Why the overbore from 396 to 402

[camarojoe]

I've heard stories about the 71 Heavy Chevy Chevelles, and that depending on what transmission you ordered along with the 400 engine, you would either get a 402 big block or a 400 small block, and both were called "400" on the order sheet... I don't know if that's fact or fiction, but wouldn't it be a bummer if you and your buddy both ordered 400s and he got a big block and you got a small block? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] That would be my luck! Anyone ever hear of this? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

[55chevy]

I can't remember ever seeing a 400sb in a Chevelle. Seen plenty of them in Monte's and Full Size but that's not to say a Chevelle never had one. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif[/img] The 400SB was a fairly mild engine wasn't it?

[JoeC]

400 Turbo Fire was SB 400 Turbo Jet was BB
I think the "Malibu 400" was a model name

[55chevy]

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I think the "Malibu 400" was a model name

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I don't know about that Joe. The one I saw, I'm thinking it was a 71 but it may have been a 70. It was a real light green color, like the sea-mist green that almost looks silverish. It had the malibu interior, malibu dash, I think it had a black vinyl top, but it was factory ordered with a 402bb. Standard orange valve covers.. pretty sure it was an automatic car. 400 decal on air cleaner and the body emblems had Malibu on the fender sides behind the front tire and the slanted 400 emblem on the fenders in front of the wheel opening. There was no doubt about the car, it had a build sheet and everything. Now that I think about it I'm thinking it was a 70.