Could a '69 Chevelle be ordered w/ a 454?

[jeff morocco]

[ QUOTE ]
Besides the 427 was a much better engine!

Dan.

[/ QUOTE ]

i agree with you Dan. here's a little story about a 454 vs a 427 in 1970. my dad and his friend were in the final round against each other at Oswego dragway. he had the yenko and his friend had the 70 LS6.




my dad won the race with a 12.42 to a losing 12.98. that race was the reason for fred,the owner of the LS6 , to go to the E.T. Shop and swap out the 454 for a 427.

final round time slip





and the trophy





so yeah.......i agree, the 427 is a better engine!! even though i was only 2 !!

[Keith Tedford]

I can believe 12.4s for the 427 but a good LS6 should be right there too. The only dyno figures that I have seen showed an L72 making about 430 hp and an LS6 making around 460. The difference in weight and state of tune can make a big difference in how well these engines can perform. From the factory, with retarded timing and #68 primary jets, they sure didn't show their true potential. In about 200k miles about all that ours needed replacing was a water pump, fan clutch, and one valve spring. I guess they just weren't up to the rpm potential. Now, that's a good engine in my book. I was told back in the day that the COPO engines were honed out to the loose limit of the bore spec. Any truth to that. Ours revved as freely as any small block. Curious.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Dyno figures vary widely depending on the equipment and various "human" factors...I have seen a number of L78 motors producing 420-430hp. So, it wouldn't surprise me if the 427's made 450hp or more...others may have different ideas.

wilma

[hubleyman]

Just out of curiosity.....

What is the approximate latest build date of the 1969 Chevelle model run (from any plant)?

What is the earliest known casting or assembly date of any HP version of the production line 454 engine?

[WILMASBOYL78]

Calling Mr70...calling Mr70...please come in.

[XXXGoldL34M20]

[ QUOTE ]
Just out of curiosity.....

What is the approximate latest build date of the 1969 Chevelle model run (from any plant)?

What is the earliest known casting or assembly date of any HP version of the production line 454 engine?

[/ QUOTE ]
i remember reading on one of the chevelle forums that the earliest 454 motor from a documented chevelle was november of 1969.

[markjohnson]

I recently ran across an old Bill Jenkins article where he spoke of running a totally stock L-78 396-375 HP on the dyno and it made a real 430 HP. That's actually pretty believable as people forget that when the L-78 was released in 1965, it was rated at 425 HP. Then naturally, we have the 1966 L-72 427-425 HP that was really 450 HP as shown on early production cars before they were "stickered" down to 425 HP after only a few months. Back to the 427 vs. 454, my own totally stock LS-6 ran 11.80's in an early Camaro I used to own. Through the exhaust with headers and a 4.10 Posi but that was with stock intake, camshaft, rockers, etc. Pick your own poison whether it's an L-78, L-72, or LS-6, they all enjoyed that same camshaft where you could drive to work everyday Monday thru Friday, go to the Dragstrip on Sunday and run 12's or faster with some simple tuning. They did something right becuase we're still driving, racing and talking about these things 40-45 years later!

[1970Bluel78]

When I was a 19 year old kid not knowing too much I ran 12.48 at E town with my 70 L78 Nova. It was not stock (but close ) had some bolt on's and 456 rear and a pair of re-tread Kelly Springfield cheater slicks.

[Postsedan]

Jeff,

Great story! Man I wish I was your Dad for only that one special day!

Dan.