1964 Chevelle
1965 Chevelle
1966 Chevelle
1967 Chevelle
1968 Chevelle
1969 Chevelle
1970 Chevelle
1971 Chevelle
1972 Chevelle1966 Chevelle Engine ID Suffix Codes
The engine identification code consists of the engine assembly plant, the engine assembly date, and 3 letter suffix indicating the cubic inch displacement, the horsepower rating, and generally, what type of transmission was to be installed with the engine. Manual transmissions required a bushing in the rear of the bellhousing where an automatic transmission did not. Many engine "accessories" such as the carburetor, alternators, and power steering units were not installed at the engine assembly plant but rather at the final assembly plant.
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Engine |
Transmission |
Notes |
|||
| Code | Size | HP-RPO | |||
| AA | 194-1 | 120 | Manual-3 | Overdrive | |
| AC | 194-1 | 120 | Manual-3 | Heavy Duty Clutch | |
| AG | 194-1 | 120 | Manual-3 | A.C. | |
| AH | 194-1 | 120 | Manual-3 | Heavy Duty Clutch/A.C. | |
| AL | 194-1 | 120 | Powerglide | ||
| AS | 194-1 | 120 | Manual-3 | Overdrive/A.I.R. | |
| AT | 194-1 | 120 | Manual-3 | A.C./A.I.R. | |
| 230 ↓ | |||||
| BL | 230-1 | 140-L26 | Powerglide | A.I.R. (Domestic only) | |
| BM | 230-1 | 140-L26 | Powerglide | A.C./A.I.R. (Domestic Only) | |
| BN | 230-1 | 140-L26 | Manual-3 | Overdrive/A.I.R. (Domestic Only) | |
| BO | 230-1 | 140-L26 | Manual-3 | A.C./A.I.R. | |
| BP | 230-1 | 140-L26 | Powerglide | Export only | |
| BR | 230-1 | 140-L90 | Powerglide | A.C. | |
| CA | 230-1 | 140-L26 | Manual-3 | Overdrive | |
| CB | 230-1 | 140-L26 | Manual-3 | A.C. | |
| CC | 230-1 | 140-L26 | Powerglide | ||
| CD | 230-1 | 140-L26 | Powerglide | A.C. | |
| 283-2 ↓ | |||||
| DA | 283-2 | 195 | Manual-3 | ||
| DB | 283-2 | 195 | Manual-4 | ||
| DC | 283-2 | 195-L92 | |||
| DE | 283-2 | 195 | Powerglide | ||
| DF* | 283-2 | 195-L92 | Powerglide | ||
| DI | 283-2 | 195 | Manual-3 | Overdrive/A.I.R. | |
| DJ | 283-2 | 195 | Powerglide | A.I.R. | |
| DK | 283-2 | 195 | Manual-4 | A.I.R. | |
| DN | 283-2 | 192 | M01 | ||
| 283-4 ↓ | |||||
| DG | 283-4 | 220-L77 | Manual-3/4 | ||
| DH | 283-4 | 220-L77 | Powerglide | ||
| DL | 283-4 | 220-L77 | Manual-3/4 | A.I.R. | |
| DM | 283-4 | 220-L77 | Powerglide | A.I.R. | |
| DO | 283-4 | 220-L77 | M01 | ||
| 327 ↓ | |||||
| EA/EAH | 327-4 | 275-L30 | Manual-3/4 | Rochester/Carter or Holley Carb | |
| EB | 327-4 | 275-L30 | Manual-3/4 | A.I.R. | |
| EC | 327-4 | 275-L30 | Powerglide | A.I.R. | |
| EE | 327-4 | 275-L30 | Powerglide | ||
| EO | 327-4 | 275-L30 | M01 | ||
| 327-L79 ↓(3) | |||||
| EP# | 327-4 | 350-L79 | Manual 3/4 | ||
| ER# | 327-4 | 350-L79 | Manual 3/4 | A.I.R. | |
| ES# | 327-4 | 350-L79 | M01 | ||
| 396-L35 ↓ | |||||
| EDR | 396-4 | 325-L35 | Manual-3/4 | Rochester Carb (1) | |
| ED/EDH | 396-4 | 325-L35 | Manual 3/4 | Holley Carb | |
| EH | 396-4 | 325-L35 | Manual-3/4 | Rochester Carb/A.I.R. | |
| EKR | 396-4 | 325-L35 | Powerglide | Rochester Carb (2) | |
| EK/EKH | 396-4 | 325-L35 | Powerglide | Holley Carb | |
| EM | 396-4 | 325-L35 | Powerglide | Rochester Carb/A.I.R. | |
| 396-L34 ↓ | |||||
| EF | 396-4 | 360-L34 | Manual-3/4 | ||
| EJ | 396-4 | 360-L34 | Manual-3/4 | A.I.R. | |
| EL | 396-4 | 360-L34 | Powerglide | ||
| EN | 396-4 | 360-L34 | Powerglide | A.I.R. | |
| 396-L78 ↓ | |||||
| EG** | 396-4 | 375-L78 | Manual-3/4 | Holley Carb/Solid Cam | |
(1) It is doubtful that any manual transmission L35 engines
were built with a Rochester carburetor w/o A.I.R.
