1978 casting numbers

[Gerald C.]

I'm trying to help out a friend of mine's sell his 1978. We're trying to figure out what motor he has, etc. He gave me casting numbers of the block of 3972910 (the 2 and the last 9 could be an 8 or a 0. Theheads are 462624.

The serial number for the car is 1Z87L8s431806. Before I can help him sell it, we'll need to know what he has.

I know very little of this year car.

Thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: 1978 casting numbers

I'm trying to help out a friend of mine's sell his 1978. We're trying to figure out what motor he has, etc. He gave me casting numbers of the block of 3972910 (the 2 and the last 9 could be an 8 or a 0. Theheads are 462624.

The serial number for the car is 1Z87L8s431806. Before I can help him sell it, we'll need to know what he has.

I know very little of this year car.

Thanks

Gerald------


The block casting number is 3970010. This is the casting number used for all 1978 Corvette engines.

The 5th character of the VIN identifies the engine as the base engine.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1978 casting numbers

Joe, IIRC the last 5 or 6 digits of the stamping is the VIN???

[Joe L.]

Re: 1978 casting numbers

Joe, IIRC the last 5 or 6 digits of the stamping is the VIN???

Steve------


The VIN is the entire 13 character series. The last 5 digits represents the sequential build number.

[Gerald C.]

Re: 1978 casting numbers

Joe,

What would you consider being the "base engine" on these cars? I have no access to this type of info at home.

Thanks,

Jerry

[Steven B.]

Re: 1978 casting numbers

Jerry, base is the L-48 and optional engine is the L-82. Mine was ordered with L-48 and trailering package, which is the heavy duty cooling and Gymkhana suspension. Interesting note, if your friend's '78 has either the gymkhana suspension or the trailering package look under the front crossmember and you may still be able to see FE7 scribbled on it. Steve

[Michael D.]

Re: 1978 casting numbers

The pad on the block at the front of the passenger's head will have two stamps. One is the VIN derivitive; the other is the engine identifcation stamp. The last three alpha characters of the engine stamp will identify the engine. The L in the VIN indicates the base engine L-48. It could be configured for AT or 4 speed.

[Tom R.]

Re: 1978 casting numbers

Joe,

What would you consider being the "base engine" on these cars? I have no access to this type of info at home.

Base power team in 78 was the L48 engine (as mentioned above) and M20 Muncie four-speed transmission.

[Gerald C.]

Re: 1978 casting numbers

L 48 and L 82 is what hp respectively?

[Tom R.]

Re: 1978 casting numbers

L 48 and L 82 is what hp respectively?

In 1978, an L82 was 220 hp while an L48 could have been either 175 or 185 hp depending emission requirements. The L48 base was a 185 hp engine while California emissions or High altitude when ordered would have called out a 175 hp motor. The engine suffix specified engine configuration. (CHW, CLM, CLR, CLS OR CUT).

[Gerald C.]

Re: 1978 casting numbers

Thanks everyone!