Is it really an L82?

[L82Dan]

That's correct. I believe it's on the tach gauge, under the crossed flags emblem.

 

[mkapp7879]

Well, carb no.17058206 is for a 78 L48 with auto and A/C. Also states second design which would probably be late 78 or maybe early 79. More confusion. How early is your 79 and what exactly is the 5th number(letter) in the VIN? Good details from L82Dan. 79 L82- A/C would also have the aux. electric fan. Really need to get a good look at the VIN on the block or the Zxx code. Also, how does it idle? I had a 78SA back in late 80's with the L48. Idled as smooth as my dad's 78 Caprice. L82 is a little lumpy. That assuming it's a stock motor. Find some numbers!
Mike

 

[frehan]

Yeah I don't know. My dad had a 77 L48 and he says my vette definitely is more gutsy as far as exhaust and power. Mine also does idle lumpy like you said. She likes to be in the 3k range before she smooths out. Thanx for all your input. I'm just going to have to believe it's a L82. If not oh well it's still cool and will get me arrested Fred

 

[Vettenstein]

Several ways you can tell if you have an L-82 or not:
1. Check for hood ornaments; "L-82" on both sides.
2. L-82's have aluminum valve covers.
3. Emissions tuneup sticker above the brake booster should show an engine code
for L-82. (It won't say L-82!)
4. Speedometer redline is generally about 200-500 rpm higher than base engine;
it makes a difference whether or not you have an auto or manual.
5. VIN number, of course ! ! !
6. The engine block stamp will show an L-82-specific suffix after the number.
7. The cylinder heads on L-82's generally have larger valves than the base engine.
8. The camshaft is different. (Same as the LT-1 I think)
9. L-82 engines have a higher compression ratio than the base engines.
10. The Rochester carburetor part numbers are unique to L-82's; what you've got on the car dictates what the carburetor part number is.

Just my two cents worth...

Thought I'd add something to this list. There's a L-82 emblem on the face of the tach.

 

[frehan]

ok now I'm really confused. I just saw another 79 Vette on ebay with the L82 badges and the seller a dealership listing it as an L82 and the VIN says a L48. 8 is the fifth number. I called the previous owner of my vette and talked to him about the L82 badges and he said he was positive they are original. did chevy slap the badges on these vettes by mistake in 79? I wonder how many 79's have the badges but not 4 in the vin. check out ebay motors 1979 corvettes. it's white and listed 1979 L82.

Fred

 

[frehan]

just to add the item number on that ebay vette is 2485133301. check it out. the vin says L48 but it has the L82 badges. this is strange. might have a more valuable vette than i originally thought if chevy did this in error.

Fred

p.s. wish i could post a pic of my vette but i can't seem to get it to work.

 

[79'vette]

Problem, as it so often is with any car of that age, is that you seldom know whether the car has had one or more engine swaps, carb or cam swaps, etc. My wife's 79 vette is VIN code 8 (L48), but has a lumpy (almost lopey) cam in it and runs very well.

Also, some of this may have to do with pure ignorance. There are a ton of people who assume that the '8' in the VIN must mean L-82, and the '4' must mean L-48.

Don't want to name any names, but yes, I saw quite a number of Vettes come off the local showroom floor with the L82 emblems on them that had been dealer installed on L48s, so it is at least possible that someone thought it was a L82 when they bought the car. You have to remember that to the layman in 1979, the only difference was the hood ID, and car dealerships being what they were/are, will do anything to make it easier to sell a car and a quick trip to the parts dept was all that was needed. But, they all had the standard tach and what appeared to be a normal SBC under the hood.

 

[brusso]

ok now I'm really confused. I just saw another 79 Vette on ebay with the L82 badges and the seller a dealership listing it as an L82 and the VIN says a L48. 8 is the fifth number. I called the previous owner of my vette and talked to him about the L82 badges and he said he was positive they are original. did chevy slap the badges on these vettes by mistake in 79? I wonder how many 79's have the badges but not 4 in the vin. check out ebay motors 1979 corvettes. it's white and listed 1979 L82.

Fred

The dealer may have done this, but I'm sure that it wasn't in error.

 

[79-L-82]

Not Convinced

frehan,
I am not convinced you have an L-82 engine.
Try going to L-82.com
There is some good information there on how to identify your engine.

It sounds like you have an L48 with some aftermarket stuff in there, or a swapped engine. At any rate, it doesn't sound stock.

An L-82 as stated has an aluminum intake. That could have also been changed with an aftermarket one.

The only way to be sure though is to check that number stamped on it.

Either way, enjoy it. That's what they're for. . .

 

[ernbuild]

for what its worth

just to add the item number on that ebay vette is 2485133301. check it out. the vin says L48 but it has the L82 badges. this is strange. might have a more valuable vette than i originally thought if chevy did this in error.

Fred

p.s. wish i could post a pic of my vette but i can't seem to get it to work.

for what its worth i have a full history for my 78 L82 , and yes mine does have an L82 stamp under the crossed flags on the tacho, and yes my cam is very lumpy at idle and doesnt smooth out till around the 3000 rev mark
also try going into google and type in 79 corvette specs L82 and check out
the sites there are lots of details here and it makes for some good reading.

regards ernie.