1) All 70-74 Corvette 454 cid engines were two bolt main configuration EXCEPT 1971 LS-6;
2) Most, if not all, 70-72 Corvette 454 cid engines used a forged steel crankshaft. There may have been some exceptions, though, with those using a cast nodular iron crankshaft;
3) All 73-74 Corvette 454 cid engines used a cast nodular iron crankshaft;
4) All 70-74 Corvettes with 454 cid engines, except 71 LS-6, used the same size intake and exhaust valves which, as I recall, were 2.06" intake and 1.72" exhaust.
5) 1970 LS-5 cylinder heads were unique to that year. For 1971-72 LS-5 engines, although different castings were used for each year, the cylinder heads were, essentially, the same. 1973 and 1974 LS-4 engines used cylinder heads specific to each year which were different for each year. As I recall, all 1970-72 LS-5 engines used cylinder heads which had about the same intake and exhaust port volumes. 73-74 LS-4 cylinder heads had smaller intake and exhaust ports, although I believe that 73 and 74 were about the same. All cylinder heads, except 71 LS-6, were cast iron material. 70-72 cylinder heads did not use induction hardened exhaust valve seats, including the valve seat inserts used on 71 LS-6 aluminum heads. 73-74 LS-4 cylinder heads used induction hardened exhaust valve seats;
6) All 70-72 LS-5 engines used the same camshaft, GM #3883986, which was also used on 66-69 L-36 427 engines. 1973 and 1974 LS-4 engines used a different camshaft, GM #353040, which was the same for both years. This camshaft was an "emissions profile" camshaft;
7) All 70-74 454 LS-4 and LS-5 engines used the same connecting rods which were forged steel with 3/8", knurled shank rod bolts;
8) All 70-74 LS-4 and LS-5 engines used cast aluminum pistons. The piston dome configuration was unique to each specific year, however, even though compression ratios may have been the same (72-74). 1970 LS-5 used 10.25:1 compression ratio; 1971 LS-5 used 8.5:1 compression ratio; 1972 LS-5 used 8.25:1 compression ratio; 1973-74 LS-4 used 8.25:1 compression ratio.
9) All 1970-74 Corvettes with 454 cid engine used the same oil pan, including LS-6;
10) 70-72 LS-5 engines used unique-to-each-year cast iron intake manifolds. However, all of the manifolds were similar. 73-74 LS-4 intake manifolds were also cast iron but had smaller port size to match the 73-74 cylinder heads. 73-74 manifolds also incorporated provisions for EGR.
11) All 70-74 Corvettes with 454 cid engines used the same side-specific exhaust manifold castings. 1971 with LS-6 and all 73-74 LS-4 manifolds were drilled and tapped for A.I.R. fittings.
12) All 70-74 Corvettes with 454 used the same valve springs except the 73-74 exhaust valve springs which were shorter to accommodate the rotators used during those years.
13) All 70-74 Corvettes with LS-5/LS-4 engines and manual transmissions used a 14" cast nodular iron flywheel with an 11" clutch. LS-6 used a 14" flywheel with a special dual disc clutch;
14) All 70-74 Corvettes with LS-5/LS-4 used the same oil pump
15) 1970-72 with LS-5 used the CCS (controlled combustion system) exhaust emissions control system. All 1971 LS-6 and all 73-74 LS-4 used the AIR (air injection reactor system) exhaust emissions control system. Many of the horsepower/performance differences, particularly during the 72-74 period, were the result of emissions control system differences.