[67 so close yet so far]

Hi guy's please help me solve this mystery motor for me..Okay this is the story from the guy that owns the motor...In 1969 thru 70 , 71, G.M. produced a truck motor that was also put in van's maybe some cars he claims there very rare....Himself he's never heard of a car with them... Okay enough B.S. It is a 402 cu inch displacment but were supposedly published as 396 motors in dealer brouchers .... on the back of the block the casting number on drivers side is 3855962... there is CI also stamped before the number ....on the passenger side it's stamped HI-PERF to the right of where the fly wheel would attach to the crank are the numbers 2 and below is o... also on this side of the crank it says Hi-Perf Truck Pass ...above the oil filter is the number K10 HI Perf Pass...
The front pad on the block hass the number 1111OEF
Head drivers side has 3917215 GM4T E1670 0 has a line through it
pass side head 3917215 GM3T e17 also 89 is also stamped on the head
manifold has the casting number 3931067 T
and this number K2605 the 0 has a line through it Ex manifold #GM LH 3994045... thank you guys alot in advance also any info on this motor would be great what's it worth as one day I'll buy it as the old guy promised me first dibs on t when he dies.. Also his wifes aware of the deal I've seen this motor in his shop for like 20 some odd years ....and was there the day I bought my 67 chevelle home as he towed it for me ..And begged him to sell it to me..He smiled and said not yet but it'll be yours told me to build a small block and go have a good time ..the guy builds 4 by 4's and I remember that motor in his racing jeep when I was about 10 years old told me and has trophy's of 4 seconds in 1000feet covered with this Big Block...at 5 and half feet of mud...

 

[AZCamino]

The 3855962 block was used in 1965 and 1966. It is a 396. The EF suffix indicates the engine came out of a 1966 Chevelle, 360HP with manual trans. This block is very desireable with 4 bolt mains.

The 215 heads are later; 1967, I think. I don't know about the rest of the casting numbers.

Bruce

 

[67 so close yet so far]

thank you so much Bruce

 

[1966_L78]

Hi guy's please help me solve this mystery motor for me..Okay this is the story from the guy that owns the motor...In 1969 thru 70 , 71, G.M. produced a truck motor that was also put in van's maybe some cars he claims there very rare....Himself he's never heard of a car with them... Okay enough B.S. It is a 402 cu inch displacment but were supposedly published as 396 motors in dealer brouchers ....

The 402 was NOT rare. It was still called a "396" for the Chevelle and Camaro "SS 396" cars. It was also called the "400" some Chevelles (1970+ Malibu 400) and full-size cars. These were also used in trucks (light duty), but I am not sure how they were denoted in those (400, 396 or 402)... Lots of speculation as to why it was done, but basically, its a 0.030 overbored 396...

But Bruce is correct on this particular block, its a 66 396 and NOT a 69+ 402...

 

[cobra2411]

Lots of speculation as to why it was done, but basically, its a 0.030 overbored 396...

The story that I've been told is that the FEDs were changing the emissions on engines up to 400ci. So GM just pushed them to 402 to get around that. As for still calling it a 396, they had spent so much time and money marketing it as a SS396 that they didn't want to loose that. Then there's the Malibu 400 which is more or less an SS396, but to the insurance companies it was a whole different car... Yeah and the L88 only made 430hp... Also the 400sb that was released in 70 is actually 401ci so that skirts the new requierments...

That's the most believeable story that I've heard and it makes plenty of sense. Also at the same time they did away with the 400ci limit on intermediate cars which could be related.

I think GM knew in 69 that the end was coming and they just wanted to ride it out for as long as they could.

To bad for the strike in 70... There could have been an LS6 Nova... That would have been a scarry car...

David

 

[67 so close yet so far]

Hey guy's this is great and the info means alot to me. Was wondering where would I be able to deciepher the manifold intake casting numbers aswell as the heads casting numbers. Also I made a mistake the motor was not natuarlly aspriated when it covered the above time.(he still figures without today's technology in a jeep builtfor mud bog racing. It would cover say 300 feet in an easy 4 seconds!!Then the old guy took the blower off and sold it went through the motor and covered it up and sat in his shop since1979 or 80 Where it still sits today and hopfully in a vert 66 one day by the time I'm 55 got 26 yrs to go at least I got a Motor for sure!!! He also raced at both the old Arlington Speed Way out in Washington State, but mainly raced in Mission here in B.C. Canada in the 60's old gasser with a 327 pre war chev body style ..I'd say his name but somebody might try to buy the motor from him. Anyway's it's a great motor as he built it for only a few seasons and kept it fresh it got solid lifters and all the old speed equipment inside like Wiesco pistons and that I believe an Isky cam..Also Bruce I printed a copy of our internet discovery and me and the old guy taped it to the intake manifold..just so he remebers also when eventually I'll own it..A nice memento thanks to all my fellow chevelle enthusits

 

[DaleM]

..the guy builds 4 by 4's and I remember that motor in his racing jeep when I was about 10 years old told me and has trophy's of 4 seconds in 1000feet covered with this Big Block...at 5 and half feet of mud...

1000 ft in under 5 seconds - in mud no less? I think he was pulling your leg. Eighth mile (660ft) times of 7-9 seconds in pretty good for a big block Chevelle on dry pavement.