Why no L35 in 1970?

**YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY** · #1 10-30-2006, 10:23 PM

".... and then totally redeem yourself"

**Rixls6** · #2 10-30-2006, 10:47 PM

My guess is that the LS3 was being offered in `70 as a 330 Horse 402, so it took the place of the L35, and gained 5 Horse.
Also now you could get this LS3 in a non-SS Chevelle, but not in the SS as the lowest horsepower engine was the 402/350 in the SS.

Rick

**PeteLeathersac** · #3 10-30-2006, 11:00 PM

What Rix says is correct as I remember reading how GM had what they called their 'engine deproliferation program' before 1970 production, deleting as many similar suffixes as possible. . Inventory of so many different suffixes was a problem also keeping them all in the pipeline so if an engine was close to what they wanted, it was slated for production and the 'excess' suffix motors dropped. . Comparing how many total suffixes were offered between '69 & '70 should show a big difference. .

~ Pete

Gregs396 · #4 10-31-2006, 07:49 AM

The LS-3 didn't start until 1971, and it was a 300HP version in the Camaro. The 1970 had either the L-34, or the L-78 402.

Mr. T · #5 10-31-2006, 07:22 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. Yes, the LS3 did not become a BB RPO until 1971. Maybe adding the LS5 and LS6 to the RPO Chevelle/Camino engine list had something to do with dropping the L35, and Chevrolet thought they had enough engine variations for 1970. So, since you couldn't get the L35 in a Chevelle or El'Camino, you couldn't get it in a Camaro or Nova.

**Mr70** · #6 10-31-2006, 07:39 PM

Because in 1970,we saw the birth of these brand new engines:
*LS-3 402/330HP-Malibu & Monte Carlo
*LS-4 454/345HP-Passenger series
*LS-5 454/360 & 390HP-Corvette-Chevelle-Monte C. & Pass.
*LS-6 454/450HP-Chevelle

Gregs396 · #7 11-01-2006, 12:13 AM

Once again, there was NO LS-3 until 1971......

ohhawk · #8 11-01-2006, 01:54 AM

www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html#70

Check first paragraph on LS3 commentary.

nuch_ss396 · #9 11-01-2006, 02:47 AM

WAIT !

Maybe this is the rationale:

Since the 396 was bored +.030 ( actually a 402 ) in 1970,
the HP rating would have been boosted and perhaps that is
why the L/35 disappeared. Still to this day, I wonder why
they made the 402.

It almost seems like a manufacturing
mistake that got away from them. Does anyone know for sure
why the 402 came into existence?

Gregs396 · #10 11-01-2006, 07:39 AM

I have been told that it was to make the 402 and the 454 pistons the same size for standardization purposes, but can't be 100% sure about it. It seems that I also read it in one of my many books...

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