Easy Mike

I will speculate a few early L-82 4 speed cars were assembled. I suspect they went to Warren for testing and none were sold to the public. None of us has ever seen one. Emissions levels with the 4 speed was the culprit. I am not aware of the L-82 with AT being delayed.

Just the same, #39989 was assembled during the final month of production. The L-82 might be original, but it would have had the required AT.

The 4 speed might be original (it's stamped), but it would have been coupled to the L-48.

qwank

another thing you could look for is to see if the car has cruise control, as it was only available with an automatic. I however, think its an L-48 4 speed with L-82 badges, so there's probably no cruise.

RU7376vettes

What about transmission numbers?! Perhaps someone wanted a 4 speed and changed the transmission. This might explain the code difference. May well be a L-82 engine with a transmission conversion, or am I missing something here?

Unk

Mike Ward

I thought about that too, but it still doesn't explain the L-48 VIN tag. Hopefully the OP can get a good photo of the engine pad, I think that will tell all

7t9l82

i have been thinking about this for a couple of days. if i remember correctly and i think i do back in late 79 or early 80 at the shop i was at we converted at least 3 80 L-82 automatics to 4 speed for 2 local D.C area dealer to satisfy some upset customers. Chevrolet didn't like the idea of the dealer doing the job. so i don't think any were built. we did another one later for a customer with a 833 Chrysler 4 speed. i don't think this ends the debate but it may be a piece of the puzzle.

jb78L-82

I thought of this option too if someone who had an L-82 automatic wanted to convert to a 4 speed but I would think that there might be some telltale signs of the conversion if you looked hard enough. The other option is that someone who had an original L-48 swapped out that engine for an L-82. The fact remians though that GM did not legally sell L-82's with 4 speeds so it would seem whatever the car is it probably was never sold by GM as an L-82 4 speed in the 1980 model year.

qwank

what about carb numbers? Different numbers for auto and manual right?

jb78L-82

The problem with the carb identification is that unless it is the original which it may very well not be after 31 years is that carbs are really easy to change and often are especially with the emissions qjets from the late 70's/80. My L-82 4 speed with 65,000 miles on it has not had the Qjet on it since 1985 (Holley 4175-which has been perfect for 26 years now). My engine is all original internally but looking at the carb only would be a a dead end on my car. Hopefully it has the OEM Qjet.

hunt4cleanair

You do know this but the broadcast code is the code called out on a build sheet or manifest for workers to pull parts for installation. The engine suffix code ZAM is a broadcast code and it is stamped on the pad, a decal is glued, temporarily, on the valve cover, etc. And so it is with carbs. View this image and you'll say "Oh yeah...I knew that!"

1978 Carb L82 M21 BHZ

Note the part# with the date code (0758) you refer to underneath followed by the broadcast code BHZ.

So, there are broadcast codes that were called out on the build sheet that match a three letter code on the carb. The code for the ZAM 4-speed Corvette is CPP while the code for L48 AT is CPM. I have copies of buildsheets for 1980 Corvettes in both of these power team configurations.



Can't recall the source but I show the 17080228 for the L82 AT with ZBC engine suffix code and ...504 and ...517 for the LG4 which must be the service replacement numbers.

My point was tell us what the carb broadcast code is, assuming original Q jet is still present, and we can confirm the power team that rolled off the factory floor.

mr.beachcomber

Interesting thread! While I don't know the broadcast code for an L-82 with a manual transmission, another thread on this forum provided the broadcast code of "CRN" for a 1980 L-82 automatic Q-Jet.

gbvette62

I forgot that later Q-Jets had the code stamped in them.

I should have remembered this too, because I know my 81 L-81/automatic has one of the more interesting codes, "FOX".

Your correct, 17080228 for the L-82 and 1708504 and 517 for the LG4. I was in a hurry the other morning, and didn't go back to proof what I typed. I usually try to reread everything 2 or 3 times, before hitting that "submit" button. I just got mixed up with all those "2"s!

...Roger...

Someone probably just swapped in a 4 speed and sounds like they did a complete job, because the car does have a clutch switch.
Car does not have cruise.

edit-Did 80s have tank stickers ?

hunt4cleanair

Yes...as mentioned above, I have copies of an L48 MT and L48 AT which is where I got the carb broadcast codes. The build sheet is the definitive source to confirm power team component configuration...if it can be retrieved. Of course, 1980 was a St Louis production year and therefore the NCM would not have copies of it.

...Roger...

Thanks hunt4cleanair , I thought they did.

I just got off the phone with the owner and he would like to get the bottom of this,I sent him a link to this thread with an invitation to join in.

He ask if one of us can post a pic of the number location on the transmission,he said he will look for it.

I ask him about the brake light switch and the converter lockup switch.

I still feel it was probably converted but why not investigate ?

Can anyone think of other tell tale signs of a converted car ?

qwank

Good job Roger

I dont think the lock up switch and plug will be there, because I believe this was a 4 speed car originally.

I think this is a case of a stock L48 with L82 badges. Does the engine have an aluminum intake or cast iron? Its still going to be inpossible to tell just by asking the owner, because he obviously doesnt know a lot about Corvettes, and there's been so much changed on the engine

chstitans42

In spanish, "V" and "B" make almost the same sound. Enough that they are commonly interchanged among the less educated in speech and writing.

Mike Ward

That still doesn't explain the L-48 coded VIN with an L-82 code on the engine stamp pad. The transmission mismatch just adds to the mystery.


Hopefully the owner will join in.

qwank

L82 or not, if the car is as nice as it looks in the picture, the original poster should make an offer and buy it. Then we'll know for sure

...Roger...

Do any of you guys have a pic of the trans number location so this guy can look for it ?
I've searched but every time I find a post the pic is no longer there.

BKarol

This is where it is on my Borg Warner 78 4spd. Driver's side.
Looking from top to bottom you can faintly read the vin number #26725
Bottom number is WD2182
Warner, April 21, 78, 2nd shift
Yes it's been cleaned since the pic