Hello everyone hope all is well I need to find out if my 80 coupe came from the factory with a manuel or automatic, I was doing some work on her and seen some hole by the transmission, it has an automatic just need to find out how to get the info,Thanks to all. God bless Joe

 

I think you can purchase a build sheet from NCM using your VIN.

 

Will try that thanks for the info.

 

If the crossmember at the rear of the transmission is bolted and not welded to the frame, it came with an automatic.

Or:

give us the numbers off the engine stamp pad. That will cofirm.

 

My 1980 was a 4 speed, 5 speed now, and the crossmember bolts in so not sure about above statement.

You could always drop the gas tank and see if any remnants remain of your build sheet.

 

Sorry, but not true. The NCM only has build sheets (and window stickers) for 81 and newer Corvettes and for 81, only those built at Bowling Green. The sheets for cars built at St Louis are not available.

If the car was a California car, or an L-82, it would have been an automatic. The automatic was required in CA, or with the L-82 (no 350s were available in CA in 1980, only the 305).

Does your car have the original engine? If so, the engine suffix code, stamped in the block forward of the right head, will tell if it was originally an auto or 4 speed. The code for the 80, L-48 with an auto is ZAK and ZAM for a 4 speed; ZBC is the L-82 auto code and ZCA is the Calif 305 code.

Unlike 79 and earlier Vettes, all 80-82 frames have the removable cross member.

An original automatic radiator would have fittings for cooling lines in the tank, a 4 speed radiator wouldn't. Most replacement radiators will have the fittings, though. The Borg-Warner Super T-10 was used in 80, and if it's original to the car it will have the car's VIN number stamped on a boss at the top of the right (passenger) side of the trans. The original Q-Jet carb and distributors have different part numbers on them for auto and 4 speed applications. The carb numbers are stamped vertically on the left rear of the carb. THe Q-Jet used with 80 L-48 automatics is 17080204 and 17080207 for an L-48 4 speed car.

 

Think you missed

ZBD= 350, L82, 4spd

http://www.nastyz28.com/gm-chevy-cod...-suffix-10.php

 

I didn't bother including it because Chevrolet never built any. The 1980 Chevrolet dealer album and other material, listed the L-82 4 speed but GM cancelled that combination before production started. There have been rumors that a couple were built, but they've never surfaced.

Every engine/transmission combination had to be submitted to the EPA for Federal emission testing and certification. This was (and still is) a very expensive and time consuming proposition for the automakers. It's my understanding that Chevrolet was having trouble getting the L-82 emission certified, which delayed it's introduction and caused them to cancel the 4 speed version.

 

Mike, being an L-48 original 4spd car owner and looked at many other originals, the cross member WAS bolted on a 1980-81 regardless of it being a 4spd car or automatic car.

 

Thanks, I learned something. I was under the false impression that the bolted crossmembers were automatic only 'till the end of C3 production.

 

....yeah, it was something I learned too while I owned that '80 L-48 4spd car. I don't even know if the '80-'82 Judging Guide noted this.

...one other oddity I learned with that car, and again see a couple of other originals, on a rear leaf spring, there were three washers stacked below the spring on the spring bolt, I guess to get ride height up or something. Thought "bubba" had done that and was deducted every time I had it judged, then I saw later on 7 or 8 other '80 L-48 cars that had the exact same thing. Three stacked washers on the spring bolt just below the rubber cushion.

 

The NCM will not have build sheets for St. Louis cars. Go here http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...x.php?cmd=area and see if you can get a copy of the original dealer invoice from the Allied-Vaughn folks.

If your car has the optional L-82, it left St. Louis with AT.
If your car has the California 305, it had AT.
If your car is base engine L-48, you might have had a 4 speed.

Dealer invoice will let you know.

 

Thanks everyone all the info given has help me a lot once I find the info needed I will get back to you thanks jr