Just Another L82 ID Question...

[JoeyKul]

I have a 79 L82 (hopefully) that I recently bought on eBay. The VIN says it is an L82 with the "4" for engine, but the engine code numbers & partial VIN normally on the passenger side front of the engine block are gone. It has an aluminum intake with the proper code (14007378) for an L82. The casting date code on the passenger rear block is K2278 (I know...too many numbers..but that is what is there!!

) The engine block casting code on the drivers side rear block is 3970010 but has the word Mexico above it! Is this normal?? Help!

What do I have? Is it a replacement grate engine maybe?? ;help

 

[bagger]

Joey, are any numbers visible on the front pad of the motor? There should be a set of numbers indicating the motor and your production sequence numbers should be stamped there too. These will match the numbers visible on your VIN pad on the windshield. Also, those numbers should be stamped on your tranny casing.

 

[JoeyKul]

No Bagger....those have been machined clean and that is my first problem...the second is the word "Mexico" above the engine casting code. I have not checked the passenger side of the tranny as of yet...but at this time I am only worried about the engine block. But I check the trans tomorrow.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

The format of the casting date is one good clue, but the appearance of the word Mexico confirms that this is not the original block. All Corvette SBCs were cast and assembled in Flint MI. The cast date format that Flint used was a letter and three digits which represents MDDY.

 

[JoeyKul]

I had a sneaky suspicion that it was not the original block. Just had a feeling! Oh well, she is definately fast and running smooth and loud!!! Thanks guys...Maybe the trans is original huh....

 

[JohnZ]

It's a Targetmaster or Mr. Goodwrench GM replacement engine.

 

[JoeyKul]

It's a Targetmaster or Mr. Goodwrench GM replacement engine.

Thanks JohnZ....Any easy way to tell what it has inside without tearing it apart??

 

[JohnZ]

Thanks JohnZ....Any easy way to tell what it has inside without tearing it apart??

Nope - about all you know without tearing it down is that it's a 350, and most of them are relatively low compression (like 9.0-9.5:1).

 

[JoeyKul]

Okay guys...the good news for this story is that the tranny is original to the car!! VIN stamping on the drivers side of the trans matches the vehicle VIN...YEAH!!

 

[black_81_vette]

Target master engines were 205hp average with 8.5 compression.It may be a 4 bolt main due to the casting number ending with 010.Target master engines were phased out and GM began the Good wrench series of engines.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Probably 90% or more of 0010 blocks were two bolt.