(2) It is doubtful that any Powerglide transmission L35 engines
were built with a Rochester carburetor w/o A.I.R.
(3) Although an engine code was assigned to the L79 engines,
none were ever installed in a 1966 Chevelle.
According to accepted production numbers and GM Heritage Center,
the 396 engines break down as follows:
2-door sedan pickup L35 325hp base engine - 1,865 (engine standard in
both SS 396 models)
2-door sedan pickup L34 360hp high performance engine - 1,025
2-door sedan pickup L78 3675p special high performance engine - 83
2-door coupe/convertible L34 360hp high performance engine - 23,786
2-door coupe/convertible L78 375hp special high performance engine -
3,016
An estimated 2,973 2-door sedan pickup El Caminos were ordered with
one of the 396 engines
Roughly 32.6% of the 325hp 396 was ordered with a Powerglide transmission.
Roughly 67.4% of the 325hp 396 was ordered with a manual transmission.
Roughly 5.8% of the 360hp 396 was ordered with a Powerglide transmission.
Roughly 94.2% of the 360hp 396 was ordered with a manual transmission.
DF code is RPO L92.
* April 11, 2023 - Thanks for Jeff Helms for updated 1966 396 engine breakdown.
# Chevrolet records show this engine in production as early as February 7, 1966. The release date was due sometime in late February or early March. No L79-optioned Chevelles were reported sold in 1966.
** The L78 engine option was canceled early in 1965 and reinstated
October 7, 1965. Many early Chevrolet publication materials, such as
this page from an early training program booklet also listed this engine
at 425hp and, oddly, the L34 (360hp) engine does not show a horsepower
rating at all.
GM of Canada documentation indicates that 499 (total) L34 13617 and 13667 Malibus were produced for sale in Canada.
1966 Chevelle 396-cid Engine Production
The base engine for the SS 396 series for 1966 was the L35 396-cid 325hp engine. This engine (along with the L34 and L78) was also an optional engine in the El Camino and 1,865 L35 engines were sold. There were 72,272 SS 396 sport coupes (66,380) and convertibles (5,393) sold.
L35 engines could be equipped with either a Rochester (or Carter equivalent) Quadrajet carburetor or Holley carburetor; all L34 and L78 engines were equipped with a Holley carburetor.
| RPO | hp | Transmission | Suffix | Production | Notes |
| L35 | 325 | Manual | ED/EDH (4) | 28,430 | Holley |
| L35/K19 | 325 | Manual | EH | 3,775 | Rochester & A.I.R. |
| L35/M35 | 325 | Powerglide | EKR | 21 | Rochester/Holley |
| L35/M35 | 325 | Powerglide | EK/EKH | 12,592 | Holley |
| L35/K19/M35 | 325 | Powerglide | EM | 2,963 | Rochester & A.I.R. |
| 47,781 | Total L35 Engines | ||||
| 47,335 | Total L35 Cars (3) | ||||
| 466 | Service Engines | ||||
| L34 | 360 | Manual | EF | 20,283 | |
| L34/K19 | 360 | Manual | EJ | 4,037 | A.I.R. |
| L34/M35 | 360 | Powerglide | EL | 1,179 | |
| L34/K19/M35 | 360 | Powerglide | EN | 323 | A.I.R. |
| 25,822 | Total L34 Engines | ||||
| 24,811 | Total L34 Chevelles | ||||
| 96.1% of total L34 engine production went into Chevelles. | 1,011 | Service Engines | |||
| L78 | 375 | Manual | EG | 3,167 | |
| 3,167 | Total L78 Engines | ||||
| 3,099 | Total L78 Chevelles | ||||
| 68 | Service Engines | ||||
| 97.9% of total L78 engine production went into Chevelles. | |||||
| (3) L35 Chevelle engine breakdown | ||
| Total SS 396 Chevelles | 72,272 | |
| LESS L34 engines | 23,786 | 1,025 in El Caminos |
| LESS L78 engines | 3,016 | 83 in El Caminos |
| Total L35 engines | 45,470 | |
| PLUS L35 El Caminos | 1,865 | |
| Total L35 Chevelles | 47,335 |
(4) Original data published years ago by NCOA only lists ED (no EDH), and it is specifically labeled as "Holley", with no separate quantity for any ED Rochester engines. That fact (when he did list the oddball EKR code separately) suggests to me that there was never a 66 ED engine built for a Rochester carb. Perhaps there was a plan to build both varieties (which resulted in the additional H suffix), but for whatever reason it did not happen, and the Tonawanda records (or maybe just Fran) therefore only listed ED since no need to differentiate. - Courtesy Jeff Helms
Chart clearly shows that any 396 engine available in 1966 could be ordered in both the 13480 and 13680 series El Camino.
The 375hp L78 engine required an additional bracket on the passenger
side of the engine; GM's solution to keep the alternator belt from flying
off.
Examples of engine assembly plant ID stamped codes and engine VIN derivative stampings.
