1970 Chevelle Engine Photos & 396/454 cid Engine Production Numbers
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1970 396/454 Engine Production
The '396' L34 & L78 engines were actually 402 cubic inches in 1970. The L34/L78 & L89 aluminum head option on the L78 figures are for Chevelle ("A" body), Camaro ("F" body), and Nova ("X" body) platforms and are broken down as such.
The LS3 is a 402 cid Mark IV engine listed as a Turbo-Jet 400 and was available on all factory V8 wagons, the standard Chevelle series sport coupe and pickup, and all Malibu series body styles including the Custom El Camino that were NOT SS optioned. The LS3 was not available when the Z25 SS 396 equipment option was ordered. The LS3 was identified with '400' emblems on the front fenders in the same manner as the '350' and '307' emblems.
There are also several suffix code designations that are not shown in the available report from the Tonawanda engine plant and therefore it is assumed the quantity of these engines is included with another such as the L34 engine with Heavy Duty Clutch has a suffix of CTZ which is not shown in the report and any quantities of this engine is incorporated into the CTX suffix coded L34 w/manual transmission. These engine codes with no specifically known numbers will be shown with an asterisk (*) for identification.
L34 figures: The L34 is the base engine for RPO Z25. A total of 53,599 Z25 optioned Chevelles were sold. By subtracting the L78 optional engine and L89 option Chevelle production of 2,162 it leaves a total of 51,437 L34 Chevelles. Tonawanda engine totals are for all Chevelle, Camaro, and Nova series.
LS5 figures: The LS5 is the base engine for RPO Z15. A total of 8,773 Z15 optioned Chevelles were sold. By subtracting the LS6 optional engine production of 4,475 it leaves a total of 4,298 LS5 Z15 optioned Chevelles. Actually fewer base LS5 Z15 Chevelles were sold than the optional LS6 engine.
RPO | HP | Transmission | Suffix | Production | Notes |
LS3 | 330 | Manual | CKR | 1,275 | |
LS3 | 330 | Manual | CKS * | Heavy Duty Clutch | |
LS3/M40 | 330 | TH-400 | CKN | 8,368 | |
9,643 | Total LS3 Engines | ||||
9,338 | Total LS3 Chevelles | ||||
96.8% of total LS3 engine production went into vehicles in 1970. | 0,305 | Service Engines | |||
L34 | 350 | Manual | CTX | 28,414 | A-F-X body |
L34 | 350 | Manual | CTZ * | A body - Heavy Duty Clutch | |
L34/M40 | 350 | TH-400 | CTW | 31,004 | A-F-X body |
59,418 | Total L34 Engines | ||||
L34 Production "A" body | 51,437 | ||||
L34 Production "F" body | 1,802 | ||||
L34 Production "X" body | 1,864 | 59,418 | Total L34 Engines | ||
55,103 | Total L34 Vehicles (all) | ||||
92.7% of total L34 engine production went into vehicles in 1970. | 04,315 | Service Engines | |||
L78 | 375 | Manual | CKO | 5,572 | A-F-X body |
L78 | 375 | Manual | CKQ * | A body - Heavy Duty Clutch | |
L78/M40 | 375 | TH-400 | CTY | 1,338 | A-F-X body |
6,910 | Total L78 Engines | ||||
L78 Production "A" body | 2,144 | ||||
L78 Production "F" body | 600 | ||||
L78 Production "X" body | 3,765 | 6,910 | Total L78 Engines | ||
6,509 | Total L78 Cars (all) | ||||
94.2% of total L78 engine production went into vehicles in 1970. | 0,401 | Service Engines | |||
L89 | 375 | Manual | CKT | 18 | "A" only - Aluminum Head |
L89 | 375 | Manual | CKU * | Heavy Duty Clutch | |
L89/M40 | 375 | TH-400 | CKP | 10 | "A" only |
28 | Total L89 Engines | ||||
18 | Total L89 "A" Vehicles | ||||
64.3% of total L89 option engine production went into vehicles in 1970. | 10 | Service Engines | |||
LS5 | 360 | Manual | CRT | 2,763 | |
LS5 | 360 | Manual | CRU * | ||
LS5/M40 | 360 | TH-400 | CRQ | 2,197 | |
4,960 | Total LS5 Engines | ||||
4,298 | Total LS5 Chevelles ** | ||||
0,662 | Service Engines | ||||
87% of total LS5 engine production went into Z15 Chevelles in 1970. | |||||
** This number of LS5 engines does not include the 3,833 that were sold with the Z20 Monte Carlo SS454 option with suffix code of CRN. | |||||
LS6 | 450 | Manual | CRV | 3,525 | |
LS6 | 450 | Manual | CRX * | ||
LS6/M40 | 450 | TH-400 | CRR | 1,923 | |
5,448 | Total LS6 Engines | ||||
4,475 | Total LS6 Chevelles | ||||
0,973 | Service Engines | ||||
82.1% of total LS6 engine production went into Chevelles in 1970. |
The date and suffix code is always stamped on the engine pad as the above example show. The partial VIN stamping location seems to vary from plant to plant and will even change during a model year. Listed are locations reported for the various plants.
