corvette novice
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2012
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corvette novice
hi guys. looking for some information. i have a dark bliue 82 vette. i have had this car for about 6 months now. doing some research i have found out that the dark blue cars were extremely rare that year only about two percent of total production. can anybody tell me how many of those came with a dark blue leather interior? where would i go to find out? also where are the casting numbers to verify the original engine? i am assuming it is correct due to the low milage of the car (75k) when i bought it. the car is in very nice condition and has been well cared for. was the L83 motor a 4 bolt main motor? this is my first corvette. i am really getting into this car its an absoloute blast to drive and gets constant compliments. i am car savy just new to corvettes. thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
The most likely interior for the dark blue car would have been the dark blue leather option, so I doubt that the blue/blue leather combination is any more "rare" than the dark blue exterior, alone. If the '82 car (other than the CE model) ever becomes a "classic", that low-volume color may provide some premium to its value; these days?....probably not. But that combo would be nice to have.
I don't know about 4-bolt mains on an L-83...but I doubt it, since the power of that engine was very limited.
I don't know about 4-bolt mains on an L-83...but I doubt it, since the power of that engine was very limited.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,062
Likes: 103
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
are you sure that the car isn't a repaint and the color is the way it came from the factory?? the trim tag inside the drivers side door frame (front pillar) will give you all the correct original information codes. the engine should have a "pad" on the front of the block on the passenger side just left (if you are facing the car) and slightly above the water pump. the pad will contain codes that will include the last digits of a VIN number. if your VIN matches the stamping, it is an original engine. there are casting codes on things like the exhaust manifolds, the trans, the frame etc which can be decoded to determine if they are date correct (in the case of the trans and exhaust manifolds) or original (VIN matching) in the case of things like the frame.
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i checked the codes before i bought the car, the dark blue is correct, both interior and body. i bought the car from a reputable corvette dealer, this car isnt a cobbed up peice of junk, its a really nice clean car. i tried to post a picture but this site wont let me . thanks for the info on the engine # location.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
The trim tag on the driver's door hinge post will list the original color codes for interior and exterior. The Black Book says about 562 82s were painted dark blue. There are no records to confirm how many of those got dark blue interiors.
The trim tag will also list partial VIN and tell you the month and week of the month the car was assembled.
You don't particularly need casting numbers to determine originality. It's easier to check the two stampings on the pad on the block at the front of the right head.
The trim tag will also list partial VIN and tell you the month and week of the month the car was assembled.
You don't particularly need casting numbers to determine originality. It's easier to check the two stampings on the pad on the block at the front of the right head.
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yes i am aware of the tag below the a pillar, the interior is correct for the car. i have not gone into the production date yet, does this tag also give a dso code for the district where the car was originally sold? i also own a 1967 ford stepside pick up decoding it was a breeze, i just dont know a lot about chevrolets numbering systems but i know enough to know the interior code is correct. like i stated earlier i am car savy, i started working on cars at 14. i was fanatical about cars before then. i always liked corvettes especially the mid years and c3 s. i plan on keeping this car for the long haul . i want to learn as much about the car as possible where i do my own work, i didnt go out and buy the cheapest vette i could find. i wanted a really nice turn key car. i am happy with the decision this is a really nice car.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
...i want to learn as much about the car as possible...
This is fairly good:
Any of the Corvette history coffee table books will have 82s in them.
You may be interested in the National Corvette Restorers Society. http://www.ncrs.org/
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
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my intent with this car is to drive and enjoy it. it wont be a trailer queen. it has been my experiance that starting out with a nice car in the beginning often puts you way ahead of the game rather than going through a tedious process of a complete rebuild. some folks just have no idea whats invoved with doing an old car right.chasing parts can be really time consuming. case in point my f100 has been in process since 2006. still isnt done.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
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From: Indy Indiana
your block, will have a casting code 'cast', not stamped, on the back flange behind the distributor, along with a cast casting date, also look at casting codes and dates of the intake, and heads and tranny. this along with the stampings on the front passenger pad and the trim tag will tell you what engine you have, what date the car was assembled, what interior options, exterior color , what date and where the engine was assembled, what the engine is, and also if the tranny is original.
the originality of the engine block is only one of several things that you can decode from all these numbers.
it's kind of a fun game to play, but you may find out information that you don't want to know... like it may show that perhaps heads and tranny and carb has been replaced...
but it would be neat to know that all of it is intact after 30 years, and will shore up your asking price when/if you decide to sell...
the originality of the engine block is only one of several things that you can decode from all these numbers.
it's kind of a fun game to play, but you may find out information that you don't want to know... like it may show that perhaps heads and tranny and carb has been replaced...
but it would be neat to know that all of it is intact after 30 years, and will shore up your asking price when/if you decide to sell...