our heads about is its a Baltimore built car but with CA emissions ... seems odd this car would be built there and shipped to CA.

We know the car was an automatic, buckets, cortez silver, A/C

Any info is appreciated.

Thanks,

Dave

LS3 is a big block. The LS3 was the engine that could be ordered in non-SS optioned cars. SS optioned cars would get a L34 as base engine but not the LS3. The SS cars they called it a 396 but all advertised SS396 engines were really 402 cid from 1970 on. In anything but a SS396, they called the engine a 402 so as not tread on the SS396 reputation.

3.31 was the standard SS rear axle ratio. Most people ordering a high performance car would not order a higher ratio axle as that would defeat the performance, they would order a 3.73 or lower. (Note-Lower number = higher ratio)

If the rear is original then I would say its 99% certain is was not an SS396 or SS454 optioned car.

The gauges, bucket seats, F41 etc were not SS exclusive options, they could be ordered in any Malibu. The SS hood is an easy bolt on.

As for special order, there is really no such thing. The dealers all ordered cars for stock and as customers specified. I suppose you could say anything a customer came in and ordered was special to him but Chevy never sent anything to a dealer they did not order.