Easy way to tell a 454 from a 396/402 or 427 is the balancer. The smaller
engines are internally balanced, and the balancer is smooth on the backside.
If it has more weight on one part, then it is externally balanced and is a 454
or 502. Not likely to find a 502 in a junk truck anyway. The only difference
between a 396 and 402 is .030 overbore from the factory. As of 1970 model
year (late 1969) all 396s were 402s, but until 1971, were still billed as 396s
or 400s, which can be confusing because there was a 400 smallblock too. The
427 uses the larger bore of the 454 (4.250) with the 396 stroke (3.76), and
was not available in trucks supposedly.
Devin-----big block guru
57 3100 w/327/granny 4
64 El Camino w/427/muncie 4
72 Datsun 240Z w/stock 2393cc I6
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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