L-82 or L-48? How can you tell?

[MusclesWit350]

I was just wondering if there was like any real easy way to tell if a Vette is a L-82 or L-48? Would there be a difference in engine color or something simple like that? Sorry I was just thinking about it like when I go to car shows and such.....

Also in 1980 what trans came with the L-82 and L-48? If im not mistaken is it L-82 Turbo400 and L-48 TH350?

Thanks

 

[22229stingray81]

The L-82 has finned valve covers, and the L-48 has blue painted smooth ones. All L-82's in '80 came with automatic transmitions (the TH-350), and an option for the L-48 was a borg warner t-10 4 speed. Also, I think there were L-82 fender badges if the 'vette was so equipped. Hope this helps, and hope all my facts are correct!

-Tatortot

 

[craig32]

On an 80, check the 5th digit of the VIN - 8 = L48, 6 = L82. I believe they all came with TH350's, 400's were mainly used in big block applications.

Craig

 

[Yoda]

This may sound like a bold statement but... All 1980 L82's were Automatics, All 4-speed 1980's were L48 and then there was/is the California Corvettes LG4 (305 cid) (all the California cars were Automatics) ..

Bud

 

[22229stingray81]

You couldn't order an L-48 with automatic?

-Tatortot

 

[BarryK]

You couldn't order an L-48 with automatic?

-Tatortot

that's not what he said........

he didn't say all L48's were 4-speeds, he said all 4 speeds were L48's. Big difference.
If you wanted a 4-speed car, you could only get it with the L48 motor, not with the L82 motor. Because of emission purposes the L82 was not offered with a 4-speed.

so:
all L82's were auto
L48 you could get auto or 4-speed
all 4-speeds were L48

 

[22229stingray81]

Yeah I re-read it and the thought passed my mind, but I wanted to make sure. Didn't the L-82 have the chrome air filter, and the L-48 had the matte black one?

-Tatortot

 

[BarryK]

can't answer for '80's, but my '78 L82 has a chrome air cleaner lid.

 

[MMM]

My 60K mile '80 L-82 is very original and has a painted black air cleaner cover. Two other points about the '80 L-82:
1) I understand they do not have the big valve heads (2.02I/1.6E), rather have the 1.94I/ 1.50E heads.
2) Late production L-82's using the 14010207 block (casting #) MAY not be four bolt main engines. Mine is a May '80 car and has a 14010207 block. I have not removed the pan so I cannot substantiate this claim.
Mike

 

[mkapp7879]

78 and 79s have black air cleaner lids, too. The chrome aftermarket lids are popular tho(I put one on my black 79). I think they put chrome lids on all 81s(no L82s that year). Mike

 

[6880 Mike]

You can't tell for certain whether an L-82 is in a 1980 Corvette since an engine swap could have occurred at any time. Visible items particular to L-82s (valve covers, air cleaner, intake manifold, emblems,etc), are all rather easy to add. Original 1980 L-82s have a 6 as the fifth character of the VIN and the blocks are stamped ZBC or ZBD. A few early L-82s may have gotten 4 speed transmissions, but all the later cars were automatics (TH350). My 1980 L-82 is numbers matching, has a March 3 build date, chrome top air cleaner, and is automatic.

 

[L48]

You can look at part numbers for other items too - check this link: http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/c3/1980/80id.html

You are not specific if you want to know if the car came with the L82, or if the engine in there is an L82. Obviously the VIN # is the best way to tell if it came with an L82. If the car is an L82 with matching number block, you have your answer. If it not numbers matching then the part numbers are the best way to tell how much of the original L82 is still there - or if an L82 was added.

BTW in 75 the L48 came with the TH400, though I am fairly sure by '80 all the automatics were the TH350 as 6880 Mike said.

 

[6880 Mike]

Last TH400 was 77.

 

[C3 4ME]

Hey guys, I just learned something new, I didn't realize all 80 L-82's were autos. Wow, that must make my 79 L-82 4 spd worth MUCH more, LOL!