1970 LS6 Chevelle - A History

Autos & TrucksCars

  • Author David Atkin
  • Published June 11, 2008
  • Word count 500

The Chevelle is one of Chevrolet’s most famous muscle cars of all times, it made a respectable name for it’s self in the muscle car world, during it’s run as a muscle car it could hold it’s own with the best of them, there were a lot of different versions of the Chevelle and they were one of the best examples of a muscle car out there.

They were heavily optioned, big and powerful cars, my personal favorite years for the Chevelle were 1967 and 1970, these cars made a real statement, they were long and wide, and had the true muscle car look and feel about them, the Chevelle was a true muscle car icon from the late 1960’s & early 1970’s.

The LS6 454

The biggest performance option for 1970 was the "LS6 454"; it produced 450 HP @ 5600 RPM and built 500 lb-ft of torque @ 3600 RPM. It has high compression pistons and rectangle port cylinder heads, along with a solid lifter camshaft. Few other muscle cars could rival the power of the LS6.

By 1970 style was every bit as important as performance, and the SS Chevelles were available with twin racing stripes, that want over the hood and deck lid.

The Muncie M22 Rock Crusher 4 speed transmission

With 500 ft-lb of torque, only two transmissions were able to handle the LS6 engine. The Muncie M22 rock crusher, which supposedly got its name from having diamonds dropped in to the gearbox, and it, crushed the rocks before it chewed the gears out of the transmission. The second transmission that was tough enough to handle the LS6 was the turbohydromatic 400 automatic transmission.

With the SS package came an upgraded suspension system known as the F41 suspension, it basically had stiffer springs to handle the extra weight of the big block engine that was stuffed in to this wicked ride, a full length 2.5 inch dual exhaust also came standard on the SS models.

The cowl induction hood

The cowl induction hood was one the most distinctive features on the SS Chevelles, a slightly raised portion of the hood, with the opening for the scoop facing the driver of the car, it would draw air from the bottom of the windshield area, where the air has a natural swirling effect.

Engine Specifications

  • Cast Iron Engine Block

  • Cast Iron Cylinder Heads

  • Two Valves Per Cylinder

  • 4.25 inch bore with a 4 inch stroke

  • 454 CID

  • 11.25:1 Compression Ratio

Well that's more or less the story of the 1970 Chevelle LS6, during that time these cars were feared by their opponents, and loathed by the other motor companies, with all of them trying to out do each other in the muscle car wars, not to many of them could lay this car to rest, it was one tough hombre.

I've been in the automotive business for about 20 or 25 years, I have worked in all facets of the industry, from parts to restoration, all different makes and models, I just want to keep people interested in the old cars because it's where my heart is.

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