A friend of mine had to get a 1980 Camaro Z/28 out of his garage so he literally gave it to me. He told me in 1981 he put a Crate motor in it that had 1970 LT1 specs. The car is clean inside and out and there is absolutely no rust up or down. It's been garaged the whole time and he has only put 2000 miles on it since the brand new motor in 1981.

What does this have to do with Corvettes, nothing except If the motor is half decent I may just put it in a project Vette I'm working on.

I got the numbers off the block and heads tonight:

According to Mortec.com

Block:

14016379...350...77-79...2 or 4 Bolt

Heads: 3991492 with the double Camel Humps/straight plugs dated A228 so probably 1978 heads so over the counter 70-up. They have accessory holes obviously. There are also pushrod guide plates installed:

3991492....70......350..........LT1,Came l hump,accessory holes,64cc, straight plug
3991492....70-up................over the counter,Camel hump,64cc, straight or angle plug

Only other info I have is a Holley Carb (List-4779-3 / 1799 - 750 Double Pumper ?), Edlebrock Intake, and Headers hooked up to a Borg Warner T10 4speed. He told me it was a solid lifter motor but I haven't fired it up yet to listen to it. The battery is on the charger right now. It's been off the road since 2005 but he ran it last year.

Obviously what's inside is what counts. I've got a like new Z/28 302 Intake and LT-1 Valve covers I was going to put on it and drop it in. Don't want to tear it down. But if anyone has any more info on what this thing is it would be appreciated. He said it came from some Texas Speed shop and is looking for any paperwork.

 

Leave it in the Camaro.................................. ..Thrash it!

Just my 17 yr old talkin'.

 

Been doing some of my own research on it. What I can't confirm is if GM ever offered, around 1978-79, long block crate motors or if they were available in an LT1 config (Maybe a Camaro LT1 type). My friend said the motor came in a crate directly from GM as a long block with 11:1 pistons and Solid Lifters and was rated at 370hp. I find it a little hard to believe though that somethign in the smog error would be available from GM with twice the HP of the standard L48 offering. Then again, they sort of do it today with the 502 and 572's.

I looked in a spark plug hole and it's definately a pop-up piston and it's also definately solid lifters.

Anyone have an Old GM Parts Catalog from around 1978?

I through a battery in it, a shot of starter fluid, and she cranked right over and purred like a kitten with a nice little rumble.

 

the 1970 LT1 was the last of the high compression solid lifter engines and had all the specs/goodies you mentioned. it was used in both the corvette and the camaro.

sounds as though it is a good one, so use it...
Bill