1983 Big Block Monte Slow Build

i understand the 402 to be basically a 396, that's the extent of my knowledge.

Wikipedia confirms this, it's a .030" over 396 and was marketed as a 396. Explains why it looked just like a 396/427/454.
 
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Honestly just a marketing thing in my opinion. 366 truck and 396 L35 both good engines, but along comes marketing and... you can get a 402... But wait ...there's more!

Yep just basically a 396. My fav was the 427, but out of dollars reach back then. 454 good as well but never really sparked my interest back then like a 396 or 427.

Had a 429 in the Montego it was a slug, but back then I didn't understand lift and duration along with head flow.
 
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Lots of stories on the GM displacement ID game. The 402 lore had the story of 396's that were subjected to unsavory environment storage requiring the .030" punch to make them useable.

There was also the cubic inch 'limitations' imposed based on the vehicle as once upon a time pass cars were limited to under 400ci depending on size so the 396 magically worked in an A-body while it was a 400/402 in a B--body or truck.
 
Lots of stories on the GM displacement ID game. The 402 lore had the story of 396's that were subjected to unsavory environment storage requiring the .030" punch to make them useable.

There was also the cubic inch 'limitations' imposed based on the vehicle as once upon a time pass cars were limited to under 400ci depending on size so the 396 magically worked in an A-body while it was a 400/402 in a B--body or truck.
The 396 designation remained in the Chevelles as a name since GM did not want to ruin a good thing with the name. Although it grew to 402 the name 396 was held till the end as stated above.
 
Yeah in 70 to meet the standards set by the government the 396 became the 402 most cars and trucks still said 396 on the fender but they were all +30 and cars like the Chevelle would say 402 on the air cleaner
i love it, i get all the govco trash of those days and that said how did they get away with the Ls6 for the chevelle & my fav monte carlo ss cuz the "454 ss" was put in most odd outta the way of places, i should know this stuff aside from a delorian design and i think the 454 ss went into 71? my head is /has been too far up my (_*_) with the 83-87' ss' and how the monte beauty took a vacation till 81'. lol
 
Today I grabbed something I've wanted ever since I got this car, but never seemed to remember at the boneyard: a dipstick and tube. What's on the car now is a chopped off motorhome tube joined to a chrome tube with a rubber hose and clamps and the chrome stick. I have no idea how accurate it is and it falls apart sometimes. Since making it drivable it's more of a factor, I barely moved it until late last year. I've never changed the oil in it, been holding off until I had this. Now I do, so we'll put that on the short list of things to do. I snagged it off of a 454 Vortec Suburban. Thing was pretty clean and I've been scratching my head wondering what else I want off of it. I'd like the engine if it isn't junk, but not really motivated to yank the thing.
 

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