My work had bought 2 new Chevy C10 LB work trucks. Both 350's. a 1976, and a new 1977 when I started doing service. The '76 was a straight up Beast. My '77 was smooth and tame by comparison. Night and Day difference.
Same rear diff? Everything else the same? i know that my 79 with the 3.75 rear and 31's feels much stronger than my '76 Shorty with the 3.08 and a 27" Tire, even with the extra weight of the G30 Standard over the G10 Short. I dont know if its due to the gear since the tire diameter difference should make up for a lot of that.
Chevy truck/van motors can be sourced from Detroit, or Tonawanda New York. I think they built the SBC there in NY too. I know Chevy built BBC motors came from both plants in the Vans. Beginning in 1990. Are they better engines? Tonawanda seems to believe so, as per their BBC valve cover badging.
I don't believe Tonawanda ever built Gen 1 Small blocks, but I could be wrong. One would think that we all would know for sure if they did, because the Tonawanda employees were proud and badged all their engines back then. Haha. Some folks swore by the Tonawanda built BBC. I think they claimed there was a higher nickel content or something in them. I dont remember exactly. I had a TRonawanda built BBC that was goiing to go in my 67 Impala before somebody decided to pull in front of me.
I was just curious if you knew something different about the 76, since I have one and they are all the same anemic LS9 and I am not aware of any head port changes or cam profile changes or anything like that.