C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Trivia question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 12, 2005 | 07:20 PM
  #1  
Techno's Avatar
Techno
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
Default Trivia question

What do the ls1 ls7 zr1 l88 zl1 and all the others mean?
Do they mean anything?
I never bothered to memerize them figured if I needed to know what it meant could look it up, that and they don't seem to follow a scheme of anykind.

L= what?
88= what"

L=? S=? 1=?
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2005 | 11:25 PM
  #2  
Buzzardz_vette's Avatar
Buzzardz_vette
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 4
From: Yorktown VA
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default

Reply
Old Sep 12, 2005 | 11:38 PM
  #3  
StickShiftCorvette's Avatar
StickShiftCorvette
Drifting
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
Default

They are the option codes for the engines. I do not think they mean anything on a per character basis.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2005 | 09:34 PM
  #4  
Techno's Avatar
Techno
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
Default

ttt
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2005 | 09:59 PM
  #5  
Glassbowtie77's Avatar
Glassbowtie77
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
Default

Reply
Old Sep 13, 2005 | 10:00 PM
  #6  
IMA 66's Avatar
IMA 66
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 2
From: New Castle DE
Default

always thought they were just option numbers no idea how they picked them.....always thought the camaro cop car option was cool B4U
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2005 | 11:06 PM
  #7  
Tom73's Avatar
Tom73
Race Director
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,156
Likes: 477
From: NM
Default

Originally Posted by Techno
What do the ls1 ls7 zr1 l88 zl1 and all the others mean?
Do they mean anything?
Basicly they are the RPO (Regular Production Option) code. In "general", and there are always exceptions, an RPO that starts with an "L" is an engine (LS1, LT1, LT5, L82, L98, etc). An RPO that starts with a "Z" is a package (ZR1 was a performance package on the C4 that included the LT5 engine).

tom...
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2005 | 12:25 PM
  #8  
early shark's Avatar
early shark
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 6
From: Nevada City California
Default

I'll elaborate a little further, and answer your specific examples.


LS-6.....1970 Chevelle 454cid/450hp or 1971 Corvette 454cid/425hp (although this is an anomalie, as these two engines are quite different and confuse a lot of people, by using the same RPO to designate them)

L-88.....1967, 1968, 1969 Corvette 427cid/430hp (a factory disguised racing engine to get into the public hands for sanctioned racing events)

LT-1.....1970, 1971, 1972 Corvette 350cid/370hp, 330hp, 255hp (last ditch effort by Duntov to provide a street lethal small block, that in ZR-1 attire was raced and won the SCCA B production category championship in 1970, 1971, 1972).

ZL-1.....1969 Camaro or Corvette 427cid/?hp (some say 430 factored) Built to homologate engine for Super Stock drag class, an all aluminum big block, awesome power, engine won the CanAM series several years, rarest power plant to be sold to the public in a musclecar.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old Sep 14, 2005 | 05:16 PM
  #9  
Techno's Avatar
Techno
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
Default



Well the L & Z make more sense but the examples by early shark don't say why. Why is 427cid/430hp an L-88 and not a LS-6? it came before it so how did an early model get 88 while a later get a 6?
Or why is the LT-1 still used today since its a whole different animal?
Which just brings up the further question of whats the T and S for?

Did a group of peoples sit around a table and say " well LS-2 just don't sound as mean as LS-6"

Maybe this question should be E-mailed to GM? They did answer my question on the chevrolet song. By Dina Shore.

And the L in ZL-1
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2005 | 05:41 PM
  #10  
CA-Legal-Vette's Avatar
CA-Legal-Vette
Race Director
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,711
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Default

Reply
Old Sep 14, 2005 | 05:45 PM
  #11  
Entropy's Avatar
Entropy
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 32,519
Likes: 1
From: central America
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Default

Originally Posted by Techno
Or why is the LT-1 still used today since its a whole different animal?
Today's motor is the LT1, no dash. I think they did it so people would think "holy crap, remember how fast the old LT-1's were?" and then they would hand over the money without a second thought.

trw
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2005 | 08:59 PM
  #12  
kdf1986's Avatar
kdf1986
Safety Car
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Default

I could not find any reference to why Chevrolet uses a "L" for the motor name instead of any other letter. One reference or suggestion was the the L could stand for Louis, as in Louis Chevrolet who was the person that helped start the Chevroet part of the General Motors in the 1910's. But that sounded like a stretch to me.

kdf
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2005 | 09:04 PM
  #13  
kdf1986's Avatar
kdf1986
Safety Car
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Default

Along the same lines,.......does the Z in Z06 stand for Zora....as in Zora Arkus Duntov?


kdf
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2005 | 09:10 PM
  #14  
mvftw's Avatar
mvftw
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,331
Likes: 6
From: Long Island NY
Default

could not find any reference to why Chevrolet uses a "L" for the motor name instead of any other letter. One reference or suggestion was the the L could stand for Louis, as in Louis Chevrolet who was the person that helped start the Chevrolet part of the General Motors in the 1910's. But that sounded like a stretch to me.
Maybe a stretch but, remember the Pontiac Grand Prix's 'Model J & SJ. The 'J' was for John Deloren...
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2005 | 09:33 PM
  #15  
TheKomoman's Avatar
TheKomoman
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
Default

There's an article in the current Corvette Enthusiast that describes the makeup of the assembly manual. Each "option" section is coded by engineering group.

A Body Interior
B Body Exterior
C Heating, Ventilation, & AC
D Exterior Ornamentation
F Suspension
G Rear Axle
J Brakes
K Ignition
L Engines
M Transmission
N Steering
P Wheels & Tires
T Electrical
U Electrical
V Electrical
Y Seat Belts
Z Special Equipment Packages

It doesn't mention any particular derivation of the digits after the initial RPO letter, but it does say that each section is then alphabetized by RPO.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2005 | 09:41 PM
  #16  
CA-Legal-Vette's Avatar
CA-Legal-Vette
Race Director
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,711
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Default

Kind of interesting that they skipped some letters.

Skipping I and O makes sense (they look like numbers) but W?
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2005 | 10:02 PM
  #17  
kdf1986's Avatar
kdf1986
Safety Car
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Default

The alphabetical guide as the answer makes pretty good sense to me.

kdf
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2005 | 10:12 PM
  #18  
Techno's Avatar
Techno
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
Default

I think so too. Before 63 they called them engines and after Ls as an option. Checked my wall poster.

Ok now what about the 2ndary letter? S & T

Races? S? T- tourismo or something like that?
Sebring?
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2005 | 10:20 PM
  #19  
jrzvette's Avatar
jrzvette
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Default

Originally Posted by CA-Legal-Vette
Kind of interesting that they skipped some letters.

Skipping I and O makes sense (they look like numbers) but W?
Since some codes were hand stamped on the parts using indivdual dies certain letters were not used to avoid confusion:
an "E" backwards could be mistaken for a "3" and an "S" for a "5" .
"W" was used in the late (1994-96) C4 era for tires, specifically the "extended mobility" (run flats) WY5


Quote: mtfvw
"Maybe a stretch but, remember the Pontiac Grand Prix's 'Model J & SJ."

I think J & SJ were model designations for the Duesenberg. John DeLorean just had visions of grandeur.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Trivia question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:21 PM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE