Facts
1978 Matching Number L82 25th Anniv in correct EVERYTHING. Now the problem
Under the hood there is the Sticker on the Air cleaner which says:
"350 Turbo Fire 270 HP" I thought the L82 was 220 HP.
NOTHING has ever been upgraded on the car at all. Interior was dusty not dirty but just dusty. Car has verified 69,456 miles.
Is this a STICKER or is/was and option back then?

 

Sticker or maybe someone swapped out the lid

 

https://www.paragoncorvette.com/p-35...350270-hp.aspx

This was a 1971 Sticker only on the 350 engines for that model year. It could be reproduction sticker on the air cleaner cover or someone used a 1971 cleaner cover on this engine. You really never know what people do in previous ownership to make it look cool.

1971 cars were virtually identical in appearance to the previous model inside and out. This was the final year for the fiber optics light monitoring system, the headlight washer system, and the M22 heavy duty 4-speed manual gearbox. For the first time, air conditioning was installed on most of the cars, with nearly 53 percent so ordered.[5] Engines were detuned with reduced compression ratios to tolerate lower octane fuel. The small blocks available were the 350 cu in (5.7 L) base engine, which dropped to 270 hp (201 kW), and the high performance LT-1, now listed at 330 hp (246 kW). The LS5 454 cu in (7.4 L) motor was carried over and produced 365 hp (272 kW). Offered in ‘71 only was the LS6 454 cu in (7.4 L) big-block featuring aluminum heads and delivering 425 hp (317 kW), highest of the 1970-72 series, and could be ordered with an automatic transmission. The ZR1 option was carried over for LT-1 equipped cars and the ZR2 option, offered this year only, provided a similar performance equipment package for LS6 cars, and restricted transmission to a 4-speed manual.[5] Rare options: ZR1 special engine package (8), ZR2 special engine package (12), LS6 425-hp engine (188), shoulder belts in convertibles (677).

 

Is the lid chrome? maybe they swaped it for something fancy

78 air cleaners are gloss black

 

77 models did not come with ANY sticker on the lid. That stopped prior to 1973's. it is just an after market decal that has been applied or a lid swap .

 

We playing with a 1978 and the lid is CHROME with that sticker on it. EVERYTHING else matches up to the 1978 as far as castings and such so I guess they added a "COOL FACTOR" of the chrome and stickers
Thank you

 

Cheapest way to add 50HP there is.......

 

Hi LRP,
Since the profile of the 71 lid was quite different than the lid for your 78 you should be able to tell if the lid was swapped or just a sticker added.
Regards,
Alan

 

Here's a picture of my unmolested L-82 78SA. Bone stock with all the original parts.

 

Lid LOOKS the same except Chrome
http://www.leatherique.com/25th-limi...previous-photo
Sorry for the link but no luck posting a picture

 

yep, looks like someone changed the lid and added some chrome highlights. (and removed the smog pump which is common)
Congrats on the Annie and welcome to the club!

 

Thank you, it was a good find and I guess if I want to take the car to Blumington then I need to worry about that but since it runs, drives and looks fine then I will just enjoy it and go on cruises with it.
Thanks again

 

So in fact it is NOT "correct in everything" as you stated. Common for sellers to say everything is correct when things are missing or modified. Still probably a nice car, enjoy it.

 

He had NO CLUE and my last C3 was a 1980 that was welly changed under the hood so no reference point for me. The 50th is for sure the real deal since we traced the car from the factory to us and we are the 2nd owner. This one will be taken to seminars we do on leather since I will treat it with our products and it can be nice and soft for another 35 years.
As far as CORRECT, I have checked all the numbers for castings, vins etc and they are all good. Stereo is an upgrade but other than under teh hood and tires all looks good and it runs GREAT so no problem from me at all.
WE Gave $9k for the car and felt it was a fair price.

 

I see a ton of stuff in your picture under there that was modified/does not belong/removed

 

haven't seen a California Customs wing nut since the 70's

no chrome on that car from factory.

 

smog pump is missing