Need help with VIN #

[Tepot]

Hi,

I was looking at the Identification web page on CAC and was trying to figure out the VIN # specification for my corvette.

My VIN # starts with 1Z37J4S. What I don't understand is on the hood it's says L82. On the engine the valve covers are the ones for the L82. the black stripes ones.

The Console Dataplate clearly says 350 Cubic Inches 285 lbs.FT. Torque 9.0:1 comp ratio

So I don't understand. in the Vin # chart it says that the 5th number for a L-82 should be a T but what I have here is a J.

Can someone explain this to me cause I'm very confused now?

 

[Tom Bryant]

J is L48 and T is L82. All of the other things you describe could have easily been changed by someone and are available through the aftermarket. The VIN is probably right.

Lets look at the engine number. It is stamped on the machined deck surface in front of the passenger side head. The build code should end in CLR for a L82 4 speed Federal emissons or in CKZ for a L48 Federal. California codes are different. What does yours say?

Tom

 

[Tepot]

I'll have to check the engine code.

I know that the previous owner said that he had the engine rebuilt a long time ago. He could've made the engine like a L-82 but not sure.

I've just baught the corvette. It's in storage since I've baught it. As soon as I take it home in April I will take it on the Dyno. If this engine doesn't read 250HP and up. One thing is for sure I will open the engine and will definitively put some more HP in it.

I don't really care if it's a L-48 or a L-82. I just want more HP. I don't really care for matching numbers. So if it ends up to be less than 250 HP. I might consider a Big Block.

 

[glen242]

Hi,

I was looking at the Identification web page on CAC and was trying to figure out the VIN # specification for my corvette.

My VIN # starts with 1Z37J4S. What I don't understand is on the hood it's says L82. On the engine the valve covers are the ones for the L82. the black stripes ones.

The Console Dataplate clearly says 350 Cubic Inches 285 lbs.FT. Torque 9.0:1 comp ratio

So I don't understand. in the Vin # chart it says that the 5th number for a L-82 should be a T but what I have here is a J.

Can someone explain this to me cause I'm very confused now?

Someone changed cosmetic stuff to make it appear as a L-82. Vin chart is correct. Fraud on prior owners part. Did they advertise the vehicle as a L-82?

 

[Tom73]

....on the hood it's says L82...

That is a good indication that a previous owner changed things since the factory did not use hood emblems for the L82 in '74. The only hood emblem used in '74 was the 454 for the LS4.

tom...

 

[Tepot]

wow. it is probably been modified to the L-82 specification then. My car is in storage. There is a guy that will go check the serial # directly on the car cause we think there might of been a mistake on the registration papers. there was 2 or 3 digits that were entered wrong on the registration papers.

VIN # 1Z37J4S###### The Z is entered as a 2 on the registration papers. The S is entered as an 8. The last time the car was registered is 21 years ago. I will change registration in a month to my name as soon as it get's out of storage. So that's why I'm having someone to go check the serial # right from the car.

Today they have all the registration numbers entered in a database in computers but 21 years ago. It was prabably easy to enter the wrong number on the registration papers.

I'll keep you guy's posted. I even found who was the 1st owner who probably did those modifications if indeed there was some made. I'll contact him as well to see what he did on the car.

The car looks great and is in exellent condition. So if it is modified. I don't care as long as I got plenty of Power under the hood.

Another question: Is there a difference in VIN # if the car was in Canada. They were probably are produced in USA then shipped in Canada right?

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Another question: Is there a difference in VIN # if the car was in Canada. They were probably are produced in USA then shipped in Canada right?

No difference in the VIN. Canadian cars have special options (metric speedo etc.) but that doesn't affect the VIN in any way.

If you think your car was originally sold here, give GM in Oshawa a call and they'll sell you a package listing all the details including whether it is an L82 or not.

http://www.gmcanada.com/english/maintenance/parts/parts_vint.html

 

[Tepot]

OK guy's.

I've Got the VIN # from the vette's windshield. It is in deed a L-48 according to the VIN #.

