Good morning from sunny Indiana! Just got electronic copy of GM invoice for our pace car. Exciting! How do you go to next step for breaking down options as to content? For example:

FE7 - gymkhana suspension

Which option contains radio and tire size info?

Thanks
GaryC

 

You need to get Yourself a "Corvette Black Book" or one of the
many Restoration books that cover Your year. Really the Black Book
is best for the info Your after. Info is probably available on internet
also but I dont know xactly where.

 

Code Description Quantity
1YZ87
Base Corvette Sport Coupe
40,274

1YZ87/78
Limited Edition Pace Car
6,502

A31
Power Windows
36,931

AU3
Power Door Locks
12,187

B2Z
Silver Anniversary Paint
15,283

CC1
Removable Glass Roof Panels
972

C49
Rear Window Defroster
30,912

C60
Air Conditioning
37,638

D35
Sport Mirrors
38,405

FE7
Gymkhana Suspension
12,590

G95
Optional Rear Axle Ratio
382

K30
Cruise Control
31,608

L82
350ci 220hp Engine
12,739

M21
4 Speed Manual Close Ratio
3,385

MX1
Automatic Transmission
38,614

NA6
High Altitude Emissions Equipment
-

N37
Tilt-Telescopic Steering Column
37,858

QBS
White Letter Steel Belted Tires P225/60R15
18,296

QGR
White Letter Steel Belted Tires P225/70R15
26,203

UA1
Heavy Duty Battery
28,243

UM2
AM/FM Radio Stereo With 8 Track
20,899

UP6
AM/FM Radio Stereo With CB
7,138

U58
AM/FM Radio Stereo
10,189

U69
AM/FM Radio
2,057

U75
Power Antenna
23,069

U81
Dual Rear Speakers
12,340

YF5
California Emissions Test
-

YJ8
Aluminum Wheels
28,008

ZN1
Trailer Package
972

ZX2
Convenience Group
37,222


Serial Numbers: 1Z87L8S400001 through 1Z87L8S440274

Fifth Digit Code: L=350ci 175, 185hp, 4=350ci 220hp

Suffix:



CHW: 350ci, 185hp MT
CMR: 350ci, 220hp, MT

CLM: 350ci, 185hp AT
CMS: 350ci, 220hp AT

CLR: 350ci, 175hp AT CE
CUT: 350ci, 185hp, AT

CLS: 350ci, 175hp HA AT



CE=California Emissions, MT=Manual Trans, AT=Automatic Trans, AC=Air Conditioning, AH=Aluminum Heads, HA=High Altitude



Base Engine: 350ci V8 185hp

 

http://www.idavette.net/

 

pace car came standard with an am/fm stereo 8 track radio. the upgrade was a $650 + addition up to an am/fm/CB stereo radio. basically there weren't a lot of options on the pace car as it came standard with just about all the power "conveniences" as part of the package. alternate rearend gearing, trans selection (no additional charge) and suspension were just about all you could "opt" in for.

the corvette black book is a necessary (in my opinion, mandatory) part of any corvette owner's library. it is sized to make it easy to carry around and is chock full of valuable year to year information.


steve

 

Don't you love how people go "Why didn't you get it with a 4 speed?!" when you tell them your vette is an automatic? Notice how few vettes even had 4 speeds.

 

Thanks all for the feedback. What is the Black Book? See an NCRS technical book for 78-79 vette - is this it? I'm trying to build my library, but you all have a big head start on me.
So far I have Pace Car Owners Manual, '78 Shop Manual, '78 Assembly manual, GM Invoice, Window sticker (on order).
I have the option lists as printed in a couple sites, but some options contain multiple things - that's what I'm looking for. ie. what is included in the gymkhana suspension option???
Thanks folks
Gary C '78 Pace Car

 

Call GM for a restoration package. It should have all the info you need for your year.

 

The FE7 option included the front/rear sway bars,heavier front springs, HD shocks and 7 leaf rear spring...

 

Black Book just ordered from Amazon. Info that was just given to me as to what the gymkhana option contained - can this be found within the Black Book?
thanks
GaryC

 

You can find Black Books in any Barnes & Noble's "Transportation" section with other Corvette lit..

 

The Black Book is limited to regular production options available for sale but does not include the codes for components that make up the RPO. The FE7 is a good example, What you want to know is that the front sway bar is 1 7/8 inch; rear bar 7/16 inch, 550 pound springs in the front and the rear is a 9 (maybe 7) leaf spring and capable of so much sprung weight. Some of that is available through your shop manual as well as the GM restoration packge.

 

Great info as to option content! Thanks! That's where I want my search to end up. Piece by piece we'll get the build info.
Take care and happy cruisin'.

GaryC '78 Pace Car

 

the 1978 with the optional FE7 suspension had a 6-leaf steel spring versus the standard 9 x leaf of that year. Previous years had 7 or 9 leaf springs. According to Richard Prince's book "CORVETTE 1968-1982 Restoration Guide" p. 221, the 9 x leaf springs were painted light gray and the plastic liners were painted light gray as well. However the 78-79 cars with the optional FE7 had the 6-leaf steel spring and the spring leafs are painted light gray, but the plastic liners are not.

The 6-leaf rear spring is 2 1/4 inches wide, while the standard suspension rear spring is 2 1/2 inches wide. Hence the FE7 springs have two spacers fore/aft when mounted to the differntial.

FE7 suspension also had the rear stabilizer bar, 9/16 inches in diameter.

Good luck - Swede

 

For someone doing 'the right resto', must be a huge task to get everything just right. Understatement I'm sure. Just seeing the variations in feedback as to my question on gymkhana option is awakening. 9 leaf, maybe 7 leaf, could be 6 leaf, 7/16 rear bar, 9/16 rear bar. Not poking at answers, just highlighting difficulty in getting to the correct information for your car.
Thank you all again.
Gary C '78 Pace Car