1966 Chevelle Engine Photos & 396 cid Engine Production Numbers

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1966 396 V8 Engine Production

The base engine for the SS396 series for 1966 was the L35 396cid 325hp engine. This engine (along with the L34 and L78) was also an optional engine in the El Camino and 1,865 L35 engines were sold in the El Camino body style. There were 72,272 SS396 sport coupes (66,380) and convertibles (5,393) sold. There is no way to know how many of the base L35 engines were sold in SS396 sport coupes and/or convertibles. One can only take the number of L35 options known to be sold in the El Camino body style (1,865) and subtract that from the total number reported by Tonawanda and arrive at a number that would include Total L35 SS396 Chevelles and Service Engines.

One cannot take the number of L34 or L78 engines into account for SS396 sales only since these were also available in the El Camino and only a total number of L34 and L78 options are known; what body style they went into is not known. Since it cannot be determined how many L35 engines were sold in the base SS396 series (Total L35 Engines) and the number of L35 service engines cannot be determined.

L35 engines could be equipped with either a Rochester (or Carter equivalent) Quadrajet carburetor or Holley carburetor; all L34 and L78 engines were equipped with a Holley carburetor.

RPO HP Transmission Suffix Production Notes
L35 325 Manual ED/EDH 28,430 Rochester/Holley
L35/K19 325 Manual EH 03,775 Rochester & A.I.R.
L35/M35 325 Powerglide EKR 00,021 Rochester
L35/M35 325 Powerglide EK/EKH** 12,592 Holley
L35/K19/M35 325 Powerglide EM 02,963 A.I.R.
        47,781 Total L35 Engines
        46,277 * Total L35 Chevelles
See paragraph above concerning service engines. 01,554 Service Engines
           
L34 360 Manual EF 20,283  
L34/K19 360 Manual EJ 04,037 A.I.R.
L34/M35 360 Powerglide EL 01,179  
L34/K19/M35 360 Powerglide EN 0,0323 A.I.R.
        25,822 Total L34 Engines
        24,811 Total L34 Chevelles
96.1% of total L34 engine production went into Chevelles in 1966. 01,011 Service Engines
           
L78 375 Manual EG 3,167  
        3,167 Total L78 Engines
        3,099 Total L78 Chevelles
        0,068 Service Engines
97.9% of total L78 engine production went into Chevelles in 1966

* It is known that 1,865 of these L35 engines were sold as options in the two El Camino series.
** There seem to be quite a number of L35 Powerglide engines stamped with EKH when equipped with a Holley carburetor.		    
           
Courtesy Jacquie Benthin Courtesy Jacquie Benthin Courtesy Jacquie Benthin Courtesy Jacquie Benthin
Courtesy Jacquie Benthin      

Big-Block Engine Pad Examples


T1111EF ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, November 11, 1965 ~ EF, 396/360hp with manual transmission.


T1214EKH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December14, 1965 ~ EKH, 396/325hp Powerglide transmission & Holley carburetor


T1220EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December 20, 1965 - EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission, A.I.R., Holley carburetor


T1228EH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, December 28, 1965 - EH, 396/325hp with manual transmission., A.I.R., Rochester carburetor


T0315EKH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, March 14, 1966 ~ EKH, 396/325hp Powerglide transmission & Holley carburetor


T0425EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, March 25, 1966 ~ EDH, 396/325hp manual transmission & Holley carburetor

Courtesy Mark Steine
T0426EG ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, April 26, 1966 ~ EG, 396/375hp manual transmission


T0607EDH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, June 7, 1966 ~ EDH, 396/325hp with manual transmission & Holley carburetor


T0705EKH ~ Tonawanda Engine Plant, July 5, 1966 ~ EKH, 396/325hp with Powerglide transmission & Holley carburetor

Small-Block Engine Pad Examples


T1013EAH  ~ Tonawanda, NY, October 13, 1965. The suffix code EAH indicates 327/275hp with manual transmission and Holley carburetor


F1030DH ~ Flint, MI, October 30, 1965. The suffix code DH indicates 283/220hp with Powerglide transmission


F1104DG ~ Flint, MI, November 4, 1965. The suffix code DG indicates 283/220hp with manual transmission


T1228DE ~ This one from Tonawanda Engine Plant and built December 28, 1965. The suffix code DE indicates 283/195hp with Powerglide transmission


F0318EE - Flint, MI, March 18, 1966. The suffix code EE indicates 327/275hp with Powerglide.


F0701EC - Flint, MI, July 1, 1966. The suffix code EC indicates 327/275hp with Powerglide and A.I.R.

If you have any photos to share of any stock 1966 engine of any size or photos of engine pads, please send them along with your name to us.

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