How Many Of These Monster GM Engines Do You Remember?

[DanMan_S]

That list is not accurate. The 454 was produced and installed in cars up until the end of 1976. After that it was available in 3/4 ton trucks into the 80's that I know of.

 

And if they want to talk about the BIG engines, how about the GMC 637 V-8 and the GMC 702 V-12?

 

 

Heck, the 454 was available right into the late 90's, before the 496 came out. It just became known as the Vortec 7400. My uncle had an awesome GMT400 GMC 2500 4x4 crew cab with a done up 454 in it. Truck was a monster.

[doverarjim]

I know for a fact that in 72 Chev trucks had the 402 and it had it on the front marker lights.

[Doug_Scott]

I know for a fact that in 72 Chev trucks had the 402 and it had it on the front marker lights.

 

I have seen pics of that, just never saw one in the flesh. It is about the only engine size that I have not actually seen on the side of a vehicle. For whatever reason the 402 was not well known around here. I recall at the time I first heard of the 402 that the story was it was 0.030 over 396 built from defective 396 engines. Remember that it was decades before the internet, so rumours and wives tales were common.

[Jsdirt]

Never could afford a big block. Neither could anyone I know! Still can't. I will some day though, as God as my witness. Don't much care what brand it is either. Been eyeballing the late 60's Grand Marquis with a 429 as my next classic car. About the only thing that touches the upper-edge of my price range these days.

 

 

Got to drive a 396 in a '69 Chevelle SS that a wealthy friend of mine once owned. I got it running for him after it sat in someone's garage for 8 years, untouched & un-maintained. That's the only big block I've ever touched, or driven in my entire life.

 

He thought it was a piece of junk and sold it. That was heartbreaking.

[grampadirt]

My favorite 454 was in a '77 GMC Camper Special 3/4t. truck I had years ago.That thing even with a huge slide in camper & a trailer full of dirt bikes still pulled a long,steep hill affectionately called The Grapevine here in SoCal at 60 plus,loved that truck.

 

454 with a TH400 was an unbeatable combination

[doverarjim]

I think that the first year for the 402 was 70 or 71 not sure.. My dad bought a 72 Chevy that had the 402, turbo 400, in it and I remember the markers saying 402 on them. Back in my drag racing days built a lot of big motors, the most fun we had was a 482 ci in our Camaro on the coast it went 9.30's ran 9.80's in Phoenix.

[grampadirt]

Pretty good times but I suspect you had as much fun building it as racing it.

 

Wish I could ''play'' with the one in my burb but you know Cali.....TBI don't help much neither

[Jsdirt]

I went up the Grapevine in my '86 Grand Marquis. It got stolen in Phoenix, and was recovered in Bell. I had to take a bus from Oakland at 1am to East L.A. to retrieve it from the impound yard. That was fun ...

[Daryl LBZ]

It wasn't a monster, but I've always heard good things about the older 327.

[grampadirt]

I went up the Grapevine in my '86 Grand Marquis. It got stolen in Phoenix, and was recovered in Bell. I had to take a bus from Oakland at 1am to East L.A. to retrieve it from the impound yard. That was fun ...

E.L.A.? Yeah,lotsa fun lol..........Cheech & Chong had a song....Born In East L.A. lol.

[grampadirt]

It wasn't a monster, but I've always heard good things about the older 327.

Pulled one from a '64 Impala wagon,rebuilt it and put it in a '67 1/2t Chevy longbed,ran great.Not a speed demon just a good reliable hauler.Had a camper in that one too(ca. 1978 IIRC)

 

My son has one now in his '69 GMC 3/4t truck,he got the truck for $400.00 barely running.After some troubleshooting by us & a Neighbor got it running pretty well.Again,not a speed demon but a good reliable DD.

 

A shot of the 327 in my son's '69

 

[Jsdirt]

^^^ That's a thing of beauty right there. Simple and does the job - I couldn't ask for anything more than that.

[grampadirt]

Thanks

[Super 8]

1979 C70 which has the 454 Tall deck, to make room for 4 rings on the truck pistons, only built in 79-80.

13 speed Fuller/Roadranger, 717 gear ratio. Installed Holley Throttle Body EFI.

[Z45]

I bought a new 1970 Chevelle SS454. I traded in a 1966 Impala SS396 for it.