Ever a 400BB
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 96
From: Fuquay Varina, NC USA
Chevrolet overbored the 396 big block for the 1970 model year. It actually displaced 402 CI but was still marketed as a 396 in the Camaro, Chevelle, and Nova lines because the SS396 moniker was so popular. In full size passenger cars (Impala, Caprice, etc.) it was called a 400. The small block 400 was also available in '70 and caused some confusion.
The '78 Trans Am came standard with an Oldsmobile 403 CI (short deck)engine.
Optional was the Pontiac 400 (all Pontiac V8s use the same block dimension-wise).
They were designated as 6.6L for the Olds engine and T/A 6.6L for the Pontiac.
The Pontiac was substantially stronger and was one of the quickest domestic cars offered that year.
The '78 Trans Am came standard with an Oldsmobile 403 CI (short deck)engine.
Optional was the Pontiac 400 (all Pontiac V8s use the same block dimension-wise).
They were designated as 6.6L for the Olds engine and T/A 6.6L for the Pontiac.
The Pontiac was substantially stronger and was one of the quickest domestic cars offered that year.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 433
From: Athens, GA
79 was the first year for the 403 standard and it was an auto only car. in 77&78 it was an option in high altitude/low emission areas or probrably if you just wanted it. some consider the 400 pontiac a BB but its not and the 403 olds is closer to being a sb than a bb.
only the W72 400(ie HO) was considerably stronger than the 403 the regular 400 was just like the 403 power wise. in 79 all 400s were W72 cars and four speed.
6.6 Litre was on the shaker for all 403 cars and standard 400s in 77&78 only
T/A 6.6 was on the shaker for all W72 400s which was 77-79
and for a little trivia the 79 W72 400 cars were basically 78 W72 cars. no mechanical changes and as powerful and fast of a car it was in those two years the Dodge little red express truck was the fastest vehicle produced in america in 79. go figure.
oh and the 403 is seriously underestimated and over looked as a peformer, and with that said id still preferre the 400 pontiac simply because of the choices in what you can do to it without blazing new ground. Trey
only the W72 400(ie HO) was considerably stronger than the 403 the regular 400 was just like the 403 power wise. in 79 all 400s were W72 cars and four speed.
6.6 Litre was on the shaker for all 403 cars and standard 400s in 77&78 only
T/A 6.6 was on the shaker for all W72 400s which was 77-79
and for a little trivia the 79 W72 400 cars were basically 78 W72 cars. no mechanical changes and as powerful and fast of a car it was in those two years the Dodge little red express truck was the fastest vehicle produced in america in 79. go figure.
oh and the 403 is seriously underestimated and over looked as a peformer, and with that said id still preferre the 400 pontiac simply because of the choices in what you can do to it without blazing new ground. Trey