One of my regular readers, Bill, posted the following question in response to the piece I wrote on Chevy engines. Bill asked…
“No 454 V8 in 1971? I guess that motor came later. ..”
That get me to thinking so I did a little more research. The references I’m use are “Ultimate American V-8 Engine Data Book” by Peter Sessler; “Standard catalog of American Cars” by John Gunnel and “110 years of the American Auto” by James Flammang and Auto Editors of Consumer Guide. I try not to get too much from the Internet at large.
Interestingly enough the 454 is briefly mentioned in the Ultimate American V-8 Engine Data Book, but there aren’t many details. That reference shows that the 454 was available in 1971 as a 4V producing 365 horse power. It doesn’t show under any model just as a general option for Chevy’s. I’m assuming it was just a 400 block with a different bore and stroke.
The 454 was developed by 1970. It’s bore was 4.251 in and had a 4 inch stroke (where as the 400 had 4.251 in bore and a 3.75 stroke). There were other version in 1970 and 1971, designated as the LS5. This version of the 454 was used in the 1970 and beyond in Corvette for one instance and was used in Chevelle.
Interesting that it isn’t referred to in the mentioned references for 1971 year.
Hold the presses!!!!!
It appears that in the reference “Standard catalog of American Cars” by John Gunnel that the 454 was left out off the comprehensive listing of engines for 1971. However, the 454 was use in the SS version of the Monte Carlo – 1,919 were produced. For the Chevelle 80,000 were sold with the SS badge of those only 19,992 were with the 454.
1917 Chevelle SS 454
1971 Monte Carlo SS 454
And in this reference I found the answer to a question I’ve had for some time. About 5 years agoing I was at a car show and ended up talking to a guy with a 1971 Nova SS. It had a 454 as the power plant between the shock towers. However there were 7,015 Nova SS packages sold, none had the 454 as the option.
Thanks for the spark to follow this up Bill.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
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Big Blocks all the way baby!
Hello,
tbirdsps has just posted in the Average Guy’s Car Restoration forum of
ArmedForcesCarClub Forums under the title of 1971 Chevy Engine Line-Up Part II –
The 454.
This thread is located at http://armedforcescarclub.com/forum/showthread.php?443
8-1971-Chevy-Engine-Line-Up-Part-II-The-454
Here is the message that has just been posted:
***************
I drove a 73 Monte Carlo with the 454 and swivel bucket seats. What a peach.
The only car I liked better was the 73 Buick Riviera with the 455. Now that was
a ride. Swathed in comfort and power to back it up.
***************
The quality and accuracy of this fine blog is getting better every day!
I can’t say this with 100% certainty, but I believe a friend of my dad’s had a 1971 Corvette with a ‘special order’ 454 V8. That was back in the day when you could order COPO, or special order through dealership buddies.