C3 L48 or L82 ?

[John Wissocki]

I just bought a really nice 1977 for my wife. I'm not sure how to determine if it has an L48 or L82. Any ideas?

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 L48 or L82 ?

John-----

VERY, VERY easy. Check the VIN number. The 5th character will be an "L" if the engine is an L-48 and will be an "X" if it's an L-82. Of course, that only tells you what the car ORIGINALLY was equipped with and not necessarily what it has now.

For a "secondary" check, look at the harmonic balancer. If it's a 6-1/2" unit of about 3/4" thickness, then it's an L-48-like engine. If the balancer is an 8" OD unit of about 1-13/16" thick, then it's an L-82 or L-82-like engine.

[John H.]

Re: C3 L48 or L82 ?

John -

As a further check, if the block casting number (behind driver's side cylinder head) is 376450, it's an L48 (333882 was used for both L48/L82); also, the engine date/type stamp code on the front pad (in front of the passenger side cylinder head) will end with the suffix CLD or CLF if it's an L82 - anything else is an L48.