Corvette Dictionary
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
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From: Santee CA
Corvette Dictionary
Ok, folks...
I'm still trying to figure out what some of the abbreviations are that people are using here for certain things, and hopefully, people here can help me and others out by creating a Corvette Dictionary.
Here's a list of things I've come across in parts descriptions and on the forum here. Some of it may seem like common sense, but some of it may seem like Greek. I know the ones that I've left blank I'm still trying to decipher. Can anyone help me fill in some of the blanks, and add to it as well?
TPI -
L48 -
L82 -
EFI - Electronic Fuel Injection
CID - Cubic Inch Displacement (size of your engine, i.e. 327, 350, 427, etc.)
BB - Big Block
SB - Small Block
Steeroids - rack & pinion steering conversion kit
I'm still trying to figure out what some of the abbreviations are that people are using here for certain things, and hopefully, people here can help me and others out by creating a Corvette Dictionary.
Here's a list of things I've come across in parts descriptions and on the forum here. Some of it may seem like common sense, but some of it may seem like Greek. I know the ones that I've left blank I'm still trying to decipher. Can anyone help me fill in some of the blanks, and add to it as well?
TPI -
L48 -
L82 -
EFI - Electronic Fuel Injection
CID - Cubic Inch Displacement (size of your engine, i.e. 327, 350, 427, etc.)
BB - Big Block
SB - Small Block
Steeroids - rack & pinion steering conversion kit
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Bore--- turtlevette, 
opps, I mean the diameter of the cylinder opening.
Stroke--- the distance the piston travels in the cylinder.
Chrome bumpers.. '68-73 Vettes
Rubber bumpers-- '74-82 Vette
L82 was the optional performance SB engine from '73-82. In '73 & '74 the 454 was still an option and I think it was the LS-4.
L-48 is the base engine SB from 1973-1982
L-46 was the 350-350hp engine in 1970
LS-5 is the 454ci 390hp Engine offered in 1970-71
LS-6 is the 454ci 425hp Engine aluminum head engine offered in 1971
opps, I mean the diameter of the cylinder opening.Stroke--- the distance the piston travels in the cylinder.
Chrome bumpers.. '68-73 Vettes
Rubber bumpers-- '74-82 Vette
L82 was the optional performance SB engine from '73-82. In '73 & '74 the 454 was still an option and I think it was the LS-4.
L-48 is the base engine SB from 1973-1982
L-46 was the 350-350hp engine in 1970
LS-5 is the 454ci 390hp Engine offered in 1970-71
LS-6 is the 454ci 425hp Engine aluminum head engine offered in 1971
Last edited by Jughead; Oct 22, 2005 at 08:04 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
LT1 is 92-96 base engine
LT-1 was 70-72 High Performance Solid Lifter engine.
Just to add to the the confusion.
ZR1 was an option from 1970-1972
ZR-1 was an option from 1990-1995
LT-1 was 70-72 High Performance Solid Lifter engine.
Just to add to the the confusion.
ZR1 was an option from 1970-1972
ZR-1 was an option from 1990-1995
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
btdc ignition timing lingo for before TDC top dead center
ATDC after top dead center not used much for SBC
SBC small block Chevrolet engine
ATDC after top dead center not used much for SBC
SBC small block Chevrolet engine
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Race Director
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From: Forked River NJ
Originally Posted by Eddie 70
LT1 is 92-96 base engine
LT-1 was 70-72 High Performance Solid Lifter engine.
Just to add to the the confusion.
ZR1 was an option from 1970-1972
ZR-1 was an option from 1990-1995
LT-1 was 70-72 High Performance Solid Lifter engine.
Just to add to the the confusion.
ZR1 was an option from 1970-1972
ZR-1 was an option from 1990-1995
LT1, ZR1, LS6, LS7, ZO6, and probably some more. Just adds confusion to us older Vetters.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by markbett
So if my vert SBC had a problem with it's LT1 EFI and a TPI issue, because it was listed with the wrong CDI for the BDTC, I'd have big MOP problems?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,281
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From: NC USA
More for the curious....
I'll add some early 68-69 BB RPOs:
L-36 = 427-390hp oval port w/single 4bbl Quadrajet carb
L-68 = 427-400hp oval port w/tri-power (3 2bbl Holley carbs)
L-71 = 427-435hp rectangle port w/tri-power
L-88 = 427-430hp (actually much higher) rectangle port w/single 4bbl holley carb (basically a factory 12.5-1 racing engine)
L-89 = 427-435hp? is the L-71 w/aluminum heads
ZL-1 = L-88 with aluminum block and heads (1969 only, the rarest corvette - 2 known to exist!)
L-36 = 427-390hp oval port w/single 4bbl Quadrajet carb
L-68 = 427-400hp oval port w/tri-power (3 2bbl Holley carbs)
L-71 = 427-435hp rectangle port w/tri-power
L-88 = 427-430hp (actually much higher) rectangle port w/single 4bbl holley carb (basically a factory 12.5-1 racing engine)
L-89 = 427-435hp? is the L-71 w/aluminum heads
ZL-1 = L-88 with aluminum block and heads (1969 only, the rarest corvette - 2 known to exist!)
Last edited by Marks69BB; Oct 22, 2005 at 02:43 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
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From: Santee CA
Just to add to this, since I see parts that are cross referenced to the Vettes...
Anyone know what the F-Body, J-Body, etc. classifications mean, and does the Vette fall into one of those body categories?
Anyone know what the F-Body, J-Body, etc. classifications mean, and does the Vette fall into one of those body categories?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,281
Likes: 6
From: NC USA
F-body is camaro/firebird
J-body is chevy?/pontiac?/buick?
These classifications were used when GM divisions shared body parts, frames, and engines. Although I'm guessing here, I don't think corvette ever had this ID since it was Chevy only and wasn't shared with any other GM division
J-body is chevy?/pontiac?/buick?
These classifications were used when GM divisions shared body parts, frames, and engines. Although I'm guessing here, I don't think corvette ever had this ID since it was Chevy only and wasn't shared with any other GM division
Team Owner
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by cicconjo
do any of these abbreviations stand for anything? what does the "L" in L-48 mean?
Race Director
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
[QUOTE=Marks69BB][QUOTE=Eddie 70]
ZR1 was an option from 1970-1972
Hmm - not familier with that one. Are you thinking of the very rare ZL-1 of 1969 with only two known to exist?
Nope, ZR1 was an LT-1 with an M22, heavy duty power brakes, transistorized ignition, special aluminum radiator, special springs and shocks with front and rear stablilizers. Only 25 built in 1970, 8 in 1971, 20 in 1972.
There was also a ZR2 option in 1971 which was the ZR1 package with an LS6. 12 of these were built in 1971.
All of this informataion was taken from the Corvette Black Book.
ZR1 was an option from 1970-1972
Hmm - not familier with that one. Are you thinking of the very rare ZL-1 of 1969 with only two known to exist?
Nope, ZR1 was an LT-1 with an M22, heavy duty power brakes, transistorized ignition, special aluminum radiator, special springs and shocks with front and rear stablilizers. Only 25 built in 1970, 8 in 1971, 20 in 1972.
There was also a ZR2 option in 1971 which was the ZR1 package with an LS6. 12 of these were built in 1971.
All of this informataion was taken from the Corvette Black Book.