Chevrolet L78

The Chevrolet L78 was a big-block engine that Chevrolet built from 1965 to 1970. It entered production in mid-1965 as the Mark IV 396 cubic inch (6.5 litre) Turbo-Jet, the second-generation big-block that phased out the first-generation W-series. It was rated at 425 horsepower in its first year and 375 horsepower afterward, with no change in actual power. In 1965 the L78 was an option in the Corvette and the full-sized models, from 1966 it was offered exclusively in the intermediate line, and it was added to the Camaro in 1967 and the compact Chevy II in 1968. A version with aluminum cylinder heads was sold from 1968 to 1970 as the L89, saving about 75 pounds. For 1970 the bore was enlarged slightly to give 402 cubic inches while the engine was still badged as a 396.