1970 396 vs 402 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

davepl · 01-25-2012, 12:13 AM

I've seen two 1970 GMCs, one that lists L47 as 396 and another (mine) that lists L47 as 400.

Did it vary by plant, or why did the engine get called two different things in the same year?

Examples below.

baja · 01-25-2012, 01:12 AM

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=390787

**special-K** · 01-25-2012, 07:06 AM

Not sure why they continued to list 396 in '70 & '71 once GM changed to 402 in all vehicles after '69...but they did.

davepl · 01-25-2012, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

Not sure why they continued to list 396 in '70 & '71 once GM changed to 402 in all vehicles after '69...but they did.

So if the SPID said 396, would the valve cover still say "Invader 400"?

ChevLoRay · 01-25-2012, 02:48 PM

Someone else (in the past) has said that the SPID label data was input by hand into the system that ultimately printed the label. So, it seems reasonable that whoever that may have been would have the ability to enter whatever he/she was used to entering for that option code....396, 400 or 402. But, I don't think there was a time when GM called the big block a 400, and the small block 400 didn't come out in '70.

davepl · 01-25-2012, 03:03 PM

Well, it's clearly called a 400 on my SPID, and the emblems on the Chevy version say 400, so they did call it a 400. Which I agree is confusing given they had the 400 small block in the same year. I don't know of them ever calling it a 402 in emblems or decals or marketing.

**special-K** · 01-27-2012, 08:53 AM

Yeah,they did call 402s a 400,as seen on emblems and right on the valve cover. But at no time was the 400SBC offered in trucks at the same time 402s were. They were available in cars,first,and the '70 402s were probably listed as 396 still because cars could have both the SBC and BBC. A '70 SS396 had a 402,but they didn't want to change the name to SS402 since the reputation was as an SS396. It was only 6 more cubes,also...Big Whoop. Going to 454 was worth the name change and by then everyone had broken the 400 cube mark. While SPID printing was entered by hand,it wasn't by the same person at every plant every day and I doubt all the people who entered info onto SPIDs made the same mistake for a whole year. It surely was intentional.

01-25-2012, 12:13 AM	#1
davepl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 6,332	1970 396 vs 402 I've seen two 1970 GMCs, one that lists L47 as 396 and another (mine) that lists L47 as 400. Did it vary by plant, or why did the engine get called two different things in the same year? Examples below. Attached Images

01-25-2012, 01:12 AM	#2
baja Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 9	Re: 1970 396 vs 402 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=390787

01-25-2012, 07:06 AM	#3
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,862	Re: 1970 396 vs 402 Not sure why they continued to list 396 in '70 & '71 once GM changed to 402 in all vehicles after '69...but they did. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-25-2012, 02:48 PM	#5
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: 1970 396 vs 402 Someone else (in the past) has said that the SPID label data was input by hand into the system that ultimately printed the label. So, it seems reasonable that whoever that may have been would have the ability to enter whatever he/she was used to entering for that option code....396, 400 or 402. But, I don't think there was a time when GM called the big block a 400, and the small block 400 didn't come out in '70. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

01-25-2012, 03:03 PM	#6
davepl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 6,332	Re: 1970 396 vs 402 Well, it's clearly called a 400 on my SPID, and the emblems on the Chevy version say 400, so they did call it a 400. Which I agree is confusing given they had the 400 small block in the same year. I don't know of them ever calling it a 402 in emblems or decals or marketing.

01-27-2012, 08:53 AM	#7
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,862	Re: 1970 396 vs 402 Yeah,they did call 402s a 400,as seen on emblems and right on the valve cover. But at no time was the 400SBC offered in trucks at the same time 402s were. They were available in cars,first,and the '70 402s were probably listed as 396 still because cars could have both the SBC and BBC. A '70 SS396 had a 402,but they didn't want to change the name to SS402 since the reputation was as an SS396. It was only 6 more cubes,also...Big Whoop. Going to 454 was worth the name change and by then everyone had broken the 400 cube mark. While SPID printing was entered by hand,it wasn't by the same person at every plant every day and I doubt all the people who entered info onto SPIDs made the same mistake for a whole year. It surely was intentional. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~



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