THe 402

Not being a journalist I left out a few things in my last update. THe Motor that I found was in fact a 402, but thye were still called a 396, and everyone from my day thought the 396 was only second to a 427. Even the Hemis were so rare that no one in my little cow town even muttered the name. But a chevelle with a 396 was a bad boy, even the ever popular Novas could only be so cool if you stuffed a 427 into it. They had to have that much more to be considered as cool as a Chevelle. Well theat 72 motor I came across was recenttly gone though with a high 400's lift by the micrometer and math, I didnt right down the secifics but they werent impressive enough to worry about. I did reomove the lifters and rods and stored them in the event I needed a replacement bang stick to make a motor run......more on that sme other time. But I wanted the .520/.540 nostalgia cam that Comp had. It would make the motor sound mean and run even meaner....did I mention this is the life and times during Covid and nothing is available, at least not when any supplier dreams it might be. Well I tried ordering it but the dates just kept going on the wrong direction but a .540/.540 was available and it would work for me.

As for the rest of the motor she got new bolts for the original rods, new head bolts, all new bearings, freeze plugs, rings, honed the cylinders to re-establish the cross hatch, the cam kit, double roller chain, new pump for a rebuilt Moroso 8 quart street/strip pan, one new valve for one that appeared to have some detonation to it and I tried to replace the Viton oil seals for all the valves...thats still hasnt happened as they are another item that seems to have disappeared off the face of the planet. I may have new heads before those specific seals show up, but thats another story...maybe this winters project....Did I tell you I still have that 427 dream