Can anyone tell me if the 454 used in the '70 caprice was the same as the LS5 engine available in the '70 Chevelle SS? Are the casting numbers the same? How about the codes on the front passenger side deck? If they are not identical, does anyone know the differences?

The casting numbers should be the same (#3963512). The first two letters of the three letter engine code stamped on the front of the block should CG for the Caprice and CR for the Chevelle version. The third letter supposedly will depend on the transmission originally mated to the motor.

I understand that there is a 1-800-xxx-xxxx number to call to get info on the options available. Is this number for GM? I have seen the number posted on this site, and I tried doing a search, but no luck.

I am trying to find out if the heads, crank, intake, cam, etc... are same as LS6 or LS5 heads used on the '70 chevelles. I have an opportunity to pick up this whole car ('70 caprice 454 auto) running excellent for $1200 and I want to do a transplant of the 454, but I want it to be to specs for a 70 chevelle SS engine. I actually want to put a set of Ls7 aluminum heads on it, but at least the crank and cam, etc.. the same. If anyone knows of the 1-800 number or the details of the caprice 454 that was available?

Hugh, check out this link. I think it has the number you are looking for.
www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum11/HTML/000276.html (http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum11/HTML/000276.html)

[This message has been edited by HvyChvy71 (edited 09-13-99).]

Thanks for the site with the 1-800 number. Unfortunately it takes 10 working days to receive the info, so it will not be of use for the purchase of the car.

I called the guy back and he says that the caprice is all original and untouched. the body is rusty, but it has options: tilt wheel, working AC, disk brakes, etc.. It has the correct turbo 400 trans and everything. He mentioned that he thinks the cam "spun a lobe" or something and it doens't run quite as excellent as he first mentioned. He said that he just started it up after about 15 years of sitting. I understand that the AC components and the tilt column are the same equip used on '70 chevelles, so I could possible recover some of the cost of buying the car. He will not budge on the $1200, so what does everyone think? is it worth it based on what people have said above? It has matching intake and exhaust manifolds as the LS5 chevelle engine. Even the 4 bbl carb is original. It will probably cost me $800-1000 to have it gone thru and re-ringed, new cam, etc....

I'd do it. There was a 1970 Caprice 454 in my neighborhood that I had the opportunity to get for a grand -- this was a few years ago -- from which I planned to take the entire drivetrain. It was all original, but I decided it was too nice to cut up, so I let someone else take it. It's tough to find a complete 70 LS5 drivetrain these days, and it sounds like it's not nice enough to justify saving the entire car. You'd certainly have everything you needed for a killer drivetrain. My $.02.

I'd get it if I were you. Just don't expect any LS-6 goodies out of it. The LS-6 crank was treated for more strength, rods and rod bolts were stronger, pistons are forged vs. cast, etc. If you are not going to use the small port heads, you can make a few bucks off of them. Block for a LS-5 is supposed to be 4 bolt, however, which is always nice to have. What rear end does it have? If you are lucky enough to have a posi in it, you could sell that and make back half your money easy.


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John Walker
67 SSClone
Metro Atlanta, GA

Are the rear ends out of '70 caprice's the same as for the chevelles? I am pretty sure it would be a posi to compliment the 454 setup. I am going to look at the car today. So far all I have is the guys word that it is original. Apparently this guy has quite a collection of caprices and old cop cars. He has one big block chevelle '70 396 car and he wants $10,000 for that one. He said that car has zero rust, but could use paint and interior work. I thought $10000 was a little steep for a car needing all that work (unless of course it is an L-78 car, which would justify the price) I will check out all the goodies, but I am trying to be careful about leading him on to the rarety of what he has. Seems like he is just trying to clean up his yard and selling everything.

I will keep the thread updated.

Depending on where you are $1200 is a good deal, the rear-end will not fit in a Chevelle, but the guts would fit a Chevelle housing, making it worth the work if it was a posi (don't count on that just because of the 454) Also, I thought LS-5's were 2 bolt mains, but could be wrong. To justify the cost, call some engine rebuilders in your area and ask them what the core price is for a complete 454. Here in Wisconsin, last I checked it was around $800!!!! JUST DO IT! Even though the engine doesn't seem to have the wow factor of the LS-6 or 7, a mild rebuild of an LS-5 with attention to detail can be an awesome street engine.