I was able to reach the previous owner that did the upgrade on the car. He said that it was a L-48. Changed the 350 ci block for a 350ci 4 Main bolt block. Added a Edlebrock intake, ceramic headers on true dual exaust and a edlebrock Pro-Flo® 1000 Series Reusable Air Cleaner. He said that it gave the engine the 250 HP of the L-82 so he added the L-82 emblem on the hood.

So now I don't know what to do. Should I call my car L-48 or L-82? One thing is for sure, if I remove the L-82 emblem it will leave a mark on the hood on both side and I dont want to do that. I would need you guy's opinion on this.

Can someone advise me on what should I do?

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

. Should I call my car L-48 or L-82?

Do what you like, but your car is neither the way you've described it. Why worry about a name so much?

 

[Tepot]

Do what you like, but your car is neither the way you've described it. Why worry about a name so much?

It's not that I'm worried about a name. It's just that I will show that car and since it will show L-82 on the hood I didn't want to advertise the car as a L-48. It will confuse a whole bunch of people don't you think?

 

[srs244]

It's not that I'm worried about a name. It's just that I will show that car and since it will show L-82 on the hood I didn't want to advertise the car as a L-48. It will confuse a whole bunch of people don't you think?

if you are talking about local shows, i don't really think it will matter much. most of the ones in my area go on appearence and cleanliness. if you are talking some stuck up, corvettes only, high grade, NCRS type event, then you need to be prepared to be as original as possible, right down to the right nuts and bolts. i kind of depends on your intentions as to which events you go to. to each his own as far as originallity and correctness or pleasure and enjoyment of what you own for yourself. both are good, it just depends on the road you pick to travel so to speak. since it get the impression that your block isn't original, my personal suggestion is to put it together they way you want to and enjoy it for what it is.

 

[glen242]

OK guy's.

I've Got the VIN # from the vette's windshield. It is in deed a L-48 according to the VIN #.

I was able to reach the previous owner that did the upgrade on the car. He said that it was a L-48. Changed the 350 ci block for a 350ci 4 Main bolt block. Added a Edlebrock intake, ceramic headers on true dual exaust and a edlebrock Pro-Flo® 1000 Series Reusable Air Cleaner. He said that it gave the engine the 250 HP of the L-82 so he added the L-82 emblem on the hood.

So now I don't know what to do. Should I call my car L-48 or L-82? One thing is for sure, if I remove the L-82 emblem it will leave a mark on the hood on both side and I dont want to do that. I would need you guy's opinion on this.

Can someone advise me on what should I do?

If the person you bought it from did the cosmetic upgrades and sold it to you as an L-82, that smacks of fraud. Did you pay an L-48 price or the premium that the L-82 brings?

Was he up front with you before you purchased, as to the engine swap? Did he indeed swap the engine for a 4 bolt? Check the pad on the front right side of the engine, and see if the number matches the last few numbers in the VIN. No matter what you do to an L-48, if it came from the factory as an L-48 nothing you can do to it later makes it an L-82. Modified L-48 maybe, but an L-82, never.

 

[craig32]

I was able to reach the previous owner that did the upgrade on the car. He said that it was a L-48. Changed the 350 ci block for a 350ci 4 Main bolt block. Added a Edlebrock intake, ceramic headers on true dual exaust and a edlebrock Pro-Flo® 1000 Series Reusable Air Cleaner. He said that it gave the engine the 250 HP of the L-82 so he added the L-82 emblem on the hood.

Tepot, if you look on the 1974 info page, you'll see that the L-48 and L-82 used the same block and heads. The '010' block is a 4 bolt main, although Mortec lists it as 2 or 4. Both use '882' heads as well. Distributors are different numbers, but the cams will be the biggest difference. Sounds like the guy put a lot of Edelbrock stuff on and added up their 'performance gain' claims. 55 HP added from a new intake and air cleaner seems a little high. Like the guy in your other thread said, 'put it on the dyno BEFORE you start'
Personally, I'd like Edelbrock better if he was a hockey player. Wow, do you think i should use that for my 'signature'??
If you check the stamp pad, it will tell you if it is the original engine or not. Even if it is, it's most likely still a 4 bolt main. Bottom line - either way you have a 350 4bbl, RWD with enough HP to do twice the speed limit. Just my opinion.

