Question on '65 L78 vs. later L78s

[442w30]

My friend thinks the L78 in the 1966 Chevelle was identical to the '65 L78 in the big cars - I'm talkin' physically, not on paper. I have a suspicion that there was something different, like a carb or exhaust manifolds, that may have been different. Anyone?

I know the Z16 was not an L78, for what it's worth.

[Keith Tedford]

Didn't the Z16 engines have a hydraulic cam. Other than that I understood that they were basically the same. Any other differences probably had little effect on hp output.

[markjohnson]

The neat thing about the 1965 Full-Size 395-425 HP cars is that they shared the same "swoopy" exhaust manifolds with the Big Block Corvettes. 1966 Full-Size 427-425 HP cars also shared the good exhaust manifolds with Corvettes. These better exhaust manifolds didn't fit the Chevelle chassis so they used the more restrictive "log" type exhaust manifolds.

[John Brown]

I wouldn't bet those Corvette manifolds won't fit on a Chevelle. We put a pair on Terry Penningtons 69 Camaro F.A.S.T. car just as a trial to see if they would fit and they cleared the sub frame (they were close on the steering but didn't hit) with no problem. You would have to eliminate the heat riser and get a little creative with the exhaust pipe bends, but it could have been made to work. I'm not saying the factory would have done it the way we were going at it, but there is still a possibility. Terry has a 67 Chevelle 4 speed car in his shop right now that's going to get a 375/396, and I'm gonna try a pair of Corvette manifolds on it just as soon as the engine goes back between the fenders.....

[snydes]

[ QUOTE ]
Didn't the Z16 engines have a hydraulic cam. Other than that I understood that they were basically the same. Any other differences probably had little effect on hp output.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is correct, if memory serves me, it wasn't coded L78 either.

Steve

[PeteLeathersac]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Didn't the Z16 engines have a hydraulic cam. Other than that I understood that they were basically the same. Any other differences probably had little effect on hp output.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is correct, if memory serves me, it wasn't coded L78 either.

Steve

[/ QUOTE ]

They were the L37...Suffix IX..


~ Pete

[442w30]

Hey, guys, thanks for the responses, but we're talking L78s here.

[Kim_Howie]

The only difference I know is the 65 block has no oil groove in the back cam journal. The 65 cam has a groove all around the back journal. The 66 doesn't. The 961 was the 2-bolt and the 962 was the 4-bolt for both 65 & 66. The chevelle vette and Imp all used the same intake the 963. The carbs were the same cfm, just diff. #s. The heads 208 & 858s same valves 2.19/1.72 and same size combustion chambers 108.989.
Piston weight was diff 24.00 oz. to the 66 piston 23.13 oz.
I don't know of any differance between them.
That's my story and I am going to stick with it!!!

[442w30]

So the exhaust manifolds are diff or the same? You seem to know a lot about 'em but you didn't mention this.

[John Brown]

Here's what 396/427 Chevelle/Camaro ex manifolds look like.