Plant | Engine Pad | Oil Filter | Bellhousing Flange |
Arlington | Yes | ||
Atlanta | Yes | ||
Baltimore | Yes | Yes | |
Flint | Yes | Yes | |
Kansas City | Yes | ||
Van Nuys | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Oshawa | Yes |
Engine Stamps
T0912CKO - L78 with manual transmission
T0513CRV - LS6 with manual transmission
V0629CNN - L48 with TH350 transmission
T1203CRN - LS5 with TH400 transmission - Monte Carlo only
T0306CRV - LS6 with manual transmission
T0527CRV - LS6 with manual transmission
Partial VIN Stamp
Arlington, Texas
T1216CRT ~ LS5 with manual transmission
Engine pad, Arlington, TX.
T0116CTX - L34 with manual transmission
T0212CRV - LS6 with manual transmission
T0122CTW - L34 with TH400 transmission
T0305CTW - L34 with TH400 transmission
T0306CTX - L34 with manual transmission
T0318CTX - L34 with manual transmission - note the engine block was
stamped with the date and suffix code at Tonawanda before the heads
were installed.
T0318CTX - L34 with manual transmission - note the engine block was
stamped with the date and suffix code at Tonawanda before the heads
were installed. Also note that even though this engine and the example
just above it are both dated March 19, the sequence numbers for the
Chevelles they were installed in are almost 57,000 units apart.
T0323CRR - LS6 with TH400 transmission -
gentleman has block looking for owner.
T0618CTX - L34 with manual transmission - a bit suspect due to
the font on the number 6 in the date.
T0622CTX - L34 with manual transmission (note broach marks)
T0616CRV - LS6 with manual transmission- a bit suspect due to the font
on the first number 6 in the date.
Atlanta, Georgia
T0929CNN ~ L65 with TH350
Really bad restamp...
T1121CRT ~ LS5 with manual transmission
T0203 - L34 with TH400 transmission
T0212CRR - LS6 with TH400 transmission
T0216CTX - L34 with manual transmission
T0220CTX - L34 with manual transmission
T0325CTW - L34 with TH400 transmission
T0330CRT ~ LS5 with manual transmission
T0415CRR ~ LS6 with TH400
T0511CTW - L34 with TH400 transmission (suspect font)
T1216CRQ ~ LS5 with TH400 transmission. Interesting to note the time
difference between the engine's build of December 16, 1969 and car's
sequence putting it in very late July.
Baltimore, Maryland
Oil filter pad, Baltimore, MD.
T1112CKO ~ L78 with manual transmission
T1230CRV ~ LS6 with manual transmission - restamp
TxxxxCTW ~ L34 with TH400 transmission. Note Baltimore often stamped "188"
instead of "10B"
T0205CRT ~ LS5 with manual transmission (yet another suspect due to
"T" not in alignment.
T0319CTX ~ L34 with manual transmission
Both the Tonawanda stamp and partial VIN stamp are so bad I won't embarrass
any potential owner but it was advertised as a 'numbers matching' LS6
by a heretofore reputable auction company.
Flint, Michigan
T0319CRR ~ LS6 with TH400 transmission
T0308CRR ~ LS6 with TH400 transmission
Kansas City, Missouri
Engine pad, Kansas City, MO.
T1121CRT ~ LS5 with manual transmission
T1121CRT ~ LS5 with manual transmission
T0107CTX ~ L34 with manual transmission
T0119CRV - LS6 with manual transmission
T1120CRQ - LS5 with TH400 transmission
T0112CRE - L48 with TH350 transmission. Just to show the difference
between a big-block and small-block stamping, all big-block engine ID
stamps were on the left of the engine pad with the assembly plant's
partial VIN stamped on the right where small-blocks were just the opposite,
engine ID stamp on the right with the partial VIN on the left. Also
note the Kansas City partial VIN stamping is upside down which is typical
of Kansas City in 1970.
Van Nuys, California
Partial VIN stamp for Van Nuys on rough cast area by oil filter
T0702CTW - L34 with TH400 transmission.
T0311CRR - LS6 with TH400 transmission. Questionable due to the
second "R" being out of alignment and font does not look correct.
Oil filter pad, Van Nuys, CA.
Oshawa, Ontario
Miscellaneous Engine ID Stamp
T0116CRV - LS6 with manual transmission
T0213CTX - L34 with manual transmission (suspect)
T0219CRT - LS5 with manual transmission
CE (Chevrolet Engine) warranty replacement engines.
A good example of how NOT to restamp an engine pad. Characters
not aligned and wrong fonts.
Sample Engine Compartments
These are just examples of the various engines offered in 1970 and are NOT meant to show 100% correctness in the engine compartment layout.
L48
Base 307/200hp
L48 - 350/300hp
L34 - 396/350hp
LS3 ~ 402/330hp
LS5 ~ 454/360hp
LS6 ~ 454/450p
LS6 ~ 454/450p with CO coded dual snorkel air cleaner
assembly used on mid to late LS6 454 engines without Cowl Induction
Hood to replace the open element air cleaner assembly.