..looked at a 69 today and the guy has put in a 402 eng w/400 trans that he took out of a 75 King Wagon???..He said GM changed the 396 into the 402..
What the story on that? This will be my first Camaro when I find the right one

 

Thats true. Not sure what year, I think 1971. It was actually a 402 ci. but they still called it a 396.

 

In 69, a 396 was a 396. In 70 and up, it was a 402 (.030 over-bored 396) but called a 396 in the smaller cars, turbo jet 400 in the full size cars, and 402 in trucks.
I believe by 72 they aptly labeled the engine a 402. Why did GM do that? Because they could.

 

..thanks guys..like the answer on "why"..so what do yall think of this engine in general?..he bought the car in calif and the body is very sound..got the eng and trans out of a 75 station wagon that he says has 111k miles on them..