Trivia
Malibu 400
When an LS3 engine was installed the particular 1970 or 1971 Chevelle also received a "400" front fender emblem; oddly for the 1972 model year only the El Camino received a "400" emblem. Because the Malibu sport coupe and convertible also received a "Malibu" emblem, these combinations are often referred to as a "Malibu 400" but there was no official Chevrolet designation as such, just as there were no official designations for something like a "Kingswood 400" or "El Camino 400" when equipped with the LS3 engine or "Malibu 307" or "Malibu 350" when a Malibu was equipped with those engines.
1970 Malibu with LS3 engine ~ note Malibu and 400 emblem locations.
1971 Malibu with LS3 engine ~ note Malibu and 400 emblem location.
1972 Malibu with LS3 engine ~ note Malibu and 400 emblem location.
The "other" 400 engine
The Turbo-Jet 400 engine (actually 402 a cubic inch Mark IV) made its way into the vernacular in 1970. Also introduced in 1970 was the 400 cubic inch Turbo-Fire small-block engine. The Turbo-Fire 400 (RPO LF6) was only available in full size Chevrolets and the Monte Carlo and was never available in the "normal" Chevelle lineup. Although both engines were typically referred to as a "400," the Turbo-Jet actually displaced 402 cubic inches and the Turbo-Fire displaced 400 cubic inches. Needless to say this caused some confusion at the time as many people didn't understand the Turbo-Jet (all Mark IV big-block engines) and the Turbo-Fire (all small-block engines) so many publications referred to them as a 400-4 and a 400-2 for the Turbo-Jet and Turbo-Fire engines respectively since the Turbo-Jet 400 came with a 4-barrel carburetor and the Turbo-Fire 400 came with a 2-barrel carburetor. The LF6 Turbo-Fire 400 was only available in the Monte Carlo in 1970; for 1971 and 1972 the LS3 Turbo-Jet 400 was the only "400" engine available throughout the Chevelle series.
To SS or not to SS?
The LS3 was only available in the 1970 model year in NON-SS optioned Chevelles. Since both SS options, RPO Z25 (396) and RPO Z25 (454) included performance engines, the LS3 was not available when either of those options were ordered in 1970.
This changed in 1971 when RPO Z25 was dropped from the option list and RPO Z15 became a dress-up option rather than a performance option when any optional V8 could be ordered with the Z15 package. For both 1971 and 1972, when the SS option was ordered along with the LS3 engine, there was no external badging to indicate the LS3 engine; only the LS5 454 engine received an engine size emblem below the SS emblem on the front fenders. When the LS3 engine was ordered on any non-SS optioned Chevelle, a "400" emblem was placed on the front fenders to indicate the engine size.
LS3 Option
1970
In 1970 the LS3 option cost $162.50 but one had to add one of two mandatory transmissions. Either the M20 4-speed at $184.80 or the TH400 automatic at $221.80.
1971
In 1971 the LS3 option cost $172.75 but one had to add one of three mandatory transmissions. Either the MC1 Heavy Duty 3-speed manual (only available with the LS3 and only 548 sold) at $132.00, the M20 4-speed at $195.40 or the TH400 automatic at $237.60. In addition, unlike the 1970 model year, the LS3 engine could be ordered both with or without the RPO Z15 SS Equipment option. If one did not order the Z15 SS Equipment option at $357.05, to get the LS3 in a non-SS optioned Chevelle, F78x14 tires were required and price was either $23.20 for blackwall or $53.35 for white stripe. The ZL2 cowl induction hood could only be ordered with the Z15 SS Equipment option.
1972
In 1972 the LS3 option cost $176.95 but one had to add one of three mandatory transmissions. Either the MC1 Heavy Duty 3-speed manual (only available with the LS3 and only 272 sold) at $135.20, the M20 4-speed at $200.65 or the TH400 automatic at $237.60. In addition, like the 1971 model year, the LS3 engine could be ordered both with or without the RPO Z15 SS Equipment option. If one did not order the Z15 SS Equipment option at $365.50, to get the LS3 in a non-SS optioned Chevelle, F78x14 tires were required and price was $54.35 for white stripe tires. The ZL2 cowl induction hood could only be ordered with the Z15 SS Equipment option.
On a side note, 1972 engines did not come with any engine size stickers on the air cleaner housings. Both of these examples are incorrect.
