tnt62

I beleive i have located a "Barn Find". It is a 1981 model Vette with an L88 engine. The engine runs and is in good shape. I realize this engine was discontinued in 1969 and less than 300 were made in total.
1. is the engine a collectors item?
2. what is the approximate value
3. Is the engine worth pulling out of the 81 model and putting into a 67,68 or 69 body?

Any help is appreciated.
tnt62

Mike Ward

L88 engines were made in the hundreds/thousands and sold over the counter for many years. What's on the stamp pad?

tnt62

I thought the L82 was in the hundreds of thousands and the L88 was extremely rare. Please confirm.

Also, I'm travelling again next weekend for pictures and closer inspection. I dont know what is on the stamp pad. I have not bought the car yet. Should I pursue if there are thousands.......

calwldlife

I think you are confusing the vetts that came with one original vs the
L88 motor.

BOSTONCAMARO

everyones car has a vette engine..every big block an l88.....or so people say...is it a complete l88 with all of its original parts....are the vin clearly stamped on the block....if so can u find the person who has the original car? if so that be worth it.....basically you are buying a big block attached to a corvette.....it will never be the right motor for a car..unless the actual car is found.that being said someone would restamp.ie forge for a resto......could be good motor for street car or clone..so investigate further

LS4 PILOT

probably not, unless there is a vin stamped on the pad that matchs it to a vintage L88 car somewhere.

that's all long shot at best., if it does not go to a specific car, then it's worth the sum of its parts , what ever they might consist of....

Ironcross

The over the counter crate 88`s at $1200.00 a piece came with almost everything, all that was missing was the carburator and pulse amphire for the TI ignition. A couple of things not visible, {internal parts}...12.5 compression forged pistons with full floating pink rods...Solid lifters, and 7/16 pushrods, and the full crate engine will have aluminum heads. There were $600.00 shortblocks available that were dealer installed in Camaros and considered L-88 Camaros....most of which had the 'CE' suffix....Set up correctly, 600 HP......

razman

have you seen the car/engine?? or just talked to someone about it with their description of what it is? if you haven't actually seen it, and know for sure that it is even a BB, my guess is that some clown has his L81 and L88's confused. but, hopefully it is what you think it is, and especially if it has a VIN on front pad and correct suffix code. Rick

qwank

I bet he has his L81 and L88 confused.

Easy Mike

An L-88 is a big block. The stock L-81 engine in all 81 Corvettes was a small block. Which are you looking at?

There is a pad on the block at the front of the right head. There are two stamps on the pad. The first identifies the engine; the second is the VIN derivitive of the car the engine was originally installed in. Clean the pad and jot down the numbers.