Why no L35 in 1970?

**Salvatore** · #1 11-01-2006, 08:11 PM

I think the bigger engine sizes were just to stay competitive with the other 2 manufactures! Cubic inches sold cars in those days. If Chevy didn't call the Z/28 a Z/28 and put the trim, stripes, 4 speed and 15" rallies I bet they would not have sold many of them. Too small a motor and not much advertised HP. It was the cubic inch wars in those days. I also think if I remember correctly

hearing that a bigger cubic inch motor was easier to control emissions.

**WILMASBOYL78** · #2 11-01-2006, 09:00 PM

What do you know about big motors???? 302

is that a V-6???

wilma

**YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY** · #3 11-01-2006, 10:16 PM

You must be lexic, it's 230 and a straight 6 - ie; your orange car

**olredalert** · #4 11-02-2006, 01:25 AM

-----The problem I see with your thought, Sam, is that Chevrolet never advertised the 402s as 402s. If Chevrolet division wanted to keep up with the Joneses they would have advertised them as the cubic inches they really had not as 396s. This isnt to say I have any posative input because I dont. I have wondered about the reason for those extra 6 cubic inches for a long time as well.........Bill S

**Salvatore** · #5 11-02-2006, 02:30 AM

I guess if you said I have a 402 in my chevelle that just would not sound rite.

The 396 was just so popular. I assume the salesman in those days had to set you right about the cubes. But....most didn't know.

**WILMASBOYL78** · #6 11-02-2006, 04:14 AM

SS 396 was a household phrase by that time, hell they even wrote a song about it!! If Chevy was smarter they would make one of the new gen small blocks a 396 cid and run up the flag....

wilma

Sammy, how many cubes you got?...not ice cubes!!

**Kurt S** · #7 11-02-2006, 09:05 AM

Paul,
That's what I get for not confirming the piston sizes.

I'll have to dig up the emissions rules in 70.....

442w30 · #8 11-02-2006, 02:18 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I also think if I remember correctly

hearing that a bigger cubic inch motor was easier to control emissions.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not being a Chevy expert, that's the thing I've heard in the past too.

Regarding dropping the 396/325, I would normally suggest it's because of the introduction of the 454, but the 454 was not announced till later, right?

Additionally, there was the 402 and the SB400. Both were available in the big cars, right? Meanwhile, the standard 396's last year in the big cars was in 1968 since the 396-2 ended up being the only 396 available in the big cars in '69.

So what does this mean? I think having one or two applications for the L35 just didn't make sense, especially with the competitive musclecar market. The GTO had 350hp, the GS had 350, and the 442 had 365hp standard. It just makes sense for Chevrolet to drop the L35.

@wot · #9 11-02-2006, 02:25 AM

Most decisions were driven by marketing. Why advertise a 402 when GM had spent years branding the SS396? It was also marketing that determined engine selection, there was no reason for lots of overlap of cubic inches and horsepower ratings.

442w30 · #10 11-02-2006, 10:07 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Most decisions were driven by marketing. Why advertise a 402 when GM had spent years branding the SS396? It was also marketing that determined engine selection, there was no reason for lots of overlap of cubic inches and horsepower ratings.

[/ QUOTE ]

But I was talking about the lack of L35, not the issue of calling it a 402.

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