1972 Chevrolet Big Block 396 Camaro SS automatic.
This is the last in line. 1972 was the last year of the SS option as well as the last year of the big block engines. This car is one of only 970 produced in that final year and only one of 203 with the automatic transmission option.
The SS package included heavy duty engine mounts, hood insulation, dual exhaust, a remote control driver’s mirror, power brakes, blacked out grille with SS badge, blacked out windshield wiper arms and the F41 suspension with F70x14 raised white letter tires. This package was coded Z27 and applied to small and big blocks.
Spotting an SS 396 Camaro isn’t very hard. The big tipoff was at the rear with a black painted tail lamp cove and SS badge in the center. Only the SS 396 got a black painted cove. The grille also had an SS logo and badges on the front fenders. More badging appeared on the steering wheel horn pad. Under the hood lay the LS-3 396 engine. A dual snorkel air cleaner (single if a/c was ordered) rests on top of a Holley four barrel carb. You could get either a four speed or TH400 automatic transmission with this engine. Naturally, the TH400 was a heavy duty version with extra plates in the clutch packs and only 203 1972 SS Camaros were ordered with the automatic transmission.
Although Chevrolet made 6,562 SS Camaros that year, only 970 were big blocks. The fifth digit of the VIN tells you the engine displacement. SS 396 Camaros were U-code cars. Production was terminated by April due to a major strike in Norwood.
While the original ls3 396 in this car only came with 240 hp due to government restrictions and was lost in 1984, this period/date stamped correct engine has been built to 400+hp specs with second to none internals. I purchased this car in 2016 and wanted it to be at least period correct under the hood as far as the block and heads go but I wanted it to have plenty of power like it was meant to have back in the day. I have made it as close to what it is supposed to be and better from painstaking research and shopping for the period correct parts. The chassis has 98k miles on it but the new engine was built and installed in the car at 97,980 miles (01/2017). New rotors, shocks, springs, calipers, pads, bushings also installed at that time. Car has air conditioning that needs to be serviced. I drive with the windows down and dont use it. This car is meant to be driven. Take it out and cruise the weekend nights. It handles just like old hot rods are supposed to handle but this one has so much more power. Its truly a blast to drive.
This car comes with plenty of books, docs and goodies including the original protecto-plate, correct rebuilt carb, dual snorkel air cleaner, cast intake manifold and a set of rally wheels and tires. Original car color was midnight bronze but has been repainted to black with silver rs stripes. Having some health issue at the moment so I need to sell the car. I have a few other things that I would like to do to the car and have plans to do them in the next couple of months and the price will go up after I do them.
Below is a list of what is in the engine.
Period/date stamped correct 3999290 2 bolt main 396 block, suffix code CTB and 3999241 113cc cast heads. cm 3:42 posi rear end, TH400 3 speed transmission.
Block has been bored .060 over to a 409.
Speedpro powerforged pistons L2328F .060 OVER FORGED PISTONS
.319 Dome 10.5/1 compression
COMP Cam thumpr, 283T HR-7: Camshaft Kit K11-600-8 Hydraulic Roller
Cam specifications:
int. exh.
283 303 Duration advertisd
227 241 Duration at .050
547 530 Lift 107 degrees lobe separation
Holley 80770 Street Avenger Carb, 770 cfm, Square Bore, 4-Barrel, Vacuum Secondary, Electric Choke, Dual Inlet
Eagle Chevrolet 396 Forged 4340 Steel Crankshaft, 3.766" Stroke
Eagle SIR6135P 396-502ci 6.135" Connecting Rods Pressed Piston Pin
COMP Cams 19021-16 Ultra-Gold Aluminum Rocker Arm Set Big Block Chevy 396-454ci
Ratio 1.7
COMP Cams 4512-16 Hi-Tech Race Rocker Stud Stud Diameter: 7/16"
Manley 10717-8 Street Master Street Flo Exhaust Valves Big Block Chevy
Manley 10714-8 Street Master Street Flo Intake Valves Big Block Chevy
Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold
Champion Cooling Systems MC162 All-Aluminum Radiator
1970-85 GM (26" Core) Monster Core 4-Row