I looked at the car tonight! Here's the run down..

It was the original engine (casting code ending in xxxxx512), with original 400 turbo trans. He started the engine up for me and it roared nicely. Everything else looked original and untouched (carb, manifold, exh manifolds, brackets, etc..) You are right, the 12 bolt is not the same cuz it does not have the spring perches. We jacked the rear up and turned one wheel and the other wheel didn't turn at all! I went over to the other wheel and the drum was frozen solid. Now, I want to know if it could still be a posi (limited slip)? or, do both wheels have to turn in sinc? Who is the expert on how limited slip posi's work????

The car was rusted, but it has options such as factory air (WORKS!, compressor even had all the original stickers and it looked new!) and it has a power trunk release, trunk light, under hood light, and tilt steering.

Does anyone know what the going rate for a complet air conditioning system for a chevelle is? I know the dash components wouldn't be the same, but all the under hood stuff is identical. And I can get all the in car ducting, etc... I don't want to use the air system, but I would like to sell it and help recover the cost of the car.

The guy wants $1200 firm and not a penny less, also he says the motor is rated at 345 hp, not 360 like the LS5, why is that??? I think they are the identical motors!

I think I am buying it!

Hugh,

My son parted out a 70 caprice that was near identical to the one you describe. He used alot of the parts for his chevelle. Some no kidding information on the parts adaptability. On the air conditioning--the only pieces that will work from the caprice on a BB chevelle is the underdash box (heater core) and the compressor/w brackets plus the wiring. The evaporator, evaporator housing and condensor are different and will not swap. In fact, the evaporator housing has a different angle from the firewall and isn't even close. Also the vent mechanisms that open and close by vacum are different. The dash control is also different. The tilt will bolt right in a chevelle and one of the two exhaust manifolds are correct for chevelle (can't remember which side-drivers I think). The convienence light group will bolt wire right in. You didn't mention if the car had Power windows but for the record the front regulators, boots and wiring are identical to chevelle, the rear regulators are different. Hope the info helps. Ted

The Caprice is a 4dr, and it did not have power windows. I figured the evaporator housing would not work, but I think that all the hardlines will work. Why won't the condenser work? Looks the same. There is a 4 dr chevelle parts car that has all the in car ducting and evaporator housing still in it. I have been pulling many parts of that chevelle, so with the stuff from the Caprice, I will have just about everything needed for a complete AC system. I don't plan on putting the AC in my car, but any interested parties are encouraged to contact me. The power trunk release is going to be a nice option. I wish the car had power locks as well. the caprice does have a power bench seat and I was wondering if the brackets and all the power stuff off of this seat will work on a 2dr chevelle bench seat?

Also, will the radiator changeover?

Hugh, reference the condensor. Although a glance they look close they are quite different. The overall size is slightly different and the feed and supply line locations on the Caprice are incorrect. We did what you did--use another chevelle for parts. It was quite a bit of work changing over to factory air but its in now and have solid info on what fits and what doesn't. A run down: what fits from caprice (underdash major assembly, heater core, vacum lines etc, compressor, brackets, hoses coming to and from compressor, AC wiring, all the electrical components on evaporator housing minus the red temp sensor) What you need from the chevelle; (evaporator housing, evaporator, condensor with brackets, dryer assembly and brackets, hoses leading to and from condensor, dash control, vacum actuated vent assembly, complete dash ducting and air difusors). One additional item we used from the caprice that you might want to save was a portion of the firewall that provided the correct mounting face for the factory AC. We cut a large piece surrounding the evaporator housing for correct mating/welding into the chevelle. Hope the info helps. Ted.

Hugh,
I had a 70 Caprice with the 454 in it, 400 turbo, 12 bolt 2.56 gears, the motors are the same, the only difference in the horsepower ratings 345 vs. 360, is the 345hp had a lower lift cam in in. Most books I've read showed it to be a 4 bolt main block, it turned out to be a 2 bolt, but it did have a steel crank in it, 3/8 rods with dome pistons, for a compression ratio of 10.25:1, everything was the same as the LS-5, except for the cam.