Farewell to the last of the "Big Blocks"

[Nick-B]

Dodge is coming out with an upgraded Hemi V-8 at 6.4 liters and pushing 500 HP. That might do the trick.

Just need the bumper sticker then that sez, "Yeah, its got a Hemi!".

[Cruzer]

That would depend on how Workhorse would tie in with Chrysler. With their roots in Navistar and some heavy hooks into GM that may not be convenient. Although, if the 8.1 is history and GM doesn't have a suitable replacement those hooks into GM may fade away. I wonder is Navistar has anything in gas engines in that range? PLEEEZE - don't bring back the RD-450.

[DriVer]

Originally Posted by Nick-B

Dodge is coming out with an upgraded Hemi V-8 at 6.4 liters and pushing 500 HP. That might do the trick.

GM has about the same size motor right now that cranks out a bunch of ponies in the Vette!

[DriVer]

Originally Posted by Cruzer

I wonder is Navistar has anything in gas engines in that range? PLEEEZE - don't bring back the RD-450.

Cruizer, I remember working on some International 345 CID motors back in the day.

[beaverjim]

cruzer, this is just for kicks but chev. made both a true 396 thru 69 if my memory is not completely gone and started the 402 in 70 but still called it a 396. 396 was 6.5 litres and 402 was 6.6. hows that for going back to the old days jim

[Route 66]

Originally Posted by beaverjim

cruzer, this is just for kicks but chev. made both a true 396 thru 69 if my memory is not completely gone and started the 402 in 70 but still called it a 396. 396 was 6.5 litres and 402 was 6.6. hows that for going back to the old days jim

You are correct.


The 396-cubic-inch (6.5 L) V8 was introduced in the 1965 Corvette as the L78 option and in the Z16 Chevelle. It had a bore of 4.094 in and stroke of 3.76 in (96 mm) by 96 mm), and produced 425 hp (317 kW) and 415 lb·ft (563 N·m). This version of the 396 was equipped with four bolt main bearing caps and was very comfortable with being operated in the upper 6000 rpm range.
Introduced in 1970, the 402-cubic-inch (6.6 L) was a 396-cubic-inch bored out by 0.030 in (0.76 mm). Despite the fact that it was 6 cubic inches (98 cc) larger, Chevy continued marketing it under the popular "396" label in the smaller cars while at the same time labeling it "Turbo-Jet 400" in the full-size cars.

[Cruzer]

Originally Posted by DriVer

Cruizer, I remember working on some International 345 CID motors back in the day.

Yeah, I remember those too. Even had one in a '66 International (aka - "Cornbinder" ) stake truck I had once.

Those RD-450s were terrible. They were huge inline 6 cylinder gas engines (450 CID). They would burn your eyes when they idled because gas practically dripped out the tailpipe. They had vacuum based governors and whenever you hit the rev limiter they would hunt up and down by at least 500 RPM and thow you back and forth in the seat so you learned to always shift early to avoid them. When you downshifted they'd bang and backfire through the exhaust. As for gas mileage - let's just say they were the annual recipient of the "Friends of OPEC" award.

[Cruzer]

GM had a policy back then of not putting engines that were 400 CID or larger in the smaller cars. The only exception was the Vette, which got the 427 in 1967. They eventually wised up and we saw cars like the SS-454 Chevelle, which peaked in 1970 with the LS-6 and LS-7 versions. Shortky after the oil embargo hit and insurance companies began playing hardball with premiums on muscle cars and that pretty much ended it all. Still, those were great times. I still remember racing my buddy in his SS-454 in my Javelin at speeds I'd better not mention here.

The biggest thing with the latest engines is that they are smaller in displacement. The smaller diameter pistons burn much cleaner and they are capable of getting some nice horsepower figures but much of it as at the higher end of the rev band. It's tough to replace cubes for bottom end torque, which is what you need for a heavy RV. They way things are going I pretty much see diesel as the engine of choice in most class As in the near future. Even smaller class As, like the Tiffin Breeze are going with the Navistar diesel. That's the best way to obtain torque and fuel economy ans still meet emissions.

[DriVer]

Originally Posted by Cruzer

Yeah, I remember those too. Even had one in a '66 International (aka - "Cornbinder" ) stake truck I had once.

I just love that term, it takes me back a whole bunch. Thanks for taking the time to post Cruzer. I appreciate your contributions. We had a number of Model 1600s ??? - Small IH 2.5 ton dump trucks in the municipal fleet. I can't count how many clutches I changed during my short tenure at the Municipal Garage.

[rvten]

The last Cornbinder I drove. Was in the FD. I t was a int. 190 series, 5 spd trans. It was set up as a pumper. We carried 500 gal water also.

The govenor did not work on that truck. It was the fastest rig out the barn.

I also had a SS 396 Chevell convertable. Made getting to the fire house a quick trip.

[DriVer]

Originally Posted by rvten

I also had a SS 396 Chevelle convertable. Made getting to the fire house a quick trip.

I believe that the BEST 396 that I have ever driven was the 1969 SS, 396 - 375HP model. (~If memory serves me well~) I recall that I could pull the right front tire up off the ground just about any time I dumped the clutch.

I don't see where anyone has mentioned the 302CID with the solid lifters in the Z28! Man what a motor that was. Also drove the 327 - 350 in a Vette but the car was too heavy for that motor. Yet another GM hot rod was a Chevy II with a 327. I saw a number of these types when I was working at the Chevy dealer. Wish I had more working brain cells! 40 years is a time ago!

[Lued]

DriVer I also had the 1969 SS 396 -375 hp Chevelle, Paid $3,300 New , with a 5 Yr 50,000 mile warranty, shift at 7000 rpm , raced it for two year at the track, best time 12:98 in 1/4mile. Never needed the warranty. Wish I had that car today.

[Route 66]

I had a '68 Camaro SS/RS 396/375 and it was awsome. It was much better than my '63 Impala SS 409..........obviously.

I had also always heard the 396/375 in the Camaro was the same as the 396/425 used in the Vette.

[Lued]

All of the 396-375 hp were really 425 hp, maybe that's why they ran so good . They were downgraded to 375 hp for passenger cars.