Do I have an L88?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Do I have an L88?
I just acquired a 68 corvette that the owner says he was told it was an L88 that no longer had the original engine or hood. so, I am interested what I could look at to either rule out an L88 or confirm.
So here is what I know. it has no radio, no heater, no A/C, it has two leaf springs that go left to right in the back (sway bar?), it has a sway bar in the front. it has a 4 speed manual that when you shift into reverse is up to the right instead of down.
it has a hardtop convertible option
Is there anything I could look at that could confirm it's heritage besides the engine and hood which are missing?
Thanks for your input.
So here is what I know. it has no radio, no heater, no A/C, it has two leaf springs that go left to right in the back (sway bar?), it has a sway bar in the front. it has a 4 speed manual that when you shift into reverse is up to the right instead of down.
it has a hardtop convertible option
Is there anything I could look at that could confirm it's heritage besides the engine and hood which are missing?
Thanks for your input.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,800
Likes: 1,943
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I just acquired a 68 corvette that the owner says he was told it was an L88 that no longer had the original engine or hood. so, I am interested what I could look at to either rule out an L88 or confirm.
So here is what I know. it has no radio, no heater, no A/C, it has two leaf springs that go left to right in the back (sway bar?), it has a sway bar in the front. it has a 4 speed manual that when you shift into reverse is up to the right instead of down.
it has a hardtop convertible option
Is there anything I could look at that could confirm it's heritage besides the engine and hood which are missing?
Thanks for your input.
So here is what I know. it has no radio, no heater, no A/C, it has two leaf springs that go left to right in the back (sway bar?), it has a sway bar in the front. it has a 4 speed manual that when you shift into reverse is up to the right instead of down.
it has a hardtop convertible option
Is there anything I could look at that could confirm it's heritage besides the engine and hood which are missing?
Thanks for your input.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 176
Likes: 14
From: Florida
There were only 80 L88s made in 1968. Drop the gas tank and see if the original tank sticker is on it. Without the tank sticker there would be no other way of telling exactly what motor was originally in the car. A 6500 red line tach was on the L88 and the 435 hp motor cars. Post some pics of the dash with radio and heater delete. Sounds interesting. 
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
the VIN is 194678s403986, the original console in the car has been replaced with what looks like maybe a 69 console, redline on tach is 5400 ish. I have part of the build sheet which shows it came with a big block, 4 speed, posi, however, most of the sheet is missing. color code is 02976AA MED/BLUE, tinted glass. it does say 390HP Turbo-J.... it is cut off from there. I am leaning towards it being just a plane old big block corvette, however, I thought I would check with the experts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,800
Likes: 1,943
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
There were only 80 L88s made in 1968. Drop the gas tank and see if the original tank sticker is on it. Without the tank sticker there would be no other way of telling exactly what motor was originally in the car. A 6500 red line tach was on the L88 and the 435 hp motor cars. Post some pics of the dash with radio and heater delete. Sounds interesting.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,800
Likes: 1,943
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
the VIN is 194678s403986, the original console in the car has been replaced with what looks like maybe a 69 console, redline on tach is 5400 ish. I have part of the build sheet which shows it came with a big block, 4 speed, posi, however, most of the sheet is missing. color code is 02976AA MED/BLUE, tinted glass. it does say 390HP Turbo-J.... it is cut off from there. I am leaning towards it being just a plane old big block corvette, however, I thought I would check with the experts.
/ and there is your answer....If it is the original tach it would be for a 390 horse or 400 tripower car
NOT AN L-88
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I now understand the full life cycle of old Corvettes. Any car missing it's engine 'was once' an L88, and any old engine pulled from a junkyard 'was once' from a Corvette. Cool!
Not picking on you OP. Be glad that you have SOME paperwork showing how it was born -most owners can just wish.
Not picking on you OP.
Be glad that you have SOME paperwork showing how it was born -most owners can just wish.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,367
Likes: 59
From: FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
There's probably a lot more "genuine" L88 engined and other big block Corvettes running around now than Chevrolet ever assembled and sold. Add "genuine" Camaro and Chevelle big block cars out there today and it makes it appear that high option big block cars were the norm, not the exception when it came to production.
If Chevrolet were ever to find the production records of the era and made them available, there would be many, many owners crying "foul" when they discovered their "rare" Corvettes left the factory as anything but what they own.
If Chevrolet were ever to find the production records of the era and made them available, there would be many, many owners crying "foul" when they discovered their "rare" Corvettes left the factory as anything but what they own.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
even before your answers came back with so many replies stating it is not a L88, your chance of it being a real L88 car was pretty close to zero...
but a 68 big block convertible is a great basis anyway. does it have a BB in it, or is it a project?
but a 68 big block convertible is a great basis anyway. does it have a BB in it, or is it a project?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
I just acquired a 68 corvette that the owner says he was told it was an L88 that no longer had the original engine or hood. so, I am interested what I could look at to either rule out an L88 or confirm.
So here is what I know. it has no radio, no heater, no A/C, it has two leaf springs that go left to right in the back (sway bar?), it has a sway bar in the front. it has a 4 speed manual that when you shift into reverse is up to the right instead of down.
it has a hardtop convertible option
Is there anything I could look at that could confirm it's heritage besides the engine and hood which are missing?
Thanks for your input.
So here is what I know. it has no radio, no heater, no A/C, it has two leaf springs that go left to right in the back (sway bar?), it has a sway bar in the front. it has a 4 speed manual that when you shift into reverse is up to the right instead of down.
it has a hardtop convertible option
Is there anything I could look at that could confirm it's heritage besides the engine and hood which are missing?
Thanks for your input.
Muncie 4 speeds, with "normal" shifters, accessed reverse gear by pushing "left" through the neutral gate, in other words toward the driver, then "up" toward the dashboard.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,457
Likes: 463
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
....
....also check the fuel lines if they appear to be "original". I believe all Q-Jet equipped cars(427/390hp & smallblocks)will have a smaller return line to the tank. The Holley equipped cars(400hp, 430hp & 435hp)will have only a single "supply" line running along the frame.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
I now understand the full life cycle of old Corvettes. Any car missing it's engine 'was once' an L88, and any old engine pulled from a junkyard 'was once' from a Corvette. Cool!
Not picking on you OP. Be glad that you have SOME paperwork showing how it was born -most owners can just wish.
Not picking on you OP.
Be glad that you have SOME paperwork showing how it was born -most owners can just wish.No my 69 was an ZL-1 car....
