[tutone]

I'm not sure exactly what changed on the innards over the 70-72 model years. I've never had a c10 with a 402 but I have owned the following years in that engine in Chevelle SS cars in my life. A 69-396/ 70-402/71-402/and a 72 with a 402. The 4 different cars were all automatic turbo 400 cars and the 70 had headers. Other than that, they were bone stock comparable cars. Grunt wise, the 69 and 70 were both hands down the faster, better performing engines. I only owned those two at the same time. The others were later. The drop in HP was very noticeable in the 71-72 although , I really don't remember much difference at all in the way those two were. Miles were all under 100,000 and none of the engines gave me much trouble. the gas mileage was NO better than 11 highway on any of them. I am like you, I would love to find a stock one that somebody pulled in favor of an LS and put it in my pickup. But I want a 70 model.