Craig

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

The '010' block is a 4 bolt main, although Mortec lists it as 2 or 4.

There's far more 2 bolt 010 blocks around than 4 bolt. The Mortec site is correct. L-48s are 010 blocks and are 2 bolt.

 

[Tepot]

OK.

Just got another chat with the previous owner. Ends up that the guy had put the L-82 cam shaft in the engine. that's why he was claiming having a L-82 at the time. But said that before selling it to the guy I bought it from he removed the L-82 cam and installed the original L-48 cam.

So right now I have all the mods I've listed in the posts below but still got the L-48 cam.

I'm planning on changing the cam for an edelbrock performance cam. maybe I'll buy edelbrock heads too.

I know the car is a fast car as it is. But what can I say. I'm a "more power!!!" freak.

 

[JOE BYRNE]

Just have fun

Just have fun with the car. It does not matter if the badge says L-48 or L-1000. Hell I was in a convienient store last summer and an older gentlman came up to the care looking at my L-48 badge on the hood. He looked at me and said....I remember those L-48's that was that 427. I smiled agreed and drove off.:L

 

[red70vette]

BADGES!!!!! WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING BADGES.

Mel Brooks-Blazing Saddles (1974)

Who cares what the hood says. L-48, L-42, L-88,454,427, it is all cosmetic BS. With all the pollution crap on those cars in 74 the top of the line engine was no faster than a 327/300 base engine several years earlier. It is all about what it can do now.
I had a friend who had a 6 cylinder Nova and he put SS badges all over it and a 427 badge on the fender. It still couldn't get out of its own way and it took about 5 seconds of listening to it to realize that.
Anyone who knows what a L82 engine is will know something is amiss as soon as they see the badges on the hood. They didn't do that in 74. If you don't want to fill and repaint the hood leave it be. If you want it faster sup it up. Stop being so hung up on the badges.

 

[74bigblock]

OK.

Just got another chat with the previous owner. Ends up that the guy had put the L-82 cam shaft in the engine. that's why he was claiming having a L-82 at the time. But said that before selling it to the guy I bought it from he removed the L-82 cam and installed the original L-48 cam.

So right now I have all the mods I've listed in the posts below but still got the L-48 cam.

I'm planning on changing the cam for an edelbrock performance cam. maybe I'll buy edelbrock heads too.

I know the car is a fast car as it is. But what can I say. I'm a "more power!!!" freak.

No one would remove a cam like that from a car before selling it... it's a total pain. This guy is giving it to you from behind... although there is really nothing you can do about it. I would start saving for a crate motor and be done with it.

 

[Tom Bryant]

It is correct that the "010" block was made in both 2 and 4 bolt configurations. I have samples of both in my garage. The 2 bolt version was much more widely used in all sorts of cars and trucks. Also the "882" head casting was available in both 1.94/1.50 intake/exhaust valve sizes and 2.02/1.60 valve sizes. The L48 used the 1.94 size and the L82 used the 2.02 size. This, along with compression ratio, cam and intake manifold were the major differences of the L82 engine. It wasn't uncommon for GM to use a single casting number for multiple applications that required different machining operations and components.

Tom

 

[L48]

I am curious if you have made any progress with the car since you last post.

For my part, the 3970010 2-bolt main block and 882 heads with the 1.94 intake are capable of making plenty of power. some head porting, a 3-angle grind and a good cam and you will make good power.

I have the same block/head combination in my 2nd gen F-body and it runs 12.60's in the 1/4 mile on 87 octane.

To discerning Corvette enthusiasts this car is an L48 with L82 badges. To the less informed it is an L82.