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 Chevelles. Actually fewer base LS5 Chevelles were sold than the optional LS6 Chevelle.
| 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 vechicles 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 vechicles 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 Chevelles in 1970. | |||||
| 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. | |||||
T0912CKO - L78 with manual transmission
Partial VIN Stamp
Arlington, Texas
T0622CTX - L34 with manual transmission (note broach marks)
Atlanta, Georgia
T0212CRR - LS6 with TH400 transmission
T0325CTW - L34 with TH400 transmission
T0511CTW - L34 with TH400 transmission
Baltimore, Maryland
Both the Tonawanda stamp and partial VIN stamp are so bad I won't
embarass any potential owner but it was advertised as a 'numbers
matching' LS6 by a heretofore reputable auction company.
Kansas City, Missouri
T0119CRV - LS6 with manual transmission
T1120CRQ - L78 with manual transmission, H.D. clutch
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
T0311CRR - LS6 with TH400 transmission. Questionable due to the second "R" being out
of alignment and font does not look correct.
Miscellaneous Engine ID Stamp
T0116CRV - LS6 with manual transmission
T0213CTX - L34 with manual transmission (suspect)
T0219CRT - LS6 with manual transmission
CE (Chevrolet Engine) warranty replacement.
A good example of how NOT to restamp an engine pad. Characters
not aligned and wrong fonts.
