1965 396 l78

[Roger H.]

Was the L84 fuel injection engine still available as an option in 1965 after the L78 was offered or did the big block replace the fuel injected engine for the rest of the model year? My sources don't make that clear. I'm sure someone on this site will know. Thanks.

[Jack M.]

Re: 1965 396 l78

From the 1965 Corvette Ordering Procedures... both March & June:
1965 Engine Options.jpg

[Roger H.]

Re: 1965 396 l78

Thank you Jack. The information you provided indicates that the L84 and L78 were both available for the remainder of the 1965 model year.

[Mike T.]

Re: 1965 396 l78

Roger - I also used to think the 396 L78 was brought in to replace the L84 FI engines since one started and one stopped in the same model year but a while ago, ran across a copy of a GM/Chevy Bulletin that showed the L78 Bigblock was intended to take the place of the L76 solid lifter carb'd engines. Just did a decent search through the TDB and the Corvette Forum archived threads but can't seem to find that notice right now.

[Jack M.]

Re: 1965 396 l78

I have this 396 Intro Bulletin... and this excerpt from the 1965 Finger-Tip Facts Revision Guide:

Feb-1965-(396-Intro)-1a.jpg
Feb-1965-(396-Intro)-1b.jpg

Feb-1965-(396-Intro)-2a.jpg
Feb-1965-(396-Intro)-2b.jpg

Revision-396-365.jpg

[Roger H.]

Re: 1965 396 l78

Thanks guys. Sorting through this stuff is so much fun.

[Mark E.]

Re: 1965 396 l78

Roger - I also used to think the 396 L78 was brought in to replace the L84 FI engines since one started and one stopped in the same model year but a while ago, ran across a copy of a GM/Chevy Bulletin that showed the L78 Bigblock was intended to take the place of the L76 solid lifter carb'd engines. Just did a decent search through the TDB and the Corvette Forum archived threads but can't seem to find that notice right now.

The documents posted above say L78 was introduced in April, and "limited availability" is "expected" for L76 at an unspecified date. It doesn't say one is replacing the other. It would be interesting to know when the first L78, last L76 and L84 were produced, which I suspect is well documented.

[Mike T.]

Re: 1965 396 l78

Mark - that's true, no documents use the word 'replace', that was just my take on 'one engine option is discontinued and a new one is now available'. Another NCRS member, Gary Cowans, and I have been compiling a list of 65 L78s in the last couple years and have about 350 listed out of the original 2157 made in '65. Most of those entries are from Craigslist Ads, Barrett Jackson or Mecum Auctions, Hemmings, etc, as long as they list the VIN. On a few occasions, we have come across an L78 owner either here on the TDB or over on the Corvette Forum and that typically leads to one of us contacting that owner and finding out more about their L78. The earliest L78 we've come across so far is VIN#12494, a Maroon over Saddle Coupe out in Southern California and from the conversation, it appears to be genuine.

[Jack M.]

Re: 1965 396 l78

As you know, itz not unusual for initial intentions and documents to get updated... some ideas could get revamped, or totally dropped.
I've reviewed some 'early' engineering papers where the 396 engine was to CONTINUE in the 1966 Corvette... along with the new 427.