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RPO Option Codes
Chevrolet Big-Block V-8 Engine Packages
1965-1995
396, 402, 427, 454 only
These listings are always a work-in-progress.
If you have any documented info that can be added to these pages,
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RPO is a GM term which stands for "Regular Production Option". They were used to represent a large number of GM vehicle options. In some cases they were used to represent engine packages. Below is a list of RPO engine codes for Big Block Chevrolet. You'll notice in some cases different years used the same RPO code, but the engines may have had slightly different equipment or accessories.
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| RPO # |
Year |
Engine |
Details |
| L-19 |
88-90 |
Mark IV 454
230 HP |
light duty trucks, 4-bolt Mark IV block, cast crank, cast pistons, hydraulic cam, open /oval heads, 8.25:1 compression, throttle body injection. |
| L-19 |
91-95 |
Mark V 454
230 HP |
light duty trucks, 4-bolt block, cast crank, cast pistons, hydraulic cam, Gen. V open /oval heads, 8.25:1 compression, throttle body injection. |
| L-34 |
66-69 |
396
350, 360 HP |
2 or 4 bolt (1966 block), cast pistons, steel crank, high lift hydraulic cam, closed/oval heads, 10.25:1 compression, Holley Carb (66-68), Quadrajet (68-69), cast iron hi-rise intake. |
| L-34 |
70 |
402
350 HP |
Same as above, except larger bore, 2-bolt block, Quadrajet carb only. |
| L-35 |
65-67 |
396
325 HP |
2-bolt block, steel crank, cast pistons, closed/oval heads, hyd. cam, 10.25:1 compression, Holley 4-Bbl., cast iron hi-rise intake. |
| L-35 |
68-69 |
396
325 HP |
2-bolt block, cast crank, cast pistons, closed/oval heads, hyd. cam, 10.25:1 compression, Quadrajet Carb, cast iron intake. |
| L-36 |
66-69 |
427
385, 390 HP |
2-bolt block, cast crank, cast pistons, closed/oval heads, high-lift hyd. cam, 10.25:1 compression, Holley or Q-jet Carb, cast iron intake.
Aluminum lo-rise Q-jet intake on 69-69 Corvette. |
| L-66 |
69 |
396
265 HP |
2-bolt block, cast crank, cast pistons, closed/oval heads, hyd. cam, 9.0:1 compression, 2 Bbl Carb, cast iron intake. |
| L-68 |
67-69 |
427
400 HP |
Corvette. Same as L-36 above, except with (3) 2-Bbl Holley carbs and oval port alum. intake. |
| L-71 |
67-69 |
427
425, 435 HP |
Corvette. Same as L-72 below, except with (3) 2-Bbl Holley carbs and square port alum. intake. |
| L-72 |
66-68 |
427
425 HP |
4-bolt block, steel "Tuftride" crankshaft, forged pistons, closed/square cast iron heads, solid cam, 11.0:1 compression, Holley 800cfm carb, alum. hi-rise intake. |
| L-78 |
65-69 |
396
375 HP |
4-bolt block, steel "Tuftride" crankshaft, forged pistons, closed/square heads, solid cam, 11.0:1 compression, Holley 800cfm carb, alum. hi-rise intake. |
| L-78 |
65 |
396
375 HP |
Z-16 Chevelle. Same as above, except with a high-lift hyd. cam, 780 cfm Holley carb. |
| L-78 |
65 |
396
425 HP |
Corvette & Passenger. Same as 396/375 L-78 with solid cam. |
| L-78 |
70 |
402
375 HP |
Corvette & Passenger. Same as 65-69 396/375, except has larger bore and solid cam. |
| L-88 |
67-69 |
427
430 HP |
Corvette. 4-bolt block, steel "Tuftride" crankshaft, "Dot" rods, forged floating-pin pistons, 1/16 in. rings, solid cam, closed/square alum. heads (67-68), open/square alum. heads (69), 7/16 in. pushrods, 12.5:1 compression, Holley 850cfm carb, alum. hi-rise intake w/ center plenum divider cut down. |
| L-89 |
68-69 |
396
375 HP |
Same as L-78, except with "optional" closed/square alum. heads for Nova or Camaro. |
| L-89 |
68 |
427
425 HP |
Corvette. Same as L-71, except with "optional" closed/square alum. heads. |
| LS-1 |
69 |
427
335 HP |
Pass. Car. 2-bolt block, cast crankshaft, cast pistons, closed/oval heads, hydraulic cam, 10.25:1 compression, Q-Jet carb, hi-rise cast iron intake. |
| LS-3 |
70 |
402
330 HP |
2-bolt block, cast crankshaft, cast pistons, closed/oval heads, hydraulic cam, 10.25:1 compression, Q-Jet carb, lo-rise cast iron intake. |
| LS-3 |
71 |
402
330 HP |
same as above, except for open/oval heads, 8.5:1 compression. |
| LS-3 |
72 |
402
210, 240 HP |
210 HP w/ single exhaust or 240 HP w/ dual exhaust. Otherwise, same as 1971 LS-3. |
| LS-4 |
70 |
454
345 HP |
2-bolt block, steel crankshaft, cast pistons, closed/oval heads, hydraulic cam, 10.25:1 compression, Q-Jet carb, cast iron intake. |
| LS-4 |
73-74 |
454
215, 235, 245, 270 HP |
same as above, except for cast crankshaft, open/oval heads, 9.0:1 compression. |
| LS-5 |
70 |
454
360, 390 HP |
2 or 4-bolt block, steel crankshaft, cast pistons, closed/oval heads, hydraulic cam, 10.25:1 compression, Q-Jet carb, lo-rise cast iron intake. |
| LS-5 |
71 |
454
365 HP |
same as above, except for open/oval heads, 8.5:1 compression. |
| LS-5 |
72 |
454
240, 270 HP |
240 HP w/ single exhaust or 270 HP w/ dual exhaust. Otherwise, same as 1971 LS-5 454. |
| LS-6 |
70 |
454
450 HP |
Chevelle. 4-bolt block, steel "tuftride" crankshaft, 7/16 in. "dot" rods, forged pressed-pin pistons, closed/square heads, solid cam, 11.0:1 compression, Holley 800cfm carb, lo-rise alum. intake. |
| LS-6 |
71 |
454
425 HP |
Corvette. Same as above, except for open/square "alum." heads. Chevelles and Monte carlos got cast iron open/square heads, 9.0:1 compression. |
| LS-7 |
70 |
454
465 HP |
This configuration was never "factory installed" on a vehicle. It was however, available in 1970 as an over-the-counter crate motor, or could be built from over-the-counter factory parts.
4-bolt block, steel "tuftride" crankshaft, 7/16 in. "dot" rods, forged floating-pin pistons, 1/16 in. rings, open/square "aluminum" heads, solid cam, 12.5:1 compression, 3/8 in. pushrods, Holley 850cfm carb, alum. hi-rise intake w/ center plenum divider cut down. (originally intended for the 70 Corvette). |
| ZL-1 |
69 |
427
430 HP |
Corvettes & Camaros. Same as L-88, except this engine used an "aluminum" block. It was installed in only "2" Corvettes and supposedly "69" Camaros, but the Camaro number is not verified.
Some of the engines were also sold over-the-counter. |
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The info listed on these pages were referenced from reputable automotive resources. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. . . manufacturing changes, typographical errors and omissions occasionally occur. Backyard Automotive, Inc. cannot be responsible, nor do we assume responsibility for such changes, errors or omissions